George H. Honig, Corporal James Bethel Gresham plaster reliefs
Collection
Identifier: A024
Scope and Contents
This collection includes two plaster reliefs created by sculptor George H. Honig of the late Corporal James Bethel Gresham of Evansville, Indiana circa 1918-1921. Both reliefs are composed of light green plaster in black frames.
The first relief is a plaster medallion set in a rectagle of with the bust Gresham in uniform and an American eagle, with the words, "First American soldier killed on French soil; November 3, 1917; Corporal Gresham of Evansville, Ind-USA." The second relief Gresham in uniform, crouched and holding a rifle, with the Statue of Liberty in the background. The text reads, "The first gold star in the nation's service flag; Nov 3, 1917; James Bethel Gresham, Evansville, Ind."
The first relief is a plaster medallion set in a rectagle of with the bust Gresham in uniform and an American eagle, with the words, "First American soldier killed on French soil; November 3, 1917; Corporal Gresham of Evansville, Ind-USA." The second relief Gresham in uniform, crouched and holding a rifle, with the Statue of Liberty in the background. The text reads, "The first gold star in the nation's service flag; Nov 3, 1917; James Bethel Gresham, Evansville, Ind."
Dates
- 1918-1921
Creator
- Honig, George H., 1874-1962 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Biographical Note
George H. Honig was a noted sculptor from Evansville, Indiana. He was born to Simon and Helen (Killian) Honig on August 3, 1874 in Rockport, Indiana. Some of his most notable work was created in commemoration of the Lincoln family residence of Spencer County. He created the bronze sculptures at the front of the Evansville Coliseum, the fountain in Shelbyville's public square, as well as numerous memorial tablets, honor rolls, service rolls, statuary and bas-reliefs for schools, lodges and churches. That includes the bronze memorial tablet of one of the first casualties of World War I, James Bethel Gresham. Honig married Alda McCoy (1885-1955) on June 12, 1917 in Chicago, Illinois. Honig died on May 4, 1962 in Evansville and was buried in Mount Zion Cemetery in Richland City, Indiana.
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James Bethel Gresham was born to Green and Alice Hinton (Bethel) Gresham on August 23, 1893 in Henderson, Kentucky. He moved to Evansville, Indiana by 1910 where he worked in a tool factory. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on April 23, 1914. A corporal, he belonged to Company F, 16th Infantry and was among the first American troops sent to France during World War I in June, 1917. On November 3, 1917, Gresham was one of the first 3 American soldiers to die in the conflict when German soldiers attacked them in their trenches near Artois, France. The other casualties were Private Thomas Enright and Private Merle D. Hay. The soldiers were buried on the battlefiled where they fell. Gresham was later reburied in the American Cemetery in Bathelémont, France before, in 1921, his body was returned to the United States and interned in Locust Hill Cemetery in Evansville.
Sources:
Ancestry.com. "James B. Gresham." 1900 United States Federal Census. Accessed September 26, 2023. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "James B. Gresham." 1910 United States Federal Census. Accessed September 26, 2023. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "James B. Gresham." Indiana Gold Star Honor Roll, 1914-1918. Accessed September 26, 2023. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Ancestry.com. "James B. Gresham." U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1861-1985. Accessed September 26, 2023. http://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Findagrave.com. "James Bethel Gresham." Find a Grave Memorial. Accessed September 26, 2023. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6473461/james-bethel-gresham.
Findagrave.com. "George Henry Honig." Find a Grave Memorial. Accessed September 26, 2023. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/43547179/george-h-honig.
Extent
1 Cubic Feet (2 frames)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by subject.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from George H. Honig on 1921/08/11.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 2023/12/29 by Brittany Kropf. EAD finding aid created 2023/12/29 by Brittany Kropf.
Creator
- Honig, George H., 1874-1962 (Person)
- Title
- George H. Honig, Corporal James Bethel Gresham plaster reliefs
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
