Molly Marine, (sculpture).

Molly Marine, (sculpture).

Alferez, Enrique, 1901-1999, sculptor.

Molly Marine, (sculpture).

1943. Dedicated Nov. 10, 1943. Rededicated July 1, 1966.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: concrete with bronze coating; Base: marble or granite.

Sculpture: approx. H. 7 ft.; Base: approx. 5 x 4 x 4 ft.

(copyright symbol) E. ALFEREZ (Front of base:) MOLLY MARINE/NOVEMBER 10, 1943/"FREE A MARINE TO FIGHT/REDEDICATED JULY 1, 1966, IN HONOR OF/WOMEN MARINES WHO SERVE THEIR COUNTRY/IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS/OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS" signed

A female Marine, seen dressed in uniform, with skirt, jacket and hat. She holds binoculars in her proper right hand in front of her; and carries pamphlets in her proper left hand.

History -- United States -- World War II

Figure female -- Full length

Occupation -- Military -- Marine

Dress -- Accessory -- Binoculars

Object -- Written Matter

Outdoor Sculpture -- Louisiana -- New Orleans

Administered by City of New Orleans, Department of Property Management, 1300 Perdido Street, City Hall, Room 5W01, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112

Located Elk Place & Canal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana

In 1966, the original cement statue was coated with bronze and the pedestal replaced. The memorial was rededicated in 1963, in conjunction with the annual convention of the Women's Marine Association. According to newspaper accounts at that time, "Molly" may be the first uniformed woman statue in the United States."

The sculpture was a gift of the citizens of New Orleans and the artist to the Marine Corps Women's Reserve. The Edward Cocke text "Monumental New Orleans," lists the execution date as 1940; but SOS! survey gives 1943 execution date. IAS files contain newspaper articles from Times-Picayune (New Orleans, LA), Nov. 10, 1943; Nov. 11, 19843, and July 2, 1966.

In Oct. 1999 a bronze replica of Molly Marine was installed in South Carolina at the Parris Island Memorial Park (IAS record no. 71500742). In Sept. 2000 a second bronze replica was installed in Virginia at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico (IAS record no. 7150741).

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Louisiana, New Orleans survey, 1993.

Cocke, Edward J., "Monumental New Orleans," New Orleans: La Fayette Pub., 1968.

Cocke, Edward J., "Monumental New Orleans," New Orleans: La Fayette Pub., 1968, pg. 23.

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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