File:Memorandum for the Files Kittridge Wing Supt. GNMP May 6, 1964 (d0956d1d-806a-4c5f-bce1-7da6361bd71c).jpg

White paper with typed black text

To: Memorandum for the Files From: Superintendent Subject: United Daughters of the Confederacy Memorial On May 4 a letter was received from Mrs. Robert Hamilton Smith, President of the United Daughters, which informed us that a contract had been signed with Mr. Donald DeLue for producing the sculpture which is to be the central feature of the subject memorial. This notification has caused some alarm, for the reason that no complete submission of plans for this memorial have been made to Gettysburg, nor has any submission gone forward from this office for approval either at Regional level or in the Washington Office. Because of the ultimate possibility of rejection of Mr. DeLue’s design, I promptly telephoned to Regional Director Lee and advised him of the status. Mr. Lee endorsed by suggestion that a call should be made to Mrs. Smith, to alert her to the possible difficulty in any premature start of work in constructing the memorial. I therefore called Mrs. Smith on this same morning of May 4 and told her that we were concerned lest Mr. DeLue start any work which later might have to be rejected and redone. Mrs. Smith saw the necessity for getting the final approval from the Director before going too far with the job, and said that she would attempt to have Mr. DeLue here at Gettysburg for a conference during the week of May 11. She said that Mr. DeLue had photographs of the clay model of the sculpture which he could presumably bring with him, from which our people could make a decision. In the conversation with Mr. Lee, he suggested that a team of critics from his office and probably from EODC might be assembled to study Mr. DeLue’s plans and consult with him, so that some solid recommendation pro or con could be passed along to the Director on the matter of this controversial sculpture. At the present writing we are waiting return information from Mrs. Smith as to a date when she and Mr. DeLue can come to Gettysburg. Kittridge A. Wing

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