Evening star., 1938-04-09
MEMORIAL LETTER
TORO0SEvELTH|T
AS MISLEADING
E0y|an Says Pantheon Type
Plans Are Result of
Much Study.
FINE ARTS CHAIRMAN
SAYS DESIGN UNWISE
Jefferson Tribute Group Head
Declares Commissions
Were Consulted.

A statement to the President in
which Gilmore D. Clark, Fine Arts
Commission chairman, yesterday pro-
tested erection of the proposed $3,000,-
600 domed Pantheon-type memorial to
Thomas Jefferson, has been branded
as extremely misleading" by Repre-
sentative Boylan of New York. chair
man OF the Thomas Jefferson Memorial
Commission.
In his letter to Mr.. Roosevelt. Mr.
Clarke said the future development
OF Washington and the prestige of the
28-year-old Arts Commission might
be harmed as result of the "unprece-
dented' action of the Jefferson Me-
moral Commission in proceeding with
its plans without the approval of the
Fine Arts Commission He said the
commissions objection to the selected
design was based on what was con-
sidered the unsuitability of the build
ing to the chosen site-the south axis
OF the Mall, opposite the White House
The Fine Arts Commission and the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission have been consulted from
the start and have been invited to
conferences with the Jefferson Com
mission, Mr.. Boylan said.
Says Opinions Courted.
1t was our constant effort to secure
the informal opinion of the Fine Arts
Commission at every stage before we
should take any final action" Repre-
sentative Boylan declared. He said
at least four designs for the me-
moral had been prepared in an effort
to win the approval of the art COM
mission.
Only one of these designs met
with the approval of the commission
modified rehash of the designs pre-
pared in 1926 for a Sl4,OOO. 900 me-
mortal to Theodore Roosevelt on the
same site. When it came to the knowl-
edge of the members of the jefferson
Memorial Commission that this was
the case they were unanimous in their
unwlllingness to adopt such a design
Tor memorial to Thomas Jefferson"
Mr.. Clarke expressed no opposition
to the pantheon design when he at
tended meetings of the memorial COM
mission last April, Representative
Boylan said.
In September. after a change in the
chalrmanship and personnel of the
art commission. that group expressed
Tor the first time preference for de-
velopment of different design, MIR.
Boylan continued.
The adopted design was selected,
the chairman said, after an interview
with the President and another meet
ing OF the memorial commission, at
which representatives of both the
Fine Arts Commission and the park
and planning commission were pres
ent.
Unitarian Purpose Considered.
Mr.. Boylan said the memorial COM
mission gave serious consideration to
suggestions that the memorial be de-
voted to a utilitarian purpose, which
would doubtless also have involved the
choice of a different site.
1t is the universal experience" he
SAID, that in such memorials the
Unitarian side soon dominates over
the commemorative, even to the ex-
tent Of completely effacing it. More
over, as will be seen. jefferson himself
approved the purely commemorative
and monumental type
Jefferson's own views and tastes
were also largely determining for the
architectural character of the memo
rial he said, adding: 1T is recognized
today that Jefferson was not only him.
self an architect of great distinction,
but that he was personally re-
Sponslble for the adoption of classical
and monumental style in the buildings
OF Washington and in the new Repub-
lie generally. He lived long enough
to be consulted on the design of the
washington Monument. for which he
approved the obelisk type, but wrote
that suitable models might also be
found in the forms of the temple. Else
where he spoke of the forms of the
rectangular and circular temples as the
perfect models of cubic and 'spheri-
cal architecture
JCHcTSOH AunlTeO fanLneOn,
"One of these types was adopted in
building the Lincoln Memorial; the
other is now selected for the jefferson
Memorial. Its suggestion is taken from
one of the classic buildings jefferson
most admired, the Roman Pantheon,
and adapted to the open site, seen from
all sides by an encircling colonnade
Which makes it new creation
One may argue that the day for
adoption of classical models is over,
and that the harmony of classical
character in the buildings of Wash
ington should be abandoned-but
clearly the Jefferson Memorial is not
the building with which to begin"
Mr.. Boylan said that contrary to
some reports, the commission has not
selected a sculptor or determined the
method by which a sculptor will be
selected, "a matter to which most
careful consideration will be given"
Meanwhile, it was indicated the
hight over erection of the memorial
may come up at the American Insti-
tute of Architects National Conven-
tion at New Orleans April 10.
Louis Justment, president of the
Washington chapter of the institute,
said he will take with him a resolu-
ton adopted by his group advocating
the selection of architests for public
buildings here by competition. He
explained the Jefferson Memorial
would fall within this category.