top of page

March 15, 1938: Competition Press Release

Federal Building Contest Sketch
1938 contest press release
The press release stated $20,000 for first place but wound up being $10,000 instead.

$10,000 in 1939 was equal to $167,500 in 2013. (source: AIER cost of living calculator).

The Competition and the Winner

competition announcement
Newspaper announcement
Times article about Harry Camden
Journal article about Harry Camden
NOTE: The Journal made an error by stating Harry's name as 'Harry Camden Poole' rather than 'Harry Poole Camden'.

Receiving the Check

Photo 1654158 courtesy of the NY Public Library.

The price of $10,000 being presented to Harry Poole Camden, of Parkersburg, West Virginia, as winner of the nation-wide contest for sculpture to adorn the United States Government Building at the New Yourk World's Fair 1939.

The winning statue, "Unity", is shown in the photograph, between Mr. Camden, (left), and Mr. Hayes.

The prize is being presented to Mr. Camden by Theodore T. Hayes, Executive Assistant Commissioner of the U.S. commission to the Fair.

Harry Looking at "Unity"

Harry Camden looking at "Unity"
Photo 1654157 courtesy of the NY Public Library.
Planning sketch of the Federa Building facade
These are believed to be in Harry's handwriting.

The Submissions are Reviewed

Statue Competition
Statue Competition
Statue Competition
Statue Competition

Images above are: 1654156, 1654155, 1654154, and 1654153
 from the New York Public Library.

The Winner is Harry Poole Camden, Jr.

Photo 1654145, courtesy of the NY Public Library.

Winner of the $10,000 prize for sculputre to embellish the dorways of the United States Government Building at the New York World's Fair 1939, and the design "Unity" which brought him success. Harry Poole Camden of Parkersburg, West Virginia, third from the left, with members of the jury which awarded him the prize following the judging of 430 designa submitted to the jurymen in the Hall of Communication of the New York Fair. In the photograph, left to righ: max Dunning, U.S. Treasury Department, engineer to the United States Commission to the Fair: Howard F. Cheney, archtect to the Federal Building, member of the jury; Mr. Camden, and Theodore T. Hayes, Executive Assistant Commissioner of the U.S. Commission, also a juror.

Congratulations Harry

letter of congratulations
letter of congratulations
letter of  congratulations

The Statues

Statues of Peace and Unity

The dominating Federal Building, costing $940,000, consists of two towers 150 feet high joined by a central section, whose entrance colonnade represents the original thirteen states. Huge sculptures adorn the facades of the Tower of judiciary and the Tower of Legislature, while many murals and other sculptures are placed within the tow halls, where priceless historical documents are displayed. Art work was executed by winners in nation-wide contests. Harry Poole Camden received the $10,000 prize for the two sculptures decorating the towers. Peace, on the Tower of Legislature, has a female figure lifting a cloak with her right hand to shield three smaller figures – man, woman and child- representing the average American family. The other sculpture is Unity. Runner-up in this competition was Louis Slobodkin, whose figure of Lincoln also symbolizes unity; it is displayed within the building.

New York City: Vol 1, New York City Guide By Federal Writers' Project Published by US History Publishers

Continue to Harry Poole page 2


Return to:
Federal Building