Samuel Gompers Memorial, (sculpture).

Samuel Gompers Memorial, (sculpture).

Aitken, Robert, 1878-1949, sculptor.

Roman Bronze Works, founder.

Fred Drew Company, architectural firm.

Vitale and Geiffert, landscape architect.

Samuel Gompers Memorial, (sculpture).

Gompers Memorial, (sculpture).

Modeled 1930. Dedicated Oct. 7, 1933.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: bronze; Base: Minnesota granite.

Sculpture: approx. 8 ft. x 21 ft. 4 in. x 12 ft. 2 in.; Base: approx. 1 ft. 6 in. x 27 ft. x 16 ft. 3 in.

R.AITKEN.N.A./.SCULPTOR/CAST BY ROMAN BRONZE WORKS.SUBSIDIARY OF/CENTRAL BRONZE CORP./LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (Base front, beneath figure of Gompers:) SAMUEL GOMPERS

(Base, front left:) "SO LONG AS WE HAVE HELD FAST TO VOLUNTARY PRINCIPLES/AND HAVE BEEN ACTUATED AND INSPIRED BY THE SPIRIT OF/SERVICE, WE HAVE SUSTAINED OUR FORWARD PROGRESS AND/WE HAVE MADE OUR LABOR MOVEMENT SOMETHING TO BE/RESPECTED AND ACCORDED A PLACE IN THE COUNCILS OF OUR/REPUBLIC. WHERE WE HAVE BLUNDERED INTO TRYING TO FORCE/A POLICY OR A DECISION, EVEN THOUGH WISE AND/RIGHT, WE HAVE IMPEDED, IF NOT INTERRUPTED THE/REALIZATION OF OUR OWN AIMS."

(Base, front right:) "NO LASTING GAIN HAS EVER COME FROM COMPULSION/IF WE SEEK TO FORCE, WE BUT TEAR APART THAT WHICH,/UNITED, IS INVINCIBLE. THERE IS NO WAY WHEREBY OUR LABOR/MOVEMENT MAY BE ASSURED SUSTAINED PROGRESS IN/DETERMINING ITS POLICIES AND ITS PLANS OTHER THAN/SINCERE DEMOCRATIC DELIBERATION UNTIL A UNANIMOUS/DECISION IS REACHED. THIS MAY SEEM A CUMBROUS, SLOW METHOD TO THE IMPATIENT BUT THE IMPATIENT ARE MORE/CONCERNED FOR IMMEDIATE TRIUMPH THAN FOR THE /EDUCATION OF CONSTRUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT."

(Base, center rear:) (Seal of the American Federation of Labor) "SAY TO THE ORGANIZED WORKERS OF AMERICA THAT AS/I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH I EXPECT THAT THEY WILL KEEP THE/FAITH. THEY MUST CARRY ON. SAY TO THEM THAT A UNION MAN/CARRYING A CARD IS NOT A GOOD CITIZEN UNLESS HE UPHOLDS/THE INSTITUTIONS OF OUR COUNTRY AND A POOR CITIZEN OF/OUR COUNTRY IF HE UPHOLDS THE INSTITUTIONS OF OUR COUNTRY/AND FORGETS THE OBLIGATIONS OF HIS TRADE ASSOCIATIONS." signed Founder's mark appears.

The memorial features a portrait of Gompers, dressed in garb of his times, seated with papers on his lap. He is surrounded by six allegorical figures representing the American labor movement. The seated male on the proper left symbolizes the overthrow of industrial exploitation by Education; the seated female figure on the proper right symbolizes the protection of the home. The two standing women represent Justice. The left female holds a fasces, a Roman symbol of power and justice. The two principal background figures, two standing men with clasped hands, denote Unity and Cooperation of the labor movement. Emblems of labor, such as a 1930 steam locomotive engine, are arranged among the Neoclassical figures. The base of the memorial is inscribed with quotes from Gompers' speeches.

Portrait male -- Gompers, Samuel -- Full length

Occupation -- Other -- Labor Leader

Allegory -- Arts & Sciences -- Education

Allegory -- Quality -- Justice

Allegory -- Arts & Sciences -- Industry

Allegory -- Quality -- Harmony

Object -- Written Matter -- Book

Architecture -- Vehicle -- Train

Outdoor Sculpture -- District of Columbia -- Washington

Administered by United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Washington, District of Columbia

Located Gompers Square, Massachusetts Avenue & 10th Street, N.W., Washington, District of Columbia

Samuel Gompers (1850-1924) was born in England, and immigrated to New York with his parents. As a child, he was employed rolling cigars which gave him an appreciation for the situation of American worker. He reorganized the Cigar Makers Union and went on to establish the American Federation of Labor in 1886. In 1928, Congress authorized "the erection on public grounds in the District of Columbia of a stone monument as a memorial to Samuel Gompers."

In the spring of 1929, a competition for the memorial was sponsored by the American Federation of Labor. The winning design by Charles Keck was rejected by the Fine Arts Commission. A second competition was held and Aitken was selected to submit a proposal for the monument. He presented his model on Oct. 12, 1930, winning approval from the both the labor committee and the Fine Arts Commission.

Members of the American Federation of Labor donated $133,584.12 for the erection of the memorial. IAS files contain an excerpt from Jannelle Warren-Findley's Aug. 1, 1985 report for the National Park Service entitled, "A Guide to Selected Statues, Monuments and Memorials," National Capital Parks - Central, National Park Service, Washington, D.C. (RFQ 3-4-1919) which includes a brief maintenance history, a list of bibliographic sources, and notes to additional information found in National Park Service files. The New York Times, Dec. 7, 1930, issue contains a photograph of Aitken with the model for his monument.

Labor Heritage, Vol. 9, no. 3, Winter 1998, pg. 4-21.

Goode, James M., "The Outdoor Sculpture of Washington, D.C., A Comprehensive Historical Guide," Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1974, pg. 276.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, District of Columbia survey, 1993.

Smithsonian Institution Research Expeditions Volunteer Project, 1991.

Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985.

Michael Richman, SAAM curatorial assistant, 1967-1969.

Goode, James M., "The Outdoor Sculpture of Washington, D.C., A Comprehensive Historical Guide," Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1974, H-4.

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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