All Wars Memorial to Colored Soldiers and Sailors - Philadelphia, PA
N 39° 57.500 W 075° 10.308
18S E 485326 N 4423146
This is a very old and very ornate memorial dedicated to all "colored soldiers" who served our country. It is across the street from the Franklin Institute & The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, inside Logan Circle.
Waymark Code: WM7KEQ
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 11/04/2009
Views: 4
In 1927, the state of Pennsylvania appropriated fifty thousand dollars for the commission of this sculpture to recognize the patriotism of the African-American servicemen from all wars. The memorial, tucked away in a remote Fairmount Park location, was moved to its originally proposed location to Logan Square in 1994. When the bronze and granite statue was unveiled in 1934, the granddaughter of the African-American state legislator responsible for its creation pulled the drape at the dedication ceremony. When the memorial took its rightful place on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway 60 years later, the granddaughter was located for the installation ceremony - and pulled the drape once again.
On the back of the monument four allegorical female figures, representing the principles for which wars are fought, flank the bronze tablet shown in the first picture above. On the proper left of the tablet stands "War" holding a shield and wearing a helmet. Next to her stands "Liberty" carrying a torch and wearing the headdress of the Statue of Liberty. On the proper right of the tablet stands "Peace" carrying a large palm frond. Next to her stands "Plenty" holding a filled cornucopia. The monument is topped with a bronze Torch of Life surrounded by four eagles. SOURCE
The following excerpts come from the Smithsonian inventory page for this monument.
Inscription(s)
"(Front, lower proper left:) J. Otto Schweizer Sculp (Rear, lower proper left:) Roman Bronze Works NY (Base, front lower section:) ERECTED BY THE/COMMONWEALTH OF/PENNSYLVANIA/IN HONOR OF HER/COLORED SOLDIERS (Base, proper left side:) AMERICAN REVOLUTION/CIVIL/INDIAN WARS (Base, proper right side:) SPANISH AMERICAN WAR/PHILIPPINE INSURRECTION/WORLD WAR (Base, rear:) TO COMMEMORATE/THE HEROISM AND SACRIFICE/OF ALL COLORED SOLDIERS WHO/SERVED IN THE VARIOUS WARS/ENGAGED IN BY/THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA/THAT A LASTING RECORD/SHALL BE MADE OF THEIR/UNSELFISH DEVOTION TO DUTY/AS AN INSPIRATION/TO FUTURE GENERATIONS/THIS MONUMENT IS DEDICATED/MAY 30TH, 1934 (A list of commissioners follows) (Base, lower rear:) VIRTUE/LIBERTY AND/INDEPENDENCE signed Founder's mark appears."
Description
"The front of this vertical granite monument is adorned with an allegorical female figure representing "Justice" flanked by two groups of three African-American officers, soldiers and sailors representing those from Pennsylvania who served in American wars. The figure of Justice is dressed in long flowing robes and wears her hair pulled back and braided around her face. She stands on a low stepped platform holding up a small wreath in each hand to represent Honor and Reward. The African-American Servicemen are dressed in the uniforms of the various branches of the military. On the back of the monument four allegorical female figures, representing the principles for which wars are fought, flank a bronze tablet. On the proper left of the tablet stands "War" holding a shield and wearing a helmet. Next to her stands "Liberty" carrying a torch and wearing the headdress of the Statue of Liberty. On the proper right of the tablet stands "Peace" carrying a large palm frond. Next to her stands "Plenty" holding a filled cornucopia. The monument is topped with a bronze Torch of Life surrounded by four eagles."
Remarks
"In 1927, the state of Pennsylvania appropriated fifty thousand dollars for the commission of this sculpture to recognize the patriotism of the African-American servicemen from all wars."