Description:

Harding Warren

Warren Harding Letter Honoring World War I Soldiers

“the structure is intended to be a worthy national memorial of the services of our armed forces in the World War, and also to represent a compliance with the wish of General Washington, that a great educational establishment should be provided here.”

The George Washington Memorial Association began a project in 1897 to build a national university in memory of George Washington, as the centennial of his death was approaching. In the will he wrote in July 1799, George Washington bequeathed fifty shares of the Potomac Company toward the establishment of a national university in the District of Columbia, and the Association hoped to fulfill his goal. Composed largely of women, the Association gained the support of presidents, member of Congress, and governors.

On March 4, 1913, Congress approved the construction of the George Washington Memorial Building on federal land then known as Armory Square in Washington. After World War I, the project also became a monument to veterans of the war. The cornerstone was laid on November 14, 1921, with President Warren G. Harding in attendance. Although the association collected more than $500,000 nationwide, it could not reach the estimated $2.5 million needed to build the building. The Association abandoned the project and gave the donations to George Washington University. In 1937, Congress re-appropriated the land to build the National Gallery of Art.

WARREN G. HARDING, Typed Letter Signed, to Nathan E. Kendall, January 9, 1922.  2 pp., 7" x 8.875", on “THE WHITE HOUSE” stationery.  Some small holes from staples; very good.

Excerpts
“I am writing to enlist your interest, with mine, in the Washington and Victory Memorial Building, which is in course of erection in Washington. As you doubtless know, the structure is intended to be a worthy national memorial of the services of our armed forces in the World War, and also to represent a compliance with the wish of General Washington, that a great educational establishment should be provided here. These two purposes have been united in the plans for the Memorial Building, in whose erection it is aimed to have all the states participate.”

“The great Auditorium, designed as a meeting place for national and international gatherings, will have its ceiling studded with gold and blue stars; a blue star for every survivor who served in the war, a gold one for each one who gave his life in the service; with the initials of every man marking his own star. Thus will be produced a true service flag of the nation, with its millions of stars; and that it may be given the character of a truly national memorial, it is wished that each state should provide for the stars for its own men, in addition to any other participation it may choose to assume.”

“To make this structure a true shrine of national patriotism, representing for our country the sentiments that Westminster Abbey and Saint Paul’s Church attest to Englishmen and the Pantheon and the Invalides to Frenchmen, -- this is the ambition of the earnest men and women who are carrying forward the work of the George Washington Memorial Association.”

“I have assurance that the City of Washington will give generous assistance toward erection of the Memorial, and would be glad if each of the states will see fit to give the endorsement indicated by some official participation.” 
      

Nathan E. Kendall (1868-1936) was born in Iowa, read law, and gained admission to the bar in 1889. After serving as city and county attorney, he won election to the Iowa House of Representatives in 1899. He served there for ten years, the last term as Speaker. In 1908, he won election to the U.S. House of Representatives as a Republican, and served two terms from 1909 to 1913. After returning to his law practice, Kendall won election as governor of Iowa in 1920 and served two terms from 1921 to 1925.


This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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