Concord (Mass.). Ralph Waldo Emerson Statue Committee

Concord, Massachusetts appointed a committee at Town Meeting in 1896 "to erect some at some suitable place in Concord, a statue of Ralph Waldo Emerson ... to act ... in concert with other persons and to take such action as ... expedient to carry this purpose to a successful result. This committee, however, is not empowered to incur any expenses or liability on behalf of the town." Committee members appointed in 1896 to raise funds and make arrangements included George A. King; John S. Keyes; Samuel Hoar; T. Quincy Brown; and Edward J. Bartlett. In 1905, Samuel Hoar having died and T. Quincy Brown having resigned, Charles Francis Adams, 2nd, and Woodward Hudson filled their vacancies; Moorfield Storey, Henry Lee Higginson, Charles Francis Adams, 2nd, and George S. Keyes. (George A. King chaired the Committee throughout its existence.) Sculptor Daniel Chester French carved a seated marble figure of Emerson, which was placed in the Concord Free Public Library. Unveiling ceremonies (presided over by Henry Lee Higginson) took place on May 23, 1914. A summary of the committee's activities was included in the 1914/1915 annual municipal report.