English High School History
A Legacy of Fine Art in the Hallways of English High School
Renowned sculptor Daniel Chester French was commissioned by a noted English High Alumnus to create a world-class tribute to an English High Education. Almost a century later, it is still admired and cherished by English High students on a daily basis.
“The Spirit of English High School” by Daniel Chester French, 1927 shown in the corridor of the school’s Warren Avenue location circa 1930.
Recently the EHSA research team took on the project of investigating the origins of a bronze statue that has had a prominent place in every English High School campus for most of the past century. The statue, depicts a young student and his “alma mater’ and bears the inscription “The Aim of Every English High School Boy is to Become a Man of Honor and Achievement” Surely many of you remember this statue from your EHS days.
The story of how this little known work by the world-renowned American sculptor Daniel Chester French came to the English High School is fascinating and involves leading figures of the school and its alumni. Here’s a timeline:
October, 1925 – having recently decided to explore the commission of an inspirational sculpture for the EHS school corridor, the EHSA reached out to multiple sculptors including Daniel Chester French. While we do not know who the other sculptors were, we do know that DC French initially declined to participate in submission of sketches because he did not want to compete with others. At this point, DC French was perhaps the most acclaimed sculptor in the U.S., have recently completed the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. Headmaster Walter Downey became involved and apparently convinced the EHSA that DC French was their man and let him know that an alumnus had agreed to finance the construction of a statue for the corridor with the words, “The amount of money available for this purpose will be sufficient to provide this school with an excellent work of art.”
December, 1925 – French made arrangements to visit English High School and meet with alumnus Albert H. Wiggin, a prominent banker and member of the EHS class of 1885. The amount agreed upon for the sculpture was $25,000, a sum equivalent in today’s purchasing power of $449,983.92.
February, 1926 – the contract to commission the sculpture was signed between Albert Wiggin and DC French. This was the beginning of a close collaboration over the next two years between Wiggin, French and Headmaster Downey.
January, 1928 – the sculpture unveiled and dedicated at The English High School. Nearly 700 EHS alumni attended a dinner celebration organized by The English High School Association. Governor Fuller was in attendance along with many other dignitaries (see news clipping).
The statue in today’s English High School campus in Jamaica Plain
For English High History Buffs: EHSA has acquired, from The Library of Congress, the files of sculptor Daniel Chester French that are a complete history of the project. Those who are interested in knowing more details, please contact EHSA at info@englishhighalumni.org and we will be happy to share a copy with you. They are fascinating reading!
