Mount Auburn Cemetery

Proprietors of the Cemetery of Mt Auburn To A. J. Coolidge Dr.

1855 April

To making duplicate of agreement between Proprietors & Rogers the artist, for statue of John Adams, occupying much time on 23d & 24th 4.--

May

" [To] drawing agreement between the Props. & Wilkins for occupation of Stone Farm 2.--

Nov. & Dec.

" [To] services in preparing & having printed circular to the Proprietors authorized by the Trustees, & in sending a copy to each proprietor whose address could be found, occupying 13 days 50. ---------- $56.

March 1' 56 Received Payment A. J. Coolidge In Board of Trustees Feby. 2d 1856. _ Ordered to be paid. Attest A.J. Coolidge Sec^y

considerable sums of money have been paid for work already done. It is to be recollected that these Contracts were entered into by virtue of a vote of the Trustees passed in Sept ^r & Oct ^r , 1854 - which was adopted by seven members out of nine, & sanctioned by their written approval - an unprecedented unprecedented formality of this Board; - and Since then, two elections of Trustees have taken place, at which all those members who voted for the purchase of Statuary - who did not voluntarily withdraw for their own convenience - were rechosen by the Proprietors; -

The majority of the Committee are of opinion that is is expedient to go on with the Contracts made for the acquisition of the three Statues of John Winthrop, James Otis and John Adams;- And they are also of opinion that in future that all appropriations for the embellishment and improvement of the Cemetery be restricted to such objects as may be deemed essential;-

Submitted for the Comm" ^ee by

Charles P. Curtis

W ^m R Lawrence

be saved to the Corporation. -

Your Committee have ^^{The undersigned has} looked into this subject and they finds it to stand substantially thus: contracts have been entered into with Randolph Rogers for a Statue of John Adams - at a cost of $5000 - on which $1000. have been paid - with Richard S. Greenough for a Statue of Gov. Winthrop at a cost of $5000. on which $1000 have been paid. - and the preliminary to a contract with Thomas Crawford for a Statue of James Otis at a cost of $5000 on which nothing has been paid. -

We are told that this Statuary was one of the original designs of the founders of Mount Auburn - This may or may not have been the case. - But if it were so, the Committee ^ ^undersigned can see in that fact no good reason why the design should be carried out if it be inexpedient to do so. - That such however was the original design the Committee would hardly ^ ^be gathered from the language of Judge Story as quoted in the legal opinion before referred to, or if it were the design _that

Voted, That it is important to place the Statues of Gov^r Winthrop, James Otis, and John Adams in the Chapel or Grounds of Mount Auburn

Voted, That a Committee be appointed with full powers to carry the suggestions contained in this report regarding the Statues into effect in such manner as they may deem [important?]

All of which is respectfully submitted --- Cha^s G. Narro

Boston April 24 1855

Geo. W. Bond Esq

Treasurer of Mount Auburn

Pay to the order of Mr Randolph Rogers one thousand dollars on account for a statue of John Adams, to which sum he is entitled by his contract with the Corporation of Mount Auburn Cemetery

Jacob Bigelow President of Mt Auburn Cemetery