Monuments--Design and construction

Letter from Gutzon Borglum to Arno B. Cammerer

Gutzon Borglum outlines the parameters of his original contract, his struggles to amend the contract with the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission, and what he feels he should be paid in light of the multiple difficulties that have slowed progress on the monument. In spite of the current situation, Borglum vows that he will continue working on the monument until completion, whether or not he is paid what he believes he is owed.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1937-05-07

Letter from Gutzon Borglum to Isabella Greenway

Gutzon Borglum encloses a letter he wrote to Arno B. Cammerer regarding his pay for the work on Mount Rushmore. The letter is being sent to all the members of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission and Borglum believes that many of them will be shocked by the facts. He intends to finish the monument even without pay. The good work done by Representative Greenway, Representative Werner, and Speaker Rainey ended up losing Werner his seat in Congress. Borglum jokes that he should be allowed to speak more often as he has elected three senators and got rid of four.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1937-05-14

Telegram from Fred W. Sargent to Isabella Greenway

Fred W. Sargent advises Representative Greenway of an upcoming meeting of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission in Chicago, Illinois. The meeting will address a new contract for Gutzon Borglum.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1937-06-28

Minutes of the meeting of Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission

Meeting minutes of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission, including a record of the members present and the appointment of Louis B. Hanna as a member of the executive committee, to fill the vacancy created by the death of Peter Norbeck. The meeting adjourned on account of no quorum.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1937-07-12

Contract between Mount Harney Memorial Association and Gutzon Borglum

Contract of Gutzon Borglum for his work at Mount Rushmore.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1929-06-06

Letter from Gutzon Borglum to Franklin D. Roosevelt

Gutzon Borglum reviews the historic items to be inscribed on the west wall of Mount Rushmore. He describes the Mount Rushmore National Committee and its composition. Borglum argues that at least three women should be on the committee.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1934-03-15

Financial statement of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission

Financial statement for the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission from April 1, 1934, to May 1, 1934. Statement includes receipts and disbursements.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1934-05-01

Minutes of meeting of Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission

Minutes of a meeting of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission including telegrams from members who could not attend. Representative Greenway was nominated to take a vacancy on the commission. Additional matters covered include the specific duties and powers of the commission, Gutzon Borglum’s contract, publicity for the memorial, the Pageant of the Americas, and the financial condition of the commission.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1934-05-03

Letter from Fred W. Sargent to Isabella Greenway

Representative Greenway has been appointed to the Mount Rushmore National Committee. Fred W. Sargent, the chairman of the committee, outlines the expected meeting date and his optimism about the monument.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1934-05-31

Financial statement of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission

Financial statement for the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission from May 1, 1934, to June 1, 1934. Statement includes receipts and disbursements.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1934-06-01

Letter from Isabella Greenway to Kenneth M. Ellis

Representative Greenway had not heard of her appointment to the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Committee but she hopes to accept.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1934-06-01

Letter from Isabella Greenway to John A. Boland

Representative Greenway will be unable to accept her appointment to the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission until she understands the obligations. Greenway has considerable responsibilities in her role as a representative from Arizona and she is not given much margin for outside privileges.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1934-06-07

Letter from J. S. Cullinan to the members of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society of the Black Hills

The Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society of the Black Hills has elected a new secretary and is seeking to help the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Committee with the design and publicity of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial. The society has also entered into a contract with the Pageant of America to produce a pageant that will be held at Mount Rushmore.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1934-06-25

Financial statement of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission

Financial statement for the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission from June 1, 1934, to July 1, 1934. Statement includes receipts and disbursements.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1934-07

Letter from Isabella Greenway to John A. Boland

Representative Greenway cannot take on more responsibility and cannot attend meetings of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission on account of her small son. She cannot join the commission unless there is a nominal position with limited responsibilities.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1934-07-20

Speech by Gutzon Borglum

Text of a speech delivered by Gutzon Borglum on the occasion of the unveiling of the figure of Thomas Jefferson on Mount Rushmore. Borglum notes the historical significance of the impending completion of Mount Rushmore and invokes the architectural accomplishments of antiquity to underscore the success of Mount Rushmore.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1936-08-30

Report on costs, materials, and labor needed for the completion of Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Report on costs, materials, and labor needed for the completion of Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Report includes estimated costs and timeline for completion of each figure, labor costs for each employee, and inventory and costs of new equipment and maintenance.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1935

Report of Gutzon Bortglum to the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission

Gutzon Borglum summarizes the events and legislation that led to the creation of Mount Rushmore National Memorial. He describes the current state of the monument and the circumstances presently preventing timely completion. Borglum puts forth a timeline, with estimated costs, for completion by 1936.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1935

Letter from Kenneth M. Ellis to Isabella Greenway

Kenneth M. Ellis is pleased with Representative Greenway’s appointment to the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission. Ellis’s work publicizing the monument has been inspired by Gutzon Borglum’s vision.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1934-05-30

An act creating the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission and defining its purposes and powers

Legislation creating the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission and laying out its powers and responsibilities. The purpose of the commission is to complete the carving of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial consisting of “heroic figures of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt.”

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1929-02-25