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Walker Hancock Soldiers Memorial Statues Photograph Collection

 Collection
Identifier: P0999

Scope and Contents

The Walker Hancock Soldiers Memorial Statues Photograph Collection contains five mounted, oversized photographs showing three of the four sculptures made by Hancock for display outside of Soldiers Memorial: "Sacrifice," "Loyalty," and "Vision." One of the photographs includes a tag from the National Sculpture Society Exhibition of 1940, and it is assumed that all five photographs were prepared for inclusion or consideration in the exhibition.

Dates

  • ca. 1940

Conditions Governing Access

No viewing restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright restrictions may apply. Material may be in the public domain as there is no copyright notice on these photographs that were intended for public display/publication. The user assumes full responsibility for conforming to the laws of copyright.

Biographical / Historical

Walker Hancock (1901-1998) was a sculptor known for monumental works adorning war memorials, depicting presidents, and showing religious themes. He was born in St. Louis and attended the School of Fine Arts at Washington University and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. His work can be found at the Pennsylvania Railroad World War II Memorial in Philadelphia; the National Cathedral in Washington, DC; the United States Military Academy at West Point; the Library of Congress; the United States Supreme Court Building; and the United States Capitol. Hancock was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1989 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1990, in addition to many other awards and recognitions.

During and after World War II, Hancock served as one of the “Monuments Men.” This group worked to identify and reclaim art stolen by the Nazis, in addition to protecting national treasures and historic monuments as the Allied forces moved through Europe.

The four statues adorning the entrances to Soldiers Memorial in St. Louis were commissioned as part of a New Deal program, the Federal Art Project, and installed in 1939. The statues, Courage, Loyalty, Sacrifice, and Vision, commemorate the qualities demonstrated by soldiers and their families.

Extent

1.09 Cubic Feet ( (2 oversized folders; five photographs))

Language of Materials

English

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

No physical or technical restrictions.

Custodial History

The prints were created by Walter Hancock for potential inclusion in the "National Sculpture Society Exhibition of 1940." The prints were kept in family custody until their donation by Hancock’s daughter, Deane Hancock-French.

Donor Information

Collection donated by Deane Hancock-French, 2019.

Existence and Location of Copies

Digital copies and item-level records of select images are posted as they are created and can be accessed through the Online Collections on the Missouri Historical Society website (mohistory.org/collections).

Digitized images are generated from the original item whenever possible and files are adjusted only to ensure an accurate representation. Master files are saved in TIF format and JPEG viewing files are automatically generated from the master files.

Separated Materials

This donation included two plaster maquettes representing two of the four sculptures by Walker Hancock displayed at Soldiers Memorial (held in the Objects Department) and a brochure for Soldiers Memorial Military Museum, ca. 1981-1993 (held in the Library Department).

Formats

Photographs

Processing Information

Processed by Lauren Sallwasser, 2020.

Title
Guide to the Walker Hancock Soldiers Memorial Statues Photograph Collection.
Status
Completed
Author
EAD by Lauren Sallwasser using ArchivesSpace.
Date
2020
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Missouri Historical Society, Photographs and Prints Department Repository

Contact:
Library and Research Center
225 South Skinker Boulevard
St. Louis MO 63105