The E. M. Viquesney "Spirit of the American Doughboy" Database
FORT WORTH, TEXAS
N 32° 47.531 / W 097° 18.845
Copyright version 1920, pressed copper.
Smithsonian Art Inventory control numbers: TX000141, 47260108 (dup).
Copyright version 1920, pressed copper.
Smithsonian Art Inventory control numbers: TX000141, 47260108 (dup).
In veterans area in southwest quadrant of Mount Olivet Cemetery, 2301 North Sylvania Avenue.
The Smithsonian IAS file contains duplicate records for Fort Worth, one of which (47260108) describes only the Doughboy, and the other (TX000141) which much more fully describes both the Doughboy and its companion statue of a WWII. G.I. by Giordano Grassi. The first record could be deleted by the Smithsonian.
An engraving on the tall stone between the two figures reads:
THIS MEMORIAL IS DEDICATED
TO THE HONOR OF
TARRANT COUNTY CITIZENS
WHO SERVED
THEIR COUNTRY DURING
WORLD WAR I
WORLD WAR II
THE KOREAN WAR
THE VIETNAM WAR
THE PERSIAN GULF WAR
MAY 25, 1980
A plaque inscription on the back side of the stone reads:
THIS STATUE IS GRATEFULLY AND LOVINGLY
DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF
THE MEN OF TARRANT COUNTY
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE WORLD WAR
1914 ------------ 1918
THE GIFT OF MOUNT OLIVET CEMETERY CO.
TO THE BOTHWELL KANE POST NO 21
AMERICAN LEGION AND ITS AUXILIARY
An engraving below the plaque reads:
“THE SPIRIT OF THE AMERICAN DOUGHBOY”
STATUE WAS ERECTED NOVEMBER 17, 1929
THIS PLAQUE
WAS ON THE ORIGINAL PEDESTAL
THIS MEMORIAL IS DEDICATED
TO THE HONOR OF
TARRANT COUNTY CITIZENS
WHO SERVED
THEIR COUNTRY DURING
WORLD WAR I
WORLD WAR II
THE KOREAN WAR
THE VIETNAM WAR
THE PERSIAN GULF WAR
MAY 25, 1980
A plaque inscription on the back side of the stone reads:
THIS STATUE IS GRATEFULLY AND LOVINGLY
DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF
THE MEN OF TARRANT COUNTY
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE WORLD WAR
1914 ------------ 1918
THE GIFT OF MOUNT OLIVET CEMETERY CO.
TO THE BOTHWELL KANE POST NO 21
AMERICAN LEGION AND ITS AUXILIARY
An engraving below the plaque reads:
“THE SPIRIT OF THE AMERICAN DOUGHBOY”
STATUE WAS ERECTED NOVEMBER 17, 1929
THIS PLAQUE
WAS ON THE ORIGINAL PEDESTAL
The sculpture on the right represents a World War II serviceman titled “American G. I.” It was dedicated to join the Doughboy in 1980 as a part of the annual Memorial Day observances that have been held by veteran and patriotic groups at the site since 1929. It was created by sculptor Giordano Grassi and was cast in Carrara, Italy. Fort Worth, Texas is one of only two known locations where a Viquesney Doughboy shares the same pedestal with another war sculpture, the other being Kingman, Arizona, which itself is the only known location where two Viquesney war sculptures share the same base ("Spirit of the American Doughboy" and "Spirit of the American Navy").
The Fort Worth Viquesney Doughboy is one of three definitely known to have been fabricated by the Friedley-Voshardt Company of Chicago, IL. It is suspected that most or all of the other pressed copper 1920 copyright versions were done so as well. The company's invoice referencing Viquesney's American Doughboy Studio for the Mt. Olivet Doughboy appears below.
The Fort Worth Viquesney Doughboy is one of three definitely known to have been fabricated by the Friedley-Voshardt Company of Chicago, IL. It is suspected that most or all of the other pressed copper 1920 copyright versions were done so as well. The company's invoice referencing Viquesney's American Doughboy Studio for the Mt. Olivet Doughboy appears below.
Document provided by Carol Grissom, Smithsonian Institution.
