Synopses & Reviews
On July 18, 1863, six months after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, one of the first American units composed of African Americans stormed Fort Wagner in South Carolina, led by Colonel Robert Shaw Gould. Although the regiment suffered great losses, the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry legitimized the idea of blacks serving in the military, and Lincoln considered their sacrifice a turning point in the Civil War. Twenty years later, sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens began work on a bronze memorial for this heroic troop, which was installed on the Boston Common in 1897.
and#160;
Tell Itand#160;With Prideand#160;explores the enduring significance of this beloved monument. Original daguerreotypes, carte-de-visite portraits, and a full listing of the regimentand#8217;s members, along with vintage and contemporary artworks by Matthew Brady, Lewis Hine, and Carrie Mae Weems tell the story of the legacy of the Battle of Fort Wagner and the role of photography in memorializing the regiment then and now.
Review
and#8220;. . . restore[s] to a grand monument the likenesses and stories of exceptional men once rendered invisible by prejudice.and#8221;and#8212;Maurice Berger, New York Times
Review
and#8220;Indispensable . . . This lavishly illustrated, informative catalogue allows readers a glimpse into the vast cooperative network involved in seeing a monument to fruition.and#8221;and#8212;K. P. Buick, Choice
Synopsis
A rich narrative and detailed documentation of the 54th regiment give insight into Augustus Saint-Gaudensand#8217; famous Civil War Memorial
Synopsis
A rich narrative and detailed documentation of the 54th regiment give insight into Augustus Saint-Gaudens' famous Civil War Memorial
On July 18, 1863, six months after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, one of the first American units composed of African Americans stormed Fort Wagner in South Carolina, led by Colonel Robert Shaw Gould. Although the regiment suffered great losses, the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry legitimized the idea of blacks serving in the military, and Lincoln considered their sacrifice a turning point in the Civil War. Twenty years later, sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens began work on a bronze memorial for this heroic troop, which was installed on the Boston Common in 1897.
Tell It With Pride explores the enduring significance of this beloved monument. Original daguerreotypes, carte-de-visite portraits, and a full listing of the regiment's members, along with vintage and contemporary artworks by Matthew Brady, Lewis Hine, and Carrie Mae Weems tell the story of the legacy of the Battle of Fort Wagner and the role of photography in memorializing the regiment then and now.
About the Author
Sarah Greenough is senior curator and head of the department of photographs and Nancy Anderson is head of the department of American and British paintings, both at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.