Nathan Hale Monument

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 By Derrick Arnold

Immortalized in bronze, the statue of Nathan Hale sits outside of Connecticut Hall at Yale University.  Hale is depicted with one arm to the side and the other behind his back, indicating the nature of his work.  Hale fought and gave his life for the American cause during the Revolution, he was caught and executed by the British.  Hale is now seen as an American hero to many, he is a martyr in the cause for American independence. He serves as an archetypical young, loyal hero in the cause for freedom.

However, it was not always this way.  Prior to the late 1800s, Hale was relatively unknown, during his life he received no praise for the work he did, he was buried in an unmarked grave by the British.  However, by the work of a few different individuals and groups, the memory of Nathan Hale was able to be revived.

Nathan Hale’s New Haven Statue, erected in 1907, is one of the first instances of Hale being memorialized in this way (only preceded by) the statue erected in New York by the Sons of the Revolution.  Most prominent in the development of Hale as this heroic figure was George Dudley Seymour, a lawyer, Yale alumni, and historian.  He was a prominent New Havener who was a driving force during the Colonial Revival in New Haven, a movement which sought to revitalize Revolutionary War culture.  Seymour had a particular fascination with Nathan Hale, in part, because he served as the antithesis to the infamous Benedict Arnold.  Hale was loyal to a fault to the cause of the revolution and had reportedly said his now-famous line, “I only regret that I have but one life to give to my country," which is inscribed on the plaque on the monument’s base.  However, the issue is that there is no evidence that Hale actually said this line, rather it was more a case of Seymour trying to make a hero out of Hale through myth (likely because of his connections to New Haven and specifically Yale University, which Hale had attended in 1773).

Even with his influence in the New Haven community, Seymour still had issues finding a sculptor for the monument. He originally wanted Augustus St. Gaudens, a French sculptor, to create the Hale Statue.  However, Gaudens denied him essentially saying it was not worth his time. This further demonstrates the limited cache that Hale's reputation carried at the time.  Ultimately, Seymour chose Bela Lyon Pratt, a Yale Art School graduate, to sculpt the statue.  Pratt was more than enthusiastic to sculpt the statue, saying “Never has there been a better chance to do exactly the kind of figure in which I am most deeply interested in."

Upon its creation, the statue was appreciated in a limited scope specifically by those in the Yale community. This was evidenced by Seymour’s letter and the subsequent response from Warren G. Harding.  Seymour had petitioned the president to get a national postage stamp for Hale, however, Harding rejected his request explaining “[Seymour’s] suggestion was appealing but unfortunately it is not possible to provide for all national heroes in this way."  However, as time went on, Hale’s name began to become more recognizable and even began to attract interest from Walter Portzphimer, a prominent CIA lawyer.  He arranged for a statue that looked like the original to be placed right outside the CIA building in Northern Virginia.  However, it was later relocated because the CIA felt as though a spy should not dominate such a prominent spot.

 This CIA statue spawned a few myths, which helped not only cement Hale’s legacy, but also gained notoriety for Yale. The legend goes that Yale had refused to give the CIA the blueprints for the statue to make a copy so the FBI snuck into Yale and took the measurements for themselves.  There is no evidence to corroborate this story, and it has been proven to be untrue, but it remains an anecdote the Yale tour guides like to tell prospective students and parents. This serves to bolster Yale and give a sense of heritage to the university community.  Hale is seen as a figure whose influence in the Revolutionary War is more myth than fact.  However, that has done little to deter his legacy.  As a result of the statue and George Dudley Seymour in general, (he had also written multiple books on Hale as well) the name Nathan Hale is known widely throughout the nation.  Even if he is not the first person people think of when they consider the Revolution, he is more of a household name than the weight of his actions may warrant at least in part due to Seymour's efforts. Historically, this has primarily served to burnish the culture of Yale as Hale serves as its own connection to the Revolutionary tradition.  In a more general sense, it reminds visitors, onlookers, and passersby of a Connecticut Revolutionary hero and a way to feel connected to an important moment in American history.

                                                Image of the Nathan Hale Statue courtesy of Yale Library

Bibliography

 A Revolutionary Martyr in Bronze.” The American Revolution Institute. Accessed November 18,                     2020. https://www.americanrevolutioninstitute.org/asset/a-revolutionary-martyr-in-bronze-                    sculptures-of-nathan-hale/.

 Berson, Caroline, and Feb 01 Caroline Berson 12:00 am. “To Woo Students, Tour Guides Blur Fact-                Fiction Line.” Yale Daily News To Woo Students Tour Guides Blur Factfiction Line                                Comments.Accessed November 18, 2020. https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2008/02/01/to-woo-              students-tour-guides-blur-fact-fiction-line/.

 Harding, Warren. “Letter from President Harding to George Dudley Seymour Concerning Nathan Hale                 Postage Stamp.” imageserver.library.yale.edu. Yale University, May 31,                                                                     1923.https://imageserver.library.yale.edu/digcoll:4349700/guestb07ab3ff42ca47a59d725418e0edd8ac                    @yaleguest.edu/xEvS8qlm2KGzw8noin0axE4FFM4/1500.jpe?                                                                authroot=findit.library.yale.edu.

 Lyon Pratt, Bella. “Letter from Bella Lyon Pratt.” imageserver.library.yale.edu. Yale University, 1907     https://imageserver.library.yale.edu/digcoll:4346209/guestb07ab3ff42ca47a59d725418e0edd8ac@yaleguest.edu/xEvS8qlm2KGzw8noin0axE4FFM4/1500.jpe?authroot=findit.library.yale.edu.

 Macaluso, Laura A. The Public Artscape of New Haven: Themes in the Creation of a City Image. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, 2018.

 NATHAN HALE'S MEMORIAL; A TRIBUTE TO A HERO OF THE REVOLUTION.” The New                   York Times. The New York Times, 1881.                                                                                                                                                

 Raising Hale.” Daily Nutmeg, July 6, 2020. http://dailynutmeg.com/2020/07/06/nathan-hale-raising-               redux/.

 Sons of the Revolution “Evacuation Day Program for Dedication of a Statue in Memory of Nathan                 Hale.” imageserver.library.yale.edu. Yale University, 1893.                                                                  https://imageserver.library.yale.edu/digcoll:4346214/guestb07ab3ff42ca47a59d725418e0edd8ac@yal        eguest.edu/xEvS8qlm2KGzw8noin0axE4FFM4/1500.jpe?authroot=findit.library.yale.edu

“George Dudely Seymour Papers”http://ead-pdfs.library.yale.edu/4429.pdf

“Nathan Hale.” Biography.com. A&E Networks Television, May 11, 2020.                                                        https://www.biography.com/political-figure/nathan-hale.

  Nathan Hale: Yale 1773: Curator: Richard E. Mooney. Yale University, 2009.                                                 http://www.library.yale.edu/mssa/exhibits/hale/sectionSculptors.html.


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