Lot 804
Borglum, Gutzlon (1867-1941) Sculptor famous for creating the gigantic presidential monument at Mount Rushmore, South Dakota. Archive of correspondence regarding Mount Rushmore sent by Borglum between 1935-1937 to John Graydon Harlan, who was Assistant to the General Cousel in the Office of the General Counsel of the U.S. Treasury Department at that time, 17pp, 11" x 8½". Very good; light toning throughout; some file stamps; file holes at top (some torn) and left margin; pages are stapled together at left edge.
The archive includes six original typed letters signed by Borglum and addressed to Harlan, as well as a carbon copy, with an original signature by Borglum, of a letter sent by Borglum to President Franklin D. Roosevelt on March 15, 1935, recounting the history of the project and the problems he had encountered from its inception (he added his title, "Sculptor-Engineer, Mount Rushmore Memorial" after his signature); a carbon copy, with Borglum's original signature, of a letter he sent to Arno B. Cammerer, Director, National Park Service, giving details of expenditures and problems with the project; and a one-page carbon copy of a memo sent to Borglum by Harlan. There are eight original signatures, seven signed "Gutzon Borglum" and one "Gutzon."
The six original TLsS are one page each, three on Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission letterhead and three on personal letterhead. They were written between August and October 1935 to Harlan. This fascinating archive presents the Mount Rushmore project from Borglum's point of view, including funding, physical equipment needed, sabotage, and other problems, as well as his sense of pride: "The monument is now rated as one of the most extraordinary sights in the Northwest…."
Estimated Value $2,000 - 4,000.
Estate of John Harlan.
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