Butt–Millet Memorial Fountain
38°53′43″N 77°02′15″W / 38.895269°N 77.037461°W | |
Location | President's Park, Washington, D.C. |
---|---|
Designer | Thomas Hastings, designer Daniel Chester French, bas-reliefs |
Type | Fountain and sculpture |
Material | Tennessee marble base, granite column |
Width | 8 ft (2.4 m) |
Height | 12 ft (3.7 m) |
Completion date | 1913 |
Dedicated to | Archibald Butt Francis Davis Millet |
The Butt–Millet Memorial Fountain is a
Genesis of the memorial fountain
Archibald Butt was a
Butt lived in a large mansion at 2000 G Street NW that was later sold to Senator Underwood from Alabama in 1914.[5] Since about 1910, Butt and Millet had lived together in the house.[6] (Millet's wife, Lily, resided in the Millet home in Italy.) "Millet, my artist friend who lives with me" was Butt's designation for his companion. They were known for throwing spartan but large parties that were attended by members of Congress, justices of the Supreme Court, and President Taft himself.[7] Newspapers characterized the intense, deep friendship the men shared as a "Damon and Pythias" relationship.[8] There is some speculation that Butt and Millet were gay lovers. Historian Richard Davenport-Hines wrote in 2012:[9]
The enduring partnership of Butt and Millet was an early case of "Don't ask, don't tell." Washington insiders tried not to focus too closely on the men's relationship, but they recognized their mutual affection. And they were together in death as in life.
By 1912, Taft's first term was coming to an end. Roosevelt, who had fallen out with Taft, was known to be considering a run for president against him. Close to both men and fiercely loyal, Butt began to suffer from depression and exhaustion.
Both Butt and Millet went down with the Titanic. Butt's remains were never found.[14] Millet's body was recovered on April 27, and he was buried in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts.[15]
Taft was devastated by Butt's death. When he learned Butt had not survived, he "broke down and wept, 'his whole body was shaken with convulsive sobs'."[16] On May 2, 1912, a memorial service was held in the Butt family home in Augusta, Georgia. Taft spoke at the service, almost breaking down twice as he said:[17]
If Archie could have selected a time to die he would have chosen the one God gave him. His life was spent in self–sacrifice, serving others. His forgetfulness of self had become a part of his nature. Everybody who knew him called him Archie. I couldn't prepare anything in advance to say here. I tried, but couldn't. He was too near me. He was loyal to my predecessor, Mr. Roosevelt, who selected him to be military aide, and to me he had become as a son or a brother.
A second ceremony was held in Washington, D.C., on May 5, during which Taft broke down and wept—bringing his eulogy to an abrupt end.[18]
Building the memorial
On May 16, 1912,
Plans for erecting a memorial to Butt and Millet began shortly after the introduction of the Senate resolution. Taft agreed to chair the memorial committee.[21] Taft's personal secretary, Charles D. Hilles, and his military aide, Colonel Spencer Cosby, led the fund-raising on behalf of the committee.[22] Charles J. Bell of the American Security and Trust Company was the treasurer.[23] Members of the foreign diplomatic corps and several high government officials had already donated several thousand dollars to the memorial fund by mid-May.[22] Taft himself had made the first contribution.[23] At this point in time, The Ellipse (the southern part of President's Park) was chosen for the site of the memorial. However, the memorial committee was thinking only of erecting a bronze tablet.[22]
An attempt to pass the resolution on June 8 failed after Senator Porter J. McCumber objected to its passage.[24] The committee favorably reported the resolution on August 10, 1912, and the Senate adopted the resolution on August 12.[25] The House of Representatives received the committee's report on August 22,[26] and passed the legislation the following day.[27] As enacted, the resolution removed the restriction on the memorial's location.[28] Taft signed the legislation into law on August 24.[27]
During work on the congressional legislation, the memorial commission altered its plans. Despite press reports that the memorial would be a bronze tablet,
By law, both the President and the Commission of Fine Arts had to approve the location and design of the memorial.[31] Both approvals were given, and work on the foundation for the fountain began on June 18, 1913.[32] Just over $3,000 was spent constructing the memorial fountain.[29] Hastings and French donated their services.[33]
Initial press reports in 1912 indicated that Taft planned an elaborate dedication ceremony for the memorial. But Taft was no longer president by late 1913, having lost the presidential election to Woodrow Wilson. The Butt–Millet Memorial Fountain was dedicated without ceremony on October 25, 1913.[21]
Among the donors to the memorial were John Dustin Archbold, Henry Bacon, Daniel Burnham, Arno B. Cammerer, Champ Clark, Kenyon Cox, Frank Miles Day, Theodore N. Ely, William Corcoran Eustis, Charles Lang Freer, Henry Clay Frick, Cass Gilbert, Eugene Hale, Henry Lee Higginson, Samuel Isham, Jean Jules Jusserand, Seth Low, Henry Rutgers Marshall, Gari Melchers, Count Helmuth von Moltke, Charles Nagel, Frederick Law Olmsted, William Church Osborn, Charles A. Platt, Henry Kirke Porter, David F. Sellers, Henry L. Stimson, Louis Comfort Tiffany, Francis E. Warren, George P. Wetmore, Post Wheeler, George W. Wickersham, Blanton Winship, and John Sharp Williams.[34]
About the memorial
The Butt–Millet Memorial Fountain is located in the northwestern portion of the Ellipse, at the western junction of Ellipse Road NW and E Street NW.[35][36] The First Division Monument is to the northwest, and the south lawn of the White House is across the street to the north and northeast.
The Butt–Millet Memorial Fountain is 12 feet (3.7 m) high.[21][37] An octagonal grey granite base[21][38] supports an 8 feet (2.4 m) wide bowl of golden brown Tennessee marble.[21][37] A grey granite Neoclassical[38] column rises from the center of the bowl.[21] Two figures in low bas-relief are depicted, one on the north and one on the south side of the column. The northern figure of a woman with paint brush and palette, represents the fine arts.[39] The southern figure of a man in armor and helmet, holding a shield, represents military valor.[39] Four globes in the bowl surround the granite column and emit water, which cascades over the edge of the bowl into a shallow receptacle in the grey granite base.[21][37] The fountain bowl was designed to be a source of drinking water for horses used by park police patrols.[40]
An inscription around the lip of the bowl reads: "In memory of Francis Davis Millet – 1846–1912 – and Archibald Willingham Butt – 1865–1912. This monument has been erected by their friends with the sanction of Congress."[35]
See also
- List of public art in Washington, D.C., Ward 2
- Public sculptures by Daniel Chester French
- Titanic Memorial (Washington, D.C.)
References
- ^ a b c "Butt, Archibald Willingham DeGraffenreid," in The Encyclopedia of Louisville, p. 150.
- ^ "Major Archibald Butt." New York Times. April 16, 1912. Accessed 2012-05-18.
- ^ Gould, p. 208.
- ^ Bromley, p. 52.
- ^ "Maj. Butt's Home Sold." Washington Post. November 22, 1912.
- ^ Brewster, p. 30.
- ^ Davenport-Hines, Richard. "The History Page: Unsinkable Love." The Daily. March 20, 2012. Accessed 2012-05-18.
- ^ "Millet Planned Trip." Washington Post. April 18, 1912.
- ^ Davenport-Hines, Richard. "The History Page: Unsinkable Love." The Daily. March 20, 2012. Accessed 2012-05-18.
- ^ Abbott, pp. xi–x.
- ^ Garrison, p. 89.
- ^ "Major Butt on Sick Leave." New York Times. March 1, 1912.
- ^ Lynch, p. 84.
- ^ Schemmel, p. 148.
- ^ "Millet's Body Found." Washington Post. April 28, 1912; "Funeral Services for Millet." New York Times. May 2, 1912.
- ^ Quoted in Stephenson, p. 219.
- ^ Quote in Mowbray, p. xvi.
- ^ "Taft in Tears as He Lauds Major Butt." New York Times. May 6, 1912.
- ^ Tompkins and Boucher, p. 12.
- ^ a b "Asks Memorial Site." Washington Post. May 17, 1912.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Memorial to Titanic Dead." Washington Post. October 26, 1913.
- ^ a b c d "Butt–Millet Memorial." New York Times. May 31, 1912.
- ^ a b c The Fountain in Memory of..., p. 5. Accessed 2012-05-18.
- ^ "Butt and Millet Tribute." Washington Post. June 9, 1912.
- ^ "Favors Butt–Millet Shaft." Washington Post. August 13, 1912.
- ^ "For Butt–Millet Titanic Memorial." New York Times. August 23, 1912.
- ^ a b c "Deadlock Keeps Congress Sitting." New York Times. August 25, 1912.
- ^ The Fountain in Memory of..., p. 6. Accessed 2012-05-18.
- ^ a b c Committee on the Library, p. 1. Accessed 2012-05-18.
- ^ "Monument to Maj. Butt." Washington Post. April 13, 1913.
- ^ Committee on the Library, p. 2. Accessed 2012-05-18.
- ^ "Monument to Butt Soon." New York Times. June 19, 1913.
- ^ The Fountain in Memory of..., p. 7. Accessed 2012-05-18.
- ^ The Fountain in Memory of..., p. 13-14. Accessed 2012-05-18.
- ^ a b The Fountain in Memory of..., p. 11. Accessed 2012-05-18.
- ^ Evelyn, Dickson, and Ackerman, p. 182.
- ^ a b c "For Butt–Millet Memorial." New York Times. October 24, 1913.
- ^ a b Carrier, p. 88.
- ^ a b The Fountain in Memory of..., p. 9-10. Accessed 2012-05-18.
- ^ "President's Park (White House): Explore the Southern Trail". U.S. National Park Service. Archived from the original on May 23, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
Bibliography
- Abbott, Lawrence F. "Introduction." In Butt, Archibald Willingham. The Letters of Archie Butt, Personal Aide to President Roosevelt. Lawrence F. Abbott, ed. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1924.
- Brewster, Hugh. Gilded Lives, Fatal Voyage: The Titanic's First-Class Passengers and Their World. New York: Random House, 2012.
- Carrier, Thomas J. Washington D.C.: A Historical Walking Tour. Charleston, S.C.: Arcadia Publishing, 1999.
- Committee on the Library. Joint Memorial to Maj. Archibald W. Butt and Francis Davis Millet. To accompany S.J. Resolution 108. Rept. No. 866. 62d Cong., 2d sess. June 8, 1912.
- Evelyn, Douglas E.; Dickson, Paul; and Ackerman, S.J. On This Spot: Pinpointing the Past in Washington, D.C. 3rd rev. ed. Sterling, Va.: Capital Books, 2008. ISBN 1-933102-70-5
- The Fountain in Memory of Francis Davis Millet, Archibald Willingham Butt. Washington, D.C.: [no publisher listed], 1913.
- Garrison, Webb B. A Treasury of Titanic Tales. Nashville, Tenn: Rutledge Hill Press, 1998.
- Lynch, Don. Titanic: An Illustrated History. New York: Hyperion, 1993.
- Schemmel, William. Georgia Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff. Guilford, Conn.: Globe Pequot Press, 2011.
- Stephenson, George M. American History Since 1865. New York: Harper & Bros., 1939.
- Tompkins, Sally K. and Boucher, Jack E. A Quest for Grandeur: Charles Moore and the Federal Triangle. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1993.