Lot 258

Previous image preload Next image preload
Back to catalog
Lot 258
image_0 image_1
Stanford White TLS in the Creation of the Prison Ships Martyrs Monument in Brooklyn
Stanford White TLS in the Creation of the Prison Ships Martyrs Monument in Brooklyn
image_0 image_1
Description:

White Stanford



Stanford White TLS in the Creation of the Prison Ships Martyrs Monument in Brooklyn



Single page TLS on tissue stock, 8" x 10.5", with lightly creased edges and two small holes along top and bottom of the page, not affecting text. Dated "March 11, 1896" and boldly signed in full by Stanford White as "Stanford White".



An intriguing letter by White to S.V. White, a member of the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution), who was overseeing the design and progress of this impressive monument in Brooklyn which was being redesigned by architect Stanford White, with the assistance of McMonnies with whom White used to create and build his designs. The Prison Ships Martyrs Monument was conceptualized to mark the site of a crypt for more than 11,500 men and women, known as the prison ship martyrs, who were buried in a tomb near the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The impressive monument, consisting of a 100-foot-wide granite staircase and a central Doric column 149 feet in height, and ultimately was designed by renowned architect Stanford White (1853–1906). This became a part of an overall new design for Washington Park.



Stanford Whites letter was written to S.V White concentrating on discussions about design but also about cost. He responded to her "The Temple idea should be adhered to … I feel very strongly with McMonnies that a Cross would be inadvisable, although a great central Column with the figures grouped around it as you suggest, might be the finest scheme." However much of his letter spoke about the costs to create this masterpiece which became an issue of contention "Of course if you can obtain such a large sum of money as $200,000.00, it would seriously alter the whole problem, and I do not see how we can settle on a design until the amount of money available, or rather the amount of money which you settle upon as the sum which you intend to raise, and which shall be spent upon the Monument, is decided upon … Such a scheme would certainly cost the $200,000.00 which you speak of in your letter …"



Perhaps the fascinating part of this letter is the known discourse on this matter between the three representatives, S.V. White, Stanford White, and McMonnies, which even appeared in the local NY Newspapers of the era as shown below. McMonnies had even offered his services for FREE which was obviously shot down by Stanford White as shown in the letter:

From The Brooklyn Daily Eagle paper:

Mrs. S.V. White, a member of the Daughters of the Revolution, was principally interested In agitating the subject of this monument, and a Former Park Commissioner, Elijah R. Kennedy went to Paris to see Mr. Macmonnies, and obtain from him some Idea of what might be done. Mr.,Macmonnies was an Intimate friend of the Brooklyn man, and Mr. Kennedy visited him in his studio, In Paris, and told him how the women of Brooklyn were endeavoring to revive Interest in the subject and to atone, as well as they might, for the neglect that had caused these heroes ' of the revolution to be practically forgotten. "I called upon Mr.Macmonnies one afternoon," said Mr. Kennedy to an Eagle reporter this morning, "and found him at work in his studio. I told him what had been done by Brooklyn women and how shamefully the memory of the martyrs had been neglected. To my surprise, I had hardly time to begin before he became the speaker and went over the whole ground with an accuracy and memory of details that would have been surprising in any other man. He told me how he had played in Fort Greene when a boy and how he stood near the gloomy, hideous vault, where the bones of the martyrs now remain. He rapidly sketched out in rough, but perfectly comprehensive, lines the scenes he spoke of and told me to call upon him in the morning and he would have a model for the monument for me to look at. It was then late in the afternoon, and early next morning I was at his studio again, but the interval, short as It had been, was more than sufficient for him to work In and there was before me a clay simile of what Macmonnies believed should mark the resting place of the martyrs. "In the first place, his Idea was that of an enormous temple, which should face the plaza of Fort Greene from the place where the vault now Is. And in baas relief upon this tablet was to be represented a great mass of prisoners In the hold of a prison ship, thus suggesting the suffering and death of the - martyrs. In the model that lay be - fore me the emaciated features of the men were depicted, and there, too, were scenes that moved to pity as well as admiration for some suffering heroes helping those more miserable than themselves by permitting them to rest their aching bodies upon their own. It symbolized in one grand picture, like a photographic flash, the most striking incidents of the - time. It was to be, if made, the most magnificent relief in the world. "As a picture must be suitably framed," continued Mr. Kennedy, "so in Mr. Macmonnies' idea this bronze tablet of gigantic proportions was to be relieved and set off with columns, stairways and ornamental stone approaches. This work he preferred to be designed by his friend, Stanford White, the well known architect. He turned to me as he finished his description and said, with beaming face: 'I will do this for Brooklyn and shall not charge anything." I told him his friends would never permit him to do anything of the kind; that if Brooklyn could not pay her share for such a work or If the United States could not pay for it, they did not deserve to possess it. Mr Macmonnies is the very soul of generosity and would give himself away to his friends If they would permit it. But Brooklyn should have that tablet and must have it.



Today the Prison Ships Martyr Monument still stands proudly in Brooklyn, however this fascinating letter shows adversarial process to create it.



WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses who proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with signature required, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice, unless you inform us otherwise, immediately upon your receipt of invoice***

Third Party Shipping Option: If a third party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third party Please copy and paste this following link into your browser: http://universityarchives.com/UserFiles/ShippingInfo.pdf. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third party shippers.


After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item.Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000