107th Infantry Memorial: Difference between revisions

107th Infantry Memorial
107th Infantry Memorial
	The memorial in 2008
Artist	Karl Morningstar Illava
Year	1927 --
Medium	Bronze
Subject	Seven World War I-era soldiers
Dimensions	300 cm (9'11" ft × 15'8" ft × 10 ft)
Location	Manhattan, New York
	40°46′09″N 73°58′10″W / 40.76927°N 73.96937°W

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The 107th Infantry Memorial is an outdoor bronze sculpture and memorial located at the intersection of East 67th Street and Fifth Avenue in Central Park, in Manhattan, New York, United States, which honors members of the 107th Infantry who died during World War I. Created by the sculptor Karl Morningstar Illava (1896–1954), who "drew from his own experience serving as a sergeant with the 107th," according to the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, the sculpture cost an estimated $60,000 at the time of its construction, depicts the actions of seven World War I-era soldiers, and rests on a 25-foot-wide stepped granite base designed by architects Rogers & Haneman.^[1]

It was donated by the Seventh Regiment New York 107th United States Infantry Memorial Committee, which was headed by C. I. Debevoise, former colonel and commanding officer of the 107th Infantry.^[2]

Design and construction

After deciding to make seven World War I-era soldiers the focus of his sculpture, sculptor Karl Illava worked with foundry experts at the Fond G. Vignali in Florence, Italy to have the figures cast in bronze in 1927. According to the city's parks department website, Illava used his own hands as the model for the hands of his subjects, and staged the "doughboys" in a manner depicting motion, "advancing from the wooded thicket bordering Central Park, as if mounting a charge." The bronze work was then anchored to a plinth on a stepped pedestal of North Jay granite designed by Rogers & Haneman, architects.^[1]

The sculpture itself is 9 feet by 11 inches high, 15 feet by 8 inches wide, and 10 feet deep while the pedestal is 7 feet, 7 tall and 32 feet, 8 wide.^[1] The inscription on the monument reads: "SEVENTH REGIMENT NEW YORK / ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTH UNITED STATES INFANTRY / 1917 IN MEMORIAM 1918."^[1]

History

20th century

More than 5,000 people attended the dedication of the monument on September 29, 1927. The date was chosen to commemorate the 9th anniversary of the Battle of St. Quentin Canal during which the regiment attacked the Hindenburg Line.^[3] Speakers included Colonel Hanford MacNider, the Assistant Secretary of War, New York State Senator William T. Byrne, Major General John F. O'Ryan, and General Alexander S. Diven. The sons of two fallen members of the 107th, Captain Clinton E. Fisk of Company D and Captain Fancher Nicoll of Company L., unveiled the monument.^[4] When it was unveiled, many people speculated that the lead soldier was modelled after boxer Gene Tunney, but "[o]fficers of the regiment denied this, saying the sculptor merely had striven to emphasize the characteristic expression of the typical soldier in action"^[3] and the sculptor said the figure was based on advertising executive Paul Cornell.^[5]

On Armistice Day 1927, the 107th Infantry Post of the American Legion held a religious service and Rev. Peter E. Hoey placed a floral wreath at the memorial to pay tribute to the war dead.^[6]

In October 1973, The Commanding officer, Sir Gregor MacGregor of the Scots Guards, held a wreath laying ceremony at the statue to commemorate the units World War I service with the British Army.^[7]

21st century

In May 2024, pro-Palestinian protesters vandalized the memorial to protest the Israel–Hamas war. The memorial was graffitied and an American flag was burned in front of the statue representing an Anti-American sentiment among the protesters due to the United States support for Israel in the Israel–Hamas conflict. Some Palestinian flag stickers were then placed on the memorial's base.^[8]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Central Park: 107th Infantry Memorial". New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Archived from the original on July 10, 2014. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
^ "Ground to Be Broken for Old 7th Statue; Infantry Regiment's Memorial on Upper Fifth Avenue Will Be Begun May 30". The New York Times. 1925-05-10. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-05-07.
^ ^a ^b "Memorial Unveiled for 7th Regiment". The New York Times. 1927-09-30. Archived from the original on 2023-10-02. Retrieved 2014-10-04.
^ "Unveiling 7th - 107th war memorial, Fifth Avenue and 66th Street, New York City, September 29th, 1927, ninth anniversary of the battle of the Hindenburg line" (1927 unveiling pamphlet). New York, New York: New York Historical Society Library, retrieved in 2014.
^ Miller, Tom (2015). Seeking New York. Pimpernel Press. p. 218. ISBN 978-1-9102-5800-2.
^ "City to Pay Tribute to War Dead Today". The New York Times. 1929-11-11. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-05-07.
^ Johnston, Laurie (1973-10-23). "Scots Seek Kinship and Commerce". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-05-07.
^ Tuchman, Lindsay (2024-05-07). "Statue vandalized, US flag burned in Pro-Palestinian protest on Upper East Side". ABC7 New York. Retrieved 2024-05-07.

External links

Central Park, New York: 10 things to do by Rhiannon Edwards (April 2, 2014), The Telegraph

[:0-1] "Central Park: 107th Infantry Memorial". New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Archived from the original on July 10, 2014. Retrieved June 16, 2014.

[2] "Ground to Be Broken for Old 7th Statue; Infantry Regiment's Memorial on Upper Fifth Avenue Will Be Begun May 30". The New York Times. 1925-05-10. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-05-07.

[NYT-3] "Memorial Unveiled for 7th Regiment". The New York Times. 1927-09-30. Archived from the original on 2023-10-02. Retrieved 2014-10-04.

[4] "Unveiling 7th - 107th war memorial, Fifth Avenue and 66th Street, New York City, September 29th, 1927, ninth anniversary of the battle of the Hindenburg line" (1927 unveiling pamphlet). New York, New York: New York Historical Society Library, retrieved in 2014.

[5] Miller, Tom (2015). Seeking New York. Pimpernel Press. p. 218. ISBN 978-1-9102-5800-2.

[6] "City to Pay Tribute to War Dead Today". The New York Times. 1929-11-11. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-05-07.

[7] Johnston, Laurie (1973-10-23). "Scots Seek Kinship and Commerce". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-05-07.

[8] Tuchman, Lindsay (2024-05-07). "Statue vandalized, US flag burned in Pro-Palestinian protest on Upper East Side". ABC7 New York. Retrieved 2024-05-07.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Sculpture in Manhattan, New York, U.S.}}
-[[File:107th Infantry Memorial, Central Park, NYC.JPG|thumb|right|The memorial in 2008]]
+{{Infobox artwork
+| title              = 107th Infantry Memorial
+| painting_alignment =
+| other_language_1   =
+| other_title_1      =
+| other_language_2   =
+| other_title_2      =
+| wikidata           =
+| image              = 107th Infantry Memorial, Central Park, NYC.JPG
+| image_upright      =
+| alt                =
+| caption            = The memorial in 2008
+| artist             = [[Karl Morningstar Illava]]
+| year               =  {{start date|1927}} --
+| completion_date    =  <!-- For a more specific date (post-1583): {{start date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}} -->
+| catalogue          =
+| medium             = [[Bronze]]
+| movement           =
+| subject            = Seven [[World War I]]-era soldiers
+| height_metric      =  <!-- (i.e. in metric units) -->
+| width_metric       =
+| length_metric      =
+| diameter_metric    =
+| height_imperial    =  9'11"
+| width_imperial     =  15'8"
+| length_imperial    = 10
+| diameter_imperial  =
+| dimensions         =
+| dimensions_ref     =
+| metric_unit        = cm  <!-- Note: this parameter must either use the value given or not be included -->
+| imperial_unit      = ft <!-- Note: this parameter must either use the value given or not be included -->
+| weight             =
+| designation        =
+| condition          =
+| museum             =
+| city               = [[Manhattan, New York]]
+| coordinates        = {{coord|40.76927|-73.96937|type:landmark_globe:earth_region:US-NY|display=title, inline}}
+ | mapframe           = yes
+ | mapframe-zoom      = 13
+| owner              =
+| accession          =
+| preceded_by        =  <!-- preceding work by the same artist -->
+| followed_by        =  <!-- next work by the same artist -->
+| module             =
+| website            =  <!-- Official webpage/site only: {{URL|example.com}} -->
+}}
-The '''''107th Infantry Memorial''''' is an outdoor bronze sculpture and memorial located at the intersection of East 67th Street and Fifth Avenue in [[Central Park]], in [[Manhattan]], [[New York (state)|New York]], which honors members of the 107th Infantry who died during [[World War I]]. Created by the sculptor Karl Morningstar Illava (1896–1954), who "drew from his own experience serving as a sergeant with the 107th," according to the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, the sculpture cost an estimated $60,000 at the time of its construction, depicts the actions of seven World War I-era soldiers, and rests on a 25-foot-wide stepped granite base designed by architects Rogers & Haneman.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/centralpark/highlights/13309|title=Central Park: 107th Infantry Memorial|accessdate=June 16, 2014|publisher=[[New York City Department of Parks and Recreation]]}}</ref>
+The '''''107th Infantry Memorial''''' is an outdoor bronze sculpture and memorial located at the intersection of East 67th Street and [[Fifth Avenue]] in [[Central Park]], in [[Manhattan]], [[New York (state)|New York]], United States, which honors members of the [[107th Infantry Regiment (United States)|107th Infantry]] who died during [[World War I]]. Created by the sculptor Karl Morningstar Illava (1896–1954), who "drew from his own experience serving as a sergeant with the 107th," according to the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, the sculpture cost an estimated $60,000 at the time of its construction, depicts the actions of seven World War I-era soldiers, and rests on a 25-foot-wide stepped granite base designed by architects Rogers & Haneman.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/centralpark/highlights/13309|title=Central Park: 107th Infantry Memorial|access-date=June 16, 2014|publisher=[[New York City Department of Parks and Recreation]]|archive-date=July 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140710034003/http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/centralpark/highlights/13309|url-status=live}}</ref>
-It was donated by the Seventh Regiment New York 107th United States Infantry Memorial Committee, which was headed by C. I. Debevoice, former colonel and commanding officer of the 107th Infantry.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1925/05/10/archives/ground-to-be-broken-for-old-7th-statue-infantry-regiments-memorial.html "Ground to Be Broken for Old 7th Statue; Infantry Regiment's Memorial on Upper Fifth Avenue Will Be Begun May 30]." New York, New York: ''The New York Times'', May 10, 1925.</ref>
+It was donated by the Seventh Regiment New York 107th United States Infantry Memorial Committee, which was headed by C. I. Debevoise, former colonel and commanding officer of the 107th Infantry.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1925-05-10 |title=Ground to Be Broken for Old 7th Statue; Infantry Regiment's Memorial on Upper Fifth Avenue Will Be Begun May 30 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1925/05/10/archives/ground-to-be-broken-for-old-7th-statue-infantry-regiments-memorial.html |access-date=2024-05-07 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
 ==Design and construction==
-After deciding to make seven World War I-era soldiers the focus of his sculpture, sculptor Karl Illava worked with foundry experts at the Fond G. Vignali in Firenze, Italy to have the figures cast in bronze in 1927. According to the city's parks department website, Illava used his own hands as the model for the hands of his subjects, and staged the "doughboys" in a manner depicting motion, "advancing from the wooded thicket bordering Central Park, as if mounting a charge." The bronze work was then anchored to a [[Plinth|plinth]] on a stepped pedestal of North Jay granite designed by Rogers & Haneman, architects.<ref>"One Hundred Seventh Infantry Memorial," New York Parks & Recreation.</ref>
+[[File:107thMemorial01.jpg|thumb|right|The memorial at night]] After deciding to make seven World War I-era soldiers the focus of his sculpture, sculptor Karl Illava worked with foundry experts at the Fond G. Vignali in [[Florence]], Italy to have the figures cast in bronze in 1927. According to the city's parks department website, Illava used his own hands as the model for the hands of his subjects, and staged the "doughboys" in a manner depicting motion, "advancing from the wooded thicket bordering Central Park, as if mounting a charge." The bronze work was then anchored to a [[plinth]] on a stepped pedestal of North Jay granite designed by Rogers & Haneman, architects.<ref name=":0" />
-The sculpture itself is 9 feet by 11 inches high, 15 feet by 8 inches wide, and 10 feet deep while the pedestal is 7 feet, 7 tall and 32 feet, 8 wide.<ref>"One Hundred Seventh Infantry Memorial," New York Parks & Recreation.</ref>
+The sculpture itself is 9 feet by 11 inches high, 15 feet by 8 inches wide, and 10 feet deep while the pedestal is 7 feet, 7 tall and 32 feet, 8 wide.<ref name=":0" /> The inscription on the monument reads: "SEVENTH REGIMENT NEW YORK / ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTH UNITED STATES INFANTRY / 1917 IN MEMORIAM 1918."<ref name=":0" />
-===Inscription===
+==History==
+===20th century===
-The inscription on the monument reads: "SEVENTH REGIMENT NEW YORK / ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTH UNITED INFANTRY / 1917 IN MEMORIAM 1918."<ref>"One Hundred Seventh Infantry Memorial," New York Parks & Recreation.</ref>
+More than 5,000 people attended the dedication of the monument on September 29, 1927. The date was chosen to commemorate the 9th anniversary of the [[Battle of St. Quentin Canal]] during which the regiment attacked the [[Hindenburg Line]].<ref name="NYT">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=1927-09-30 |title=Memorial Unveiled for 7th Regiment |url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1927/09/30/101507766.html?pageNumber=3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002203423/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1927/09/30/101507766.html?pageNumber=3 |archive-date=2023-10-02 |access-date=2014-10-04 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Speakers included Colonel [[Hanford MacNider]], the Assistant Secretary of War, New York State Senator [[William T. Byrne]], Major General [[John F. O'Ryan]], and General [[Alexander S. Diven]]. The sons of two fallen members of the 107th, Captain Clinton E. Fisk of Company D and Captain Fancher Nicoll of Company L., unveiled the monument.<ref>"Unveiling 7th - 107th war memorial, Fifth Avenue and 66th Street, New York City, September 29th, 1927, ninth anniversary of the battle of the Hindenburg line" (1927 unveiling pamphlet). New York, New York: New York Historical Society Library, retrieved in 2014.</ref> When it was unveiled, many people speculated that the lead soldier was modelled after boxer [[Gene Tunney]], but "[o]fficers of the regiment denied this, saying the sculptor merely had striven to emphasize the characteristic expression of the typical soldier in action"<ref name=NYT/> and the sculptor said  the figure was based on advertising executive Paul Cornell.<ref>{{cite book|first=Tom|last=Miller|title=Seeking New York|publisher=Pimpernel Press|year=2015|isbn=978-1-9102-5800-2|page=218}}</ref>
+On [[Armistice Day]] 1927, the 107th Infantry Post of the [[American Legion]] held a religious service and Rev. Peter E. Hoey placed a floral wreath at the memorial to pay tribute to the war dead.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1929-11-11 |title=City to Pay Tribute to War Dead Today |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1929/11/11/archives/city-to-pay-tribute-to-war-dead-today-all-activities-to-cease-at-11.html?searchResultPosition=1 |access-date=2024-05-07 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
-==Dedication==
-[[File:107thMemorial01.jpg|thumb|The memorial at night]]
+In October 1973, The Commanding officer, Sir Gregor MacGregor of the [[Scots Guards]], held a wreath laying ceremony at the statue to commemorate the units World War I service with the British Army.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Johnston |first=Laurie |date=1973-10-23 |title=Scots Seek Kinship and Commerce |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/10/23/archives/scots-seek-kinship-and-commerce-ball-to-be-held-tonight.html |access-date=2024-05-07 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
-More than 5,000 people <ref name=NYT>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date=1927-09-30|title=Memorial Unveiled for 7th Regiment|url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1927/09/30/101507766.html?pageNumber=3|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=2014-10-04}}</ref> attended the dedication of the monument on September 29, 1927. The date was chosen to commemorate the 9th anniversary of the [[Battle of St. Quentin Canal]] during which the regiment attacked the [[Hindenburg Line]].<ref>"[https://www.nytimes.com/1927/09/30/archives/memorial-unveiled-for-7th-regiment-monument-in-5th-av-dedicated-on.html Memorial Unveiled for 7th Regiment; Monument in 5th Av. Dedicated on Ninth Anniversary of the Attack on Hindenburg Line]." New York, New York: ''The New York Times'', September 30, 1927.</ref> Speakers included Colonel [[Hanford MacNider]], the Assistant Secretary of War, New York State Senator [[William T. Byrne]], Major General [[John F. O'Ryan]], and General [[Alexander S. Diven]]. The sons of two fallen members of the 107th, Captain Clinton E. Fisk of Company D and Captain Fancher Nicoll of Company L., unveiled the monument.<ref>"Unveiling 7th - 107th war memorial, Fifth Avenue and 66th Street, New York City, September 29th, 1927, ninth anniversary of the battle of the Hindenburg line" (2017 unveiling pamphlet). New York, New York: New York Historical Society Library, retrieved in 2014.</ref>
+===21st century ===
-When it was unveiled, many people speculated that the lead soldier was modeled after boxer [[Gene Tunney]], but "[o]fficers of the regiment denied this, saying the sculptor merely had striven to emphasize the characteristic expression of the typical soldier in action"<ref name=NYT/> and the sculptor said  the figure was based on advertising executive Paul Cornell.<ref>{{cite book|first=Tom|last=Miller|title=Seeking New York|publisher=Pimpernel Press|year=2015|isbn=978-1-9102-5800-2|page=218}}</ref>
+In May 2024, pro-Palestinian protesters vandalized the memorial to [[Israel–Hamas war protests in the United States|protest the Israel–Hamas war]]. The memorial was graffitied and an American flag was burned in front of the statue representing an [[Anti-Americanism|Anti-American sentiment]] among the protesters due to the [[United States support for Israel in the Israel–Hamas war|United States support for Israel in the Israel–Hamas conflict]]. Some Palestinian flag stickers were then placed on the memorial's base.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tuchman |first=Lindsay |date=2024-05-07 |title=Statue vandalized, US flag burned in Pro-Palestinian protest on Upper East Side |url=https://abc7ny.com/nearly-30-pro-palestinian-protesters-were-arrested-during-demonstrations-on-the-upper-east-side-monday-night-a-statue-was-vandalized-and-american-flag-burned/14778072/ |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=ABC7 New York |language=en}}</ref>
-==Remembrance ceremonies==
-On [[Armistice Day]] 1927. the 107th Infantry Post of the [[American Legion]] held a religious service and Rev. Peter E. Hoey placed a floral wreath at the memorial to pay tribute to the war dead.<ref>"City to Pay Tribute to War Dead Today." New York, New York: ''The New York Times'', November 11, 1927, page 25.</ref>
-In October 1973, The Commanding officer, Sir Gregor MacGregor of the [[Scots Guards]], held a wreath laying ceremony at the statue to commemorate the units World War I service with the British Army.<ref>"Scots Seek Kinship and Commerce." New York, New York: ''The New York Times'', October 23, 1973.</ref>
 ==See also==
+{{Portal|New York City|Visual arts}}
 * [[107th Infantry Regiment (United States)]]
 * [[1927 in art]]
@@ Line 34: / Line 76: @@
 ==External links==
-{{Commons category|107th U.S. Infantry Memorial (Central Park)}}
+{{Commons category}}
 * [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/northamerica/usa/newyork/10737910/Central-Park-New-York-10-things-to-do.html Central Park, New York: 10 things to do] by Rhiannon Edwards (April 2, 2014), ''The Telegraph''
 {{Central Park}}
+{{Public art in Manhattan}}
-{{coord|40.76927|-73.96937|type:landmark_globe:earth_region:US-NY|display=title}}
-[[Category:1927 establishments in New York (state)]]
+[[Category:1927 establishments in New York City]]
 [[Category:1927 sculptures]]
-[[Category:Bronze sculptures in New York City]]
+[[Category:Bronze sculptures in Central Park]]
-[[Category:Central Park]]
 [[Category:Monuments and memorials in Manhattan]]
 [[Category:Outdoor sculptures in Manhattan]]
-[[Category:Statues in New York City]]
 [[Category:Sculptures of men in New York City]]
+[[Category:Statues in New York City]]
+[[Category:Vandalized works of art in New York City]]