Georgia Monument

 

Georgia Monument Finding Aide

These documents from the GNMP V17-44 Georgia Monument Files are related to the NPS approval of the erection of the Georgia Memorial on the Gettysburg Battlefield. They are presented in chronological order.

1. Mrs. Gertrude Kibler Chairman, Centennial Committee of Georgia to GNMP Supt. Myers, July 9, 1961
Mrs. Kibler notifies Supt. Myers she has been appointed Chairman, Centennial Committee by Georgia Governor Vandiver “to procure and place monuments at the Battlefields of Gettysburg and Antietam.” The monuments have been selected and the committee “hopes to have them built in September.” She goes on to state that the committee will visit Gettysburg to select a site and consult with Mr. Myers on the rules to be followed and expects there will be two events due to the distance between Gettysburg and Antietam. Details regarding the attendance at the events and a local military band is being considered. Governor Vandiver will head the Georgia delegation. She hopes Mr. Myers will help with working out the details in advance and would welcome his suggestions regarding the Antietam event.

2. GNMP Supt. Myers to Mrs. Gertrude Kibler Chairman Centennial Committee of Georgia, July 14, 1961 (With site map enclosed.)
Supt. Myers acknowledges Mrs. Kibler’s letter and details that the process that the approval of the monument approvals will be subject to the NPS Director. He also provides her with information on local motels, restaurants, a map of the Gettysburg battlefield and the availability of local high school bands.

3. Mr. Bob Greenway, Marietta Memorials to GNMP Historian Frederick Tilberg, July 20, 1961
Mr. Greenway thanks Dr. Tilberg for his courtesies while Mr. Greenway and others visited the GNMP.

4. Memorandum for the files, GNMP Historian Frederick Tilberg, July 21, 1961
Dr. Tilberg provides a memo for his files about his meeting with a Georgia delegation including Mr. Greenway and others as they viewed possible sites for the Georgia monument and “the party selected a site about 20 yards north of the Semmes Brigade tablet (200 yards south of the Longstreet Line tower) on the west side of the avenue.

5. Mr. Bob Greenway, Marietta Memorials to GNMP Supt. Myers, July 21, 1961
Mr. Greenway writes a letter to Supt. Myers similar to the one he wrote to Dr. Tilberg regarding his recent tour of the Gettysburg Battlefield for a possible Georgia monument site. A handwritten note to Sollenberger is also part of this copy of the correspondence.

6. Mrs. Gertrude Kibler Chairman, Centennial Committee of Georgia to GNMP Supt. Myers, (no map included) August 1, 1961
Mrs. Kibler provides a map “with the spot marked that my committee has approved.” (Check transcription)

7. GNMP Acting Supt. Sollenberger to NPS Regional Director, Region Five, August 2, 1961
This memo to the Regional Director from Supt. Myers provides details of Mrs. Kibler’s appointment, the visit of Mr. Greenway to Marietta Memorials in Gettysburg and a site recommended by the GNMP. He notes that Mrs. Kibler requests General Eisenhower be “empowered to accept the monument for the Federal Government.”

8. Antietam National Battlefield (ANB) Supt. Davis to Director, August 3, 1961
Antietam Supt. Davis notifies the NPS Director of his receipt of Mrs. Kibler’s letter and her desire for the Antietam dedication be held on September 20, with the Gettysburg event being held on September 21, 1961. He is “very interested to know” if a design has been submitted to the Director for approval and references Supt. Myers’ letter of July 14^th making it clear “prior approval for the monument and the site is required from the NPS Director.”

9. Mrs. Gertrude Kibler Chairman, Centennial Committee of Georgia to NPS Director Wirth, August 3, 1961
Mrs. Kibler states the Gettysburg invocation will be given by the Bishop of Philadelphia and the Georgia Secretary of State will preside over the dedication. She also mentions she has received requests that President Eisenhower be asked to accept the Gettysburg monument. She invites the Regional Director to accept the Antietam monument at the dedication on September 20, 1961.

10. Senator. Richard Russell to Honorable L. Wirth, Director National Park Service, August 7, 1961
Senator Russell has written Director Wirth of the Senator’s invitation by Mrs. Kibler to the Antietam Monument ceremonies for a Georgia monument. He asks Mr. Wirth for “any assistance which you may be in a position to render the Georgia Committee would be deeply appreciated…”

11. NPS Director Wirth to Mrs. Gertrude Kibler Chairman, Centennial Committee of Georgia, August 11, 1961
Director Wirth writes Mrs. Kibler that the Daughters of the Confederacy should invite President Eisenhower directly for his participation in the dedication. However, he will be unable to officiate at the Antietam event and will designate the Regional Director from Philadelphia, Mr. Lee, Supt. Myers and Supt. Davis to represent the NPS at Antietam. He is “sorry” he will not be present to accept these “most generous donations from the Georgia United Daughters of the Confederacy.”

12. Chief Eastern Office Division of Design and Construction (EDOC) Hall to NPS Regional Director, Region Five, August 14, 1961 (No Enclosure)
Chief Hall has forwarded to Director Wirth the development plan for the Georgia monument at Gettysburg but disagrees with the GNMP on the inclusion of a “small pull-off” at the site and has omitted it from the plan. Once this plan is approved, Mr. Hall will prepare “black line prints” for the Director’s use and transmittal to Washington.

13. NPS Regional Director, Region Five to NPS Director (Attachments Not Included), August 15, 1961
In this letter, the Regional Director summarizes the activities of the GNMP and Georgia Delegation regarding the progress of the discussions for the Georgia monument at Gettysburg including approval of the design and site.

14. Dr. Stevens Exec. Director PA Historical & Museum Commission to GNMP Supt. Myers, August 16, 1961
Dr. Stevens invites Supt. Myers to a meeting of the PA Historical and Museum Commission scheduled for August 24^th and closes with an observation about the projected Georgia Dedication date by writing “How in hell are they going to get a monument for Sept. 21.”

15. Mrs. Bryan Director Dept. of Georgia Archives & History to NPS Regional Director Lee, August 16, 1961
Mrs. Bryan details for Mr. Lee that President Eisenhower has been invited to the Gettysburg Dedication but no reply has been received as of August 16th and other dignitaries, U.S. Senator Russell and the Second Army Band from Fort Meade will be performing. She also wants Director Lee to know that “the gifts of the two monuments are from Governor Vandiver and the Georgia General Assembly sponsored by the State Centennial Committee.”

16. GNMP Supt. Myers to Dr. Stevens Exec. Director PA Historical & Museum Commission, August 17, 1961
Supt. Myers thanks Dr. Stevens for his visit to Gettysburg and admits he “got a laugh out of Dr. Steven’s inquiry about how the Georgia group expects to get a monument up for dedication on September 21 … it will really take some doing.”

17. Mrs. Bryan Director Dept. of Georgia Archives & History to GNMP Supt. Myers, August 20, 1961
Mrs. Bryan requests ten Gettysburg Dedication brochures from the GNMP for distribution at the dedication.

18. Mr. Bob Greenway, Marietta Memorials to GNMP Supt. Myers, August 23, 1961
Mr. Greenway writes the GNMP Superintendent asking whether the Park “installs the foundation or the monumental contractor.”

19. GNMP Supt. Myers to Mrs. Bryan Director Dept. of Georgia Archives & History, August 24, 1961
Supt. Myers is sending thirty GNMP brochures to Mrs. Bryan and asks for a copy of the Dedication Program.

20. GNMP Supt. Myers to Mr. Greenway, Marietta Memorials, August 25, 1961
Supt. Myers responds to Mr. Greenway letter of August 23^rd explaining “these foundations have always been placed by those erecting the monuments” giving Mr. Greenway the dimensions and a local source for the work.

21. Asst. Regional Director Palmer to Mrs. Bryan, Georgia Department of Archives and History, August 29, 1961
Mrs. Bryan requests whether any additional names from Supt. Davis or Supt. Myers should be added to the Dedication invitation list.

22. Asst. Regional Director Palmer to Mrs. Gertrude Kibler Chairman, Centennial Committee of Georgia, August 29, 1961
Regional Director Lee will be attending both the Antietam and Gettysburg dedications as will Superintendents Davis and Myers.

23. GNMP Supt. Myers to NPS Regional Director, Region Five, August 29, 1961
Supt. Myers briefs the Regional Director that the invitations for the Gettysburg Dedication of the Georgia monument have been sent and explaining it will start at 11 o’clock on September 21, 1961. He also asks if he should allow the foundation to be laid if “authority for the proposed site has not been obtained when the workmen appear.”

24. Mr. Sager NPS Chief Landscape Architect to NPS Regional Director (Drawings Not Included), August 30, 1961
The drawings submitted to Mr. Sager’s office for the Georgia monuments at Antietam and Gettysburg “were recommended by Thos. C. Vint on August 28th and approved by NPS Acting Director E. T. Scoyen on August 29^th.”

25. GNMP Supt. Myers to Mrs. Bryan, Department of Archives and History (No List Attached), August 30, 1961
“A list of names and addresses of local dignitaries who might like to attend the dedication of the Georgia Monument in late September” is attached. She also requests “several copies of the program when it is printed.”

26. GNMP Supt. Myers to Mrs. Gertrude Kibler Chairman, Centennial Committee of Georgia, August 31, 1961
Supt. Myers accepts Mrs. Kibler’s invitation to attend the Georgia Dedication at the Gettysburg National Military Park on September 21^st.

27. NPS Regional Director to GNMP Supt. Myers, August 31, 1961
Copies of the memorandums of “the Director’s approval of the subject monuments as of August 29^th” have been sent to Antietam and Gettysburg.

28. GNMP Supt. Myers to Chief EODC, September 1, 1961
Supt. Myers requests a copy of “Drawing NMP-GET-3039” pertaining to the location of the Georgia Monument at Gettysburg from the Chief, EDOC.

29. NPS Acting Regional Director to Supt. ANB & GNMP, September 1, 1961
A request from the NPS Regional Office to Superintendents of ANB and GNMP to provide a “draft of appropriate remarks to be used by the Regional Director” at the Georgia Monument Dedications.

30. Mrs. Bryan Director Dept. of Georgia Archives & History to GNMP Supt. Myers, September 4, 1961
Mrs. Bryan confirms she has sent out the invitations for the Georgia Monument ceremonies and encourages Supt. Myers to invite any others he might choose. Printing of the program is not finished yet and she provides details of the Georgia delegation’s travel and accommodations while attending the dedication in Gettysburg.

31. Chief Landscaping Architect Mr. Eugene DeSilets to GNMP Supt. Myers, September 6, 1961
Mr. DeSilets sends Supt. Myers the requested map of the location of the Georgia Monument at Gettysburg.

32a. GNMP Acting Supt. Sollenberger to Regional Director Region Five, September 12, 1961
GNMP Superintendent Sollenberger is providing copies of a draft of the Dedication address for the Georgia event and mentions that both this draft and the Antietam draft have been reviewed to ensure no duplication in the speeches.

32b. Director Lee's draft speech for GA Dedication (No date), September 12, 1961
This is the draft mentioned in the letter from Sollenberger to the Regional Director dated September 12, 1961.

33. Memo from Betty Deitz to GNMP Supt. regarding Mrs. Bryan’s call, September 13, 1961
Betty Deitz provides a memo to Supt. Sollenberger detailing a call from Mrs. Bryan outlining the delegation’s travel plans to the Antietam and Gettysburg dedications.

34. Hagerstown MD. Morning Herald Article on Dedication of Georgia Monument, September 21, 1961
A newspaper article published on September 21, 1961 in the Morning Herald of the Georgia Monument Dedication the previous day at Antietam.

35. List of Gettysburg Dignitaries for the Georgia Dedication, (No Date Given) September 21, 1961
This list includes one of the individuals who attended the Georgia Dedication although more of them may have attended.

36. Opening Speeches at Georgia Dedication at Gettysburg, September 21, 1961
The final draft of the Dedication of the Georgia State Memorial at Gettysburg and Governor S. Ernest Vandiver’s address is presented here.

37. Invitation to the Dedication of Monuments to Georgia Confederate Dead on National Battlefield Sites (No Date Given), September 21, 1961
A copy of the invitation to both the Antietam and Gettysburg Dedications of the Georgia monuments on their battlefields is presented here.

38. Newspaper article of Georgia Dedication, Gettysburg Times, September 21, 1961
Article appearing in Gettysburg Times for the Georgia Dedication. The Dedication photograph includes Governor S. Ernest Vandiver of Georgia, Mrs. Robert Bachman, President General of the United Daughters of the Confederacy and members of the “Kennesaw Volunteers.”“The invocation was given by Mrs. W. B. Smith, chaplain of the Georgia Centennial Hall of Fame Committee which was largely responsible for the erection of the marker. The pledge of allegiance to the Stars and Stripes was led by Mrs. William M. Forrest, Vice President General of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.Then the audience stood to read a pledge of allegiance to the Confederate flag which fluttered in a stiff west breeze at the opposite side of the platform. It was not the Stars and Bars but an early Confederate flag with a circle of seven stars in a field of blue and two broad red and one white stripes. That pledge was led by Mrs. Max S. Flynt.”“Dixie” was then played by the U.S. Second Army Band.

39a. Dedication Program & Order of Ceremonies for Georgia Monument at Gettysburg, September 21, 1961
This is a copy of the program distributed at the Gettysburg dedication of the Georgia Monument.

40. GNMP Supt. Myers to Regional Director Region Five, September 26, 1961
Supt. Myers sends the Regional Director copies of the Gettysburg Times article of the Georgia monument Dedication at Gettysburg and a photo of the Director accepting the monument on behalf of the U.S. Government.

41. Mrs. Bryan Director Dept. of Georgia Archives & History to GNMP Supt. Myers, September 27, 1961
Mrs. Bryan, on behalf of Georgia State officials’ thanks Supt. Myers for his “splendid cooperation to us in making the dedication of our monument at Gettysburg a memorable and outstanding occasion.”

42. GNMP Supt. Myers to Mrs. Bryan Director Dept. of Georgia Archives & History, September 27, 1961
Supt. Myers conveys his thanks to Mrs. Bryan and members of the Georgia Delegation for meeting them at the dedication and he compliments the beauty of the Georgia Monument on West Confederate Avenue. He also includes photographs for Secretary Fortson and attaches a note for Mrs. Kibler hoping he will have the opportunity to see Mrs. Kibler in the future.

43. GNMP Supt. Myers to Mrs. Gertrude Kibler (No Enclosures), September 27, 1961
Supt. Myers sends Mrs. Kibler photographs of the Georgia Dedication, two copies of the Gettysburg Times article of the Dedication and expresses his pleasure in meeting the Georgia delegation at the ceremonies. He also thanks her for her efforts in making the Georgia monument a reality at Gettysburg.

44. GNMP Supt. Myers to Georgia Secretary of State Forston, September 27, 1961
Supt. Myers hopes the Georgia Secretary of State “had a pleasant and safe journey home” after attending the Gettysburg Dedication of their monument and provides him with a copy of the Gettysburg Times article covering the Dedication.

45. Mrs. Bryan Director Dept. of Georgia Archives and History to GNMP Supt. Myers, September 29, 1961
Mrs. Bryan thanks Supt. Myers for sending the Gettysburg Times article and passes along Mrs. Kibler’s “smiles” regarding the event and mentions Mrs. Kibler will now take on a monument for Vicksburg. Photographs also accompanied this letter.

46. Mrs. Gertrude Kibler writing as Chairman, Hall of Fame Committee of Georgia to GNMP Supt. Myers, September 30,1961
Mrs. Kibler thanks Supt. Myers for the photographs he sent and mentions that “this year has been a little too much for me” and she has begun preparing plans for a monument in Vicksburg.

47. NPS Regional Director, Region 5 to GNMP Superintendent (No Attachments), October 5, 1961
The NPS Regional Director sends Supt. Myers a copy of the speech he gave at the Georgia Dedication at Gettysburg and has conveyed that to Mrs. Kibler.

48. Susan Smith Flynt, UDC to GNMP Supt. Myers, October 8, 1961
Susan Flynt thanks Supt. Myers for the “perfect arrangements” made for the Georgia Dedication.

49. Georgia Secretary of State Ben W, Forston to NPA Regional Director Ronald Lee, October 11, 1961
Secretary Forston thanks the Regional Director for participation in the Georgia Dedications and “I am deeply grateful for your kindness and thoughtfulness to me and all the delegation.”

50. Georgia Secretary of State Forston Jr. to GNMP Supt. Myers, October 11, 1961
Mr. Forston appreciates Supt. Myers for his help with the Monument Dedication.

51. NPS Regional Director Lee to NPS Director, October 26, 1961
Mr. Lee provides details of the Antietam and Gettysburg Georgia monument dedications and attaches clipping from the events to the NPS Director.

52. NPS Regional Director Lee to Georgia Secretary of State Forston, October 27, 1961
Mr. Forston thanks Director Lee on behalf of the entire Georgia delegation for the help Superintendents Davis and Myers provided regarding the dedication ceremonies for the Georgia monuments.

53. Clyde A. Boynton, Commander in Chief Sons of Confederate Veterans to GNMP Supt. Myers (No Enclosure), October 27, 1961
As a member of the Georgia Civil War Centennial Committee, Clyde Boynton expresses his appreciation for the “wonderful hospitality and warm welcome extended the Georgia Hall of Fame and Centennial group from Georgia”. He also encloses a snapshot of Mr. Myers with the Governor of Georgia.

54. GNMP Supt. Myers to Clyde A. Boynton Aide Commander in Chief Sons of Confederate Veterans, October 31, 1961
Supt. Myers returns the compliment to Clyde Boynton and thanks him for the color snapshot he sent.

55. GNMP Supt. Myers to Mr. Charles Moran, Inspector in Chief, Sons of Confederate Veterans, November 1, 1961
Supt. Myers responds to a postcard from Mr. Moran and lists information on specific Sons of Confederate Veterans who attended the Georgia Monument Dedication on September 21, 1961. A handwritten note is also written on this letter from Col. Charles Moran.

56. Harry Pfanz, GNMP Historian to Mrs. Bryan Director, Dept. of Georgia Archives & History, November 13, 1961
Historian Pfanz asks Mrs. Bryan for materials related to the government act or resolution providing for the erection of the monument which describes Mrs. Kibler’s role and “any other pertinent historical information regarding it. He also mentions that the GNMP has very little information on the Georgia troops and asks if the Georgia Archives might be able to provide Georgia rosters of troops or whether such information might be planned for publication during this time.