BS: Statue of Liberty - name?

Subject: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 11:56 AM

Does this lady have a name?

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: Bill D
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 12:02 PM

just "Miss Liberty" ...a representation of an idea. I have never heard any other name.

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: Amos
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 12:22 PM

Me neither!


A

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: InOBU
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 12:25 PM

It is a potrate of the artist's mother... what would Frued say about that... I think her name was Twiggy. Larry

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 12:29 PM

officially the statue is "Liberty Enlightening the World"

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 12:30 PM

Sharon or Tracy?

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: Wolfgang
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 12:32 PM

what would Frued say about that

The answer to this questions comes from an anecdote/joke about Freud:

When an English speaking colleague mispronounced his name as 'Fraud' he said: You have been mispronounced my name as 'Fraud'. But don't worry, I take it lightly, I have been very abused by it.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 12:45 PM

Not "Mamselle Liberté", given that she's French?

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 01:13 PM

Wasn't she originally designed for the Suez Canal and then given to the US when the French ran into some kind of political problem with the British? I could be wrong, and often am.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: Amergin
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 01:21 PM

Gertrude

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: Johnny in OKC
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 01:24 PM

"Big Mama"

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 01:27 PM

it has been suggested the designer re-worked his (unsold) plans for a female colossus

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 03:16 PM

Is there any American equivalent to Britannia or the French Marianne?

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 03:20 PM

not really -

Officially the statue is just named 'Liberty Enlightening the World' which implies the lady's name is "Liberty"

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: GUEST,ClaireBear
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 03:58 PM

McGrath, I've always assumed "Columbia" is our equivalent to "Brittania" -- and John Tenniel, at least, seems to agree with me, as shown here.

Claire

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 04:11 PM

I think you're right about that, claire bear - as this page with various versions of the Columbia Pictures lady suggests. She does look a lot like she's based on the New York lady too.

My impression is however that Columbia as a personifcation of America has never really taken off, any more than Cousin Jonathan has. Never heard any songs about "The grand old dame Columbia" anyway.

(That Tenniel link you gave me crashed Internet Explorer for some reason...)

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: EBarnacle
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 04:23 PM

A friend once told me that she's actually Polish: Miss Stascha Liberty [say it aloud.].

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: GUEST,ClaireBear
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 04:47 PM

Sorry about that link, McGrath...it worked for me. It was a political cartoon from 1865 showing Britannia comforting Columbia. Nothing terribly enlightening.

Anyway, here's another one, this time to a WWI commemorative poster at the Hoover Institute: Columbia. Apparently the notion did survive into the 20th century, although it never gained overwhelming popularity.

But back to the Statue of Liberty. Personally I never saw the thing as a nationalist symbol per se, but as a human one: the goddess of liberty showing the way to a place where freedom reigned, not personifying that place. I wish it were true, but I digress...

At any rate, here's a quote from the U.S, state dept., courtesy of factmonster.com, along with the Emma Lazarus' poem that appears on the statue's pedestal. Lazarus named her "Mother of Exiles," as you'll see.

"The Jewish American poet Emma Lazarus saw the statue as a beacon to the world. A poem she wrote to help raise money for the pedestal, and which is carved on that pedestal, captured what the statue came to mean to the millions who migrated to the United States seeking freedom, and who have continued to come unto this day."

–The U.S. Department of State

"The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: GUEST,BIG ANDY
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 05:17 PM

Ely i think or i think it could be cleetus

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: Rapparee
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 05:47 PM

"...and her name Mother of Exiles."

Call her, then, Mom.

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: SINSULL
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 07:10 PM

Cinderella Liberty?

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: GUEST,curious
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 07:17 PM

I can't remember the name of the ilusionist who made it "disappear", but saw the trick and was flummoxed. Do any of you nearer it know how he did it? I saw the helicopter lights in the gap where it should have been, but I know it WAS a trick.

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 07:19 PM

Miss America

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 07:19 PM

Or maybe Ms America.

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 08:32 PM

Charley Noble

I saw that story about the Suez Canal - it was in a documentary (PBS) that reached Australia about the story of the statue. The original stone sculpture that was the model is still in France. If you see the delightful French documentary about how the moon landings were 'faked' on the set of 2001 by Kubric, one of the characters is being interviewed in front of it (you have to look quick!) and mentions going up the road to some (unremembered at moment) French town...

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Mar 04 - 10:25 PM

There are two copies/originals in France. Both in Paris ( which is lovely in the springtime.)

One is alongside the Seine and the other in the Luxembourg Gardens.
But both are much,much smaller.

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Mar 04 - 12:53 AM

"Liberty Enlightening the World." I used to work there (when I couldn't avoid it--I was stationed at Ellis Island with the National Park Service).

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: JJ
Date: 17 Mar 04 - 08:08 AM

No songs? How about, "Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean?"

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Mar 04 - 08:19 AM

Thanks, Robin, for the reference to the Suez Canal fiasco. Maybe I'll dig deeper and find out the rest of the story.

Lady Liberty is a grand old gal and I remember fondly walking up thousands of steps to the top when I was much younger and then, while going down, telling those asending that they only had a few thousand more steps to go!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Mar 04 - 11:01 AM

Peter Lind Hayes had a parody he sang called "Columbia the Germ of the Ocean." Hadn't thought of that in years (but I borrowed the The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T recently so he was in my mind.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: Chief Chaos
Date: 17 Mar 04 - 11:10 AM

Since she doesn't seem to have a name I suggest we hold a contest to give her one.

My vote is for: Fred

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: mack/misophist
Date: 17 Mar 04 - 11:13 AM

Since Fred Bartholdi, the artist, used his mom as the model, the proper name is Mrs. Bartholdi. The trek to the observation platform used to be much shorter. The first part erected was the arm with the torch. People paid a dime to go up and the money eventually paid for the plinth.

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: Strick
Date: 17 Mar 04 - 03:37 PM

"There are two copies/originals in France. Both in Paris ( which is lovely in the springtime.)"

There's also a copy in Birmingham, Alabama. I really like Birmingham, but I've already seen that one. I'd rather go to see these two.

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Mar 04 - 04:25 PM

Liberty Enlightening the World

Liberty Enlightening the World

Liberty Enlightening the World

Liberty Enlightening the World

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Mar 04 - 09:45 PM

It should be obvious; her name is Liberty.

As in Statute of Liberty

or, Liberty Enlightening the World


You're welcome

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: freda underhill
Date: 17 Mar 04 - 09:48 PM

i go for freda

(freda people)

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: Chief Chaos
Date: 17 Mar 04 - 10:44 PM

Changed my mind! Freda, you got my vote!

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 17 Mar 04 - 11:39 PM

mack/misophist

actually, the access dimes were only a minor contribution, the real money came from a public subscription started, I believe by a newspaper tycoon... :-) it was all in that TV doco I mentioned..

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: EBarnacle
Date: 18 Mar 04 - 12:31 AM

As you go East from Harrisburg, PA, there is a copy of the statue standing upon a rock in the middle of the Susquehanna River. There are also a couple of copies in Manhatten. The one in Pennsy really looks good.

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: Ben Dover
Date: 18 Mar 04 - 06:41 AM

Brenda.

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: freda underhill
Date: 18 Mar 04 - 08:38 AM

Muriel

(you're terrible, Muriel...)

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: kendall
Date: 18 Mar 04 - 12:53 PM

I saw that magician make Diamond Head disappear too.

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Mar 04 - 01:08 PM

Pulitzer was the tycoon. He shamed Americans into meeting their obligation required to accept this gift they'd already said they wanted.

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: Blackcatter
Date: 18 Mar 04 - 01:36 PM

There's a copy in Orlando too - it's human-sized and it's common for people to get their picture taken while fondling miss Liberty.

Of course, that's techncally called statutory rape . . .

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Mar 04 - 02:46 PM

There is a small version of this statue at the beach at Alki Point in West Seattle. I think the plaque says the Boy Scouts placed it there decades ago.

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: annamill
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 09:04 AM

Has anyone noticed that she looks exactly like Sylvester Stalone?

Love, Anna Hamill

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From:
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 02:06 PM

Actually, the original model's name is Jane Chester Bartholomew! Columbia Pictures needed some models for a 'promotional idea' they had. She went and modeled but never heard anything about it. A while later, she watching a movie by Columbia Pictures and she sees herself on the screen, bigger than life. She never received any money for it, but she was on some talk shows several years ago. She's my Great-great aunt. I've never met her, but my grandmother knows her. She lives in the chicago area.

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 02:13 PM

I read that they never knew who that woman was (probably the studio answer). Do you have some citations that will take us to any of those interviews? This is interesting.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 02:21 PM

We have a newspaper clipping from 1976. The Washington Observer in washington, PA (her hometown). I think my sister has it... I'd be happy to send it to you as soon as I can get it from her. I haven't seen a lot written on her.

Subject: RE: BS: Statue of Liberty - name?
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 02:29 PM

She was on the Mike Douglas Show back in the day. The only thing I've ever seen in print was this newspaper article I mentioned.