User:Mcharles57/Sculpture Draft

Wendell Willkie plaque is a public sculpture at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis, Indiana and was designed by American artist Paul Fjelde. This bronze plaque honors Wendell L. Willkie (1892-1944) who was the Republican Party nominee for the U.S. presidency in 1940. The plaque was placed in the Statehouse rotunda on February 18th, 1950.

Description
At the top of the plaque is Willkie's name and the dates of his birth and death, February 18, 1892 - October 8, 1944. A sillhouetted image of Willkie is facing proper left and is located in the center of the plaque. Inscriptions beneath the image describe Willkie as a "Distinguished citizen of our state and our country", a lawer and an industrialist, the author of "One World," and the nominee of the Republican party for President of the United States in 1940. Under the description in an eagle and beneath it is an inscription from Willkie's book "One World" that reads: "I believe in America

Because in it we are free - free to choose our government

and speak our minds to observe our different religions

because we hate no people and covet no peoples land

because we have great dreams and because we have the

opportunity to make those dreams come true."

The artist's signature is located on the front, proper left, bottom of the plaque. It reads Paul Fjelde•sc.

Historical Information
The Wendell Willkie plaque was placed in the Indiana Statehouse rotunda on February 18, 1950, which was the 58th anniversary of Willkie's birth. Approximately 500 people were in attendance at the Indiana Statehouse to witness the dedication of the bronze plaque and to salute Willkie. Members of Willkie's family were also in attendance, including his widow, son, and brother, Mrs. Edith Wilk Willkie, Philip Willkie, and H. Frederick Willkie. The plaque was placed on the first floor of the Indiana Statehouse rotunda facing a bronze plaque bearing "The American's Creed." Indiana Governor Henry F. Schrickeraccepted the plaque on behalf of the people of Indiana. Indianapolis youth, Jack Scott, had the honor of pulling the veil from the plaque. During the dedication ceremony of the plaque a Statehouse employee, William Holmes, fell from a ladder and broke his arm while checking the veil hung over the plaque.

The idea for the plaque was conceived by Mrs. Ed Toner of Anderson, IN. Her son, William Toner, was a close friend of Willkie and the publisher of the Anderson Herald. Mrs. Toner wished for the plaque to be from the common man of Madison County, but they were not able to operate a fund-raising campaign on their own. The assistance of the Junior Chamber of Commerce in Elwood, Anderson, and Alexandria was accepted to help raise the $2,500 needed. Donations were collected, both large and small. Donations of pennies and nickels were received in some cases. School children contributed approximately ten percent of the funds raised.

To create the Willkie plaque, Fjelde first carved Willkie's likeness into clay from which the bronze plaque was cast using the Lost-wax casting technique.

Artist
The creator of the Willkie plaque was Paul Fjelde (August 12, 1892 - May 3, 1984) of New York City, born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Fjelde is also the creator of another Wendell Willkie plaque located in New York City.

Main article: Paul Fjelde

Condition
On May 15, 2006 the Indiana State Museum listed this plaque as in excellent condition.