Doughboy, (sculpture).

Doughboy, (sculpture).

Paulding, John, 1883-1935, sculptor.

American Bronze Company, founder.

Doughboy, (sculpture).

One Hundred Seventeenth Infantry Monument, (sculpture).

World War I Veterans Memorial, (sculpture).

117th Infantry Monument, (sculpture).

Over the Top, (sculpture).

Installed ca. 1921. Dedicated May 22, 1922.

Digital Reference:

Bronze on a granite base.

Sculpture: approx. H. 8 ft.; Base: approx. 23 ft. x 7 ft. 9 in. x 10 ft. 8 in.

(On bronze plinth: Copyright symbol) (On plaque on base:) ERECTED/IN THE YEAR 1921/BY THE OFFICERS AND MEN/OF THE 117TH INFANTRY/59TH BGE. 30TH DIV./THIRD TENNESSEE INFANTRY/TO OUR LIVING DEAD; THAT COMPANY OF SHINING SOULS/WHO GAVE THEIR YOUTH THAT THE WORLD MIGHT GROW OLD IN PEACE/WARS IN WHICH REGIMENT PARTICIPATED/MEXICAN WAR, 1848/CIVIL WAR 1861-1865/SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR 1898-1899/MEXICAN BORDER SERVICE 1916-1917/WORLD'S WAR 1917-1918-1919. (IAS files contain newspaper article which transcribes the rest of this inscription.)

(On plaque on front of base:) DEDICATION/THE MONUMENT PERPETUATES THE MEMORY OF OUR BELOVED/COMRADES WHO, TRUE TO THE INSTINCTS OF THEIR BIRTH,/FAITHFUL TO THE TEACHINGS OF THEIR FATHERS, CONSTANT/IN THEIR LOVE OF COUNTRY, MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE/IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTY; WHO HAVE GLORIFIED/THE GREAT CAUSE OF FREEDOM BY THE SIMPLE MANHOOD OF/THEIR LIVES, THE PATIENT ENDURANCE OF SUFFERING AND/THE HEROISM OF DEATH; AND WHO, IN THE DARKEST HOURS/OF THE WORLD'S CONFLICT, IN THE HOPELESSNESS OF THE/HOSPITAL, IN THE SHORT, SHARP AGONY OF THE BATTLEFIELD,/FOUND SUPPORT AND CONSOLATION IN THE BELIEF THAT AT/HOME THEY WOULD NOT BE FORGOTTEN. (IAS files contain newspaper article which transcribes the rest of this inscription.) (Other plaques on base list the names of the 453 members of the 117th Infantry who gave their lives in WWI.) unsigned

A World War I infantryman in a running position. His proper left leg is forward and carries the weight of the figure. His proper right hand is raised, and he holds a rifle roughly parallel to the ground in his proper left hand. His uniform is very detailed, including a hard helmet with a brim and a chin strap, a canteen and pouches attached to his belt, and a large square pouch around his neck which hangs in front of his chest. He stands on a plinth depicting rocky ground. The plinth rests on a granite base in front of a tall granite shaft. At the top of the shaft is an eagle standing on a sphere with outstretched wings. Around the top of the shaft is a border of medallions. Around the base and the bottom of the shaft are several large plaques.

History -- United States -- World War I

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Object -- Weapon -- Gun

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

Figure male -- Full length

Object -- Weapon -- Grenade

Animal -- Bird -- Eagle

Outdoor Sculpture -- Tennessee -- Knoxville

Administered by Knox County School Board, P. O. Box 2188, Knoxville, Tennessee 37901

Located Knoxville High School 101 East Fifth Avenue, Knoxville, Tennessee

IAS files contain related articles from Knoxville Sentinel (Knoxville, TN), May 21, 1922; Journal and Tribune (Knoxville, TN), May 21, 1922; Journal and Tribune (Knoxville, TN), May 22, 1922; and Journal and Tribune (Knoxville, TN), May 23, 1922; which discuss the dedication ceremony. The Journal and Tribune (Knoxville, TN), May 22, 1922 includes a transcription of several of the inscriptions on the base plaques. This monument was erected by the officers and men of the 117th Infantry, 59th Brigade 30th Division, Third Tennessee Infantry.

Sculpture was cleaned and graffiti removed in 1949 after it was vandalized with paint. In 1959 the sculpture was repaired and restored after it was toppled by vandals.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Tennessee survey, 1992.

Berchem-Nigg, Kenneth, 2007.

Knoxville Sentinel (Knoxville, TN), May 21, 1922.

Journal and Tribune (Knoxville, TN) May 21, 1922.

Journal and Tribune (Knoxville, TN) May 22, 1922.

Journal and Tribune (Knoxville, TN) May 23, 1922.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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Horizon Information Portal 3.25_9382

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