L~N COLN LORE Bulletin of the Lincoln National Li!e Foundation ----- Dr. Louis A. Warren, Editor Published each week by The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company, Fott Wayne, Indiana Xumber 743 FORT WAYNE, INDIANA July 5, 1943
ABRAHAM LINCOLN Ai~D MARY TODD LINCOLN IN STATUARY
An heroic statue of Abraham and frontier garb, it is a task for a master fortunate, indeed, that the new Mary Mary Todd Lincoln was dedicated at to create an acceptable figure in for Lincoln book, by Anne Colver, came Racine, Wisconsin, on July 4, 1943. It mal evening dress, out of cold, hard from the press preliminary to the dedi is said to be "The first monument to be stone. cation of the statue, and it contributed dedicated to a President of the United The sculptor has given us a submis much to the interest of this new artis States and his wife," and it is the first sive husband in Mr. Lincoln and his tic interpretation of Mrs. Lincoln and attempt to portray i\hs. Lincoln in seated position beside his wife, so short her husband. >culptural art. of stature, is just as Mary would h~we Location 1'he Dono)· it. There wns never any pholog-rnph taken of 1\lr. and Mrs. Lincoln in a The location of the statue is in East It st!ems appropriate that a '"'oman group; if there had been we are in Park and faces Main Street, along should be the donor of this unique clined to believe that the pose prepared which Mrs. Lincoln often walked in statue in which the figure of Mrs. Lin by Mr. Hibbard would not be objec 1869, when for n brief time she was a coln, in some respects, overshadows tional to either of them. resident of Racine. It would apJ>ear that the likeness of her husband. There in this city she found some rest and lived in Racine for many years a wom· Historical Signijicm&ce quiet, and the park entirely surround an named Miss Lena Rosewall, who be· It was the intention of the sculptor ed by l'rivate homes is all that could came a great admirer of the mart)'l'ed and the executor of the Rosewall es- be des~red for the atmosphere of a President. In her casual reading of the statue which emphnsizes the domesti<' Lincoln b"tory she had come to believe phase of the Lincoln story. that Mrs. Lincoln never was given Among the letters of Mary Lincoln proper credit for the part she played in STATUE DEDICATION PROGRAM the development of President Lincoln. which have been preserved is one writ· ten from Racine on June 30, 1869, to Miss Rosewall died on May 9. 1935 Dr. John l. Meck...... Presiding Mrs. Atwood. Her reaction to Racine is and her entire estate of about $20,000 Jlusical Selections...... 2:00·2 :30 well set forth in this paragraph. was made the basis of a bequest which ln\'ocation. .Reverend Raymond A. Parr designated that a statue of Mr. and "I find the house where I am stay Mr". Lincoln be created and presented Addrcss--fi.The Bequeather" ...... ing very neat, clean, and everyone anx to the city of Racine. The previsions of ...... Jlonoroble Louis A. Potter ious to please. I have a parlor and bed the will were fully consummated when Dedicatory Address...... room fronting Lake Michigan and I Mayor Francis H. Wendt received the ...... Dr. Louis A. \Varrcn find the air very refreshing. I may statue on behalf of the city of Racine. Unveiling of Monument...... probably remain here some weeks. I The law firm of Potter and Smith were ...... Emil C. Wiegand am finding the rest very beneficial to me ... The walks here are shady and executors for the estate and superin Presentation of Monument to City tended the carrying out of the be very pleasant. Each morning I have of Racine, \Vi.sconsin...... Hon- walked two miles ..." quest. orable William H. Smith, Executor The letter also tells of her visit to The Sculptor Acceptance Add.ress...... Racine College which she thought very This new creation of Mr. and Mrs. Honorable Francis H. \Vendt, Mayor imJ)ressive, situated on the shores of Lincoln in stone is the work of Freder Address ...... the lake. She contemplated sending ick C. Hibbard, of Chicago. While it is ...... Frederick C. Hibbard, Sculptor '!'ad to school here and commented, to be regretted that funds were not Memorial Addre•s ...... "Ever:rthing is beautiful and comlort sufficient, and the times not. propitious., ...... Dr. Clarence Seidenspinner able-yet how could I, who have been to allow the statue to be cast in bronze, 1\tusical Selection...... -...... ,,_,,...... deprived of so much and have so little however, many of Mr. Hibbard's best ...... "Star Spangled .Banner" left to love, be separated from my works have been done in stone. This is precious child." the sculptor's first heroic study of Lin Racine seems to be one place where coln, although he has done many of Lin no incidents occurred to disturb the coln's contemporaries, including a tate to have the statue ready for dedi troubled mind of the widow Mary Lin statue of Jefferson Davis, erected at cation on November 4th,1942, the 100th coln, and students of the Lincoln saga, Frankfort, Kentucky, and one of anniversary of the marriage of Abra· who find it convenient to visit this new Ulysses S. Grant, at Vicksburg, :.Iis ham Lincoln and Mary Todd, but delay shrine, will be invited by the very en sissippi. in the completion of the statue caused vironment surroundin' the statue, to The St