Photo: Bill Dermody, Zion, Ilinois.
CHICAGO (SOLDIER FIELD), ILLINOIS
N 41° 51.668 / W 087° 36.991
Copyright version 1920, sheet bronze.
Smithsonian Art Inventory Control Number: 75004262.
Copyright version 1920, sheet bronze.
Smithsonian Art Inventory Control Number: 75004262.
In concourse near south entrance (Gate O).
Originally dedicated in Garfield Park in March 1926 near Hamlin and Garfield
with a primary engraving that read:
A TRIBUTE
TO THOSE OF THE
132ND INFANTRY
(2ND ILL)
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES
IN THE SERVICE
OF OUR COUNTRY
with a primary engraving that read:
A TRIBUTE
TO THOSE OF THE
132ND INFANTRY
(2ND ILL)
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES
IN THE SERVICE
OF OUR COUNTRY
Photo: C S & O Studio.
This Doughboy was severely damaged (see left) in Garfield Park in the 1960s and placed in storage for preservation purposes by the Chicago Park District. After many years there, it was restored by conservator Andrzej Dajnowski of Conservation of Sculpture & Objects Studio, Inc., of Forest Park, IL, and with the support of Alderman James Balcer and WWII veteran Fred Randazzo, placed inside the grounds of Soldier Field in conjunction with the major rebuilding of the new stadium. It was rededicated there in a very impressive ceremony September 27, 2003 and now stands raised on a 15 x 25-foot marble slab inside a protective glass circle with a new etched inscription.
The new inscription reads:
SPIRIT OF THE AMERICAN DOUGHBOY
E. M. VIQUESNEY SCULPTOR
IN MEMORY OF
THE SACRIFICES OF OUR
AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN
IN THE ARMED FORCES
WHO SERVE IN WAR AND PEACE
INSTALLED BY 132ND INFANTRY (2ND ILLINOIS)
GARFIELD PARK, 1926
AS A TRIBUTE TO
WORLD WAR I SOLDIERS
REDEDICATED SOLDIER FIELD 2003
SPIRIT OF THE AMERICAN DOUGHBOY
E. M. VIQUESNEY SCULPTOR
IN MEMORY OF
THE SACRIFICES OF OUR
AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN
IN THE ARMED FORCES
WHO SERVE IN WAR AND PEACE
INSTALLED BY 132ND INFANTRY (2ND ILLINOIS)
GARFIELD PARK, 1926
AS A TRIBUTE TO
WORLD WAR I SOLDIERS
REDEDICATED SOLDIER FIELD 2003
The illustration above is from Friedley-Voshardt Company catalog number 50, published in 1926. It proves that this Doughboy is one of three definitely known to have been made by that company. Smithsonian Institution records show the Viquesney Doughboy at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Fort Worth, Texas, was also produced by Friedley-Voshardt, and a photo of the logo taken by one of our "Doughboy Searchers", Bill Plack, of Herminie, Pennsylvania, proves that the Doughboy in Warren, Ohio, was also manufactured by the same company. It's since been proven from old Friedley-Voshardt ads that the company was indeed the manufacturer of all the sheet bronze copies of this statue.
 Above: A photo from an unknown source of the March 1926 dedication of the Garfield Park Doughboy with members of the 132nd Infantry present. A news wire photo taken in 1939 (below) showed the sculpture to still be in good condition, but in later years it suffered severe damage.
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 Photo provided by Julia Bachrach, Chicago Parks District. By the time the photo above was taken during the 1960s, the left arm was in seriously damaged condition. The statue was later damaged further and placed in a warehouse for preservation purposes and nearly forgotten (see inset, above). It was finally restored and put on display at Soldier Field in 2003.
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The Doughboy at its original location in Garfield Park, 1939.
Update August 29, 2016: An August 27, 2016 e-mail sent by site colleague Earl Goldsmith, from his daughter, Jennifer Ho, states that the rifle on the statue is now broken, but is to be repaired soon. Jennifer and son are shown standing in front of the statue. The damage is difficult to see in this photo, but when enlarged, It looked as though the buttstock was gone.
Update: November 13, 2016: Further info from site visitor Al McCormick and daughter states that the rifle appears to be repaired.
Update: November 13, 2016: Further info from site visitor Al McCormick and daughter states that the rifle appears to be repaired.
