Bust of Edgar Allan Poe in the Hall of Fame (New York)

Started in 1900, the Hall of Fame is dedicated to honoring great Americans who have made a significant contribution to politics, art, literature, science, medicine and education. After some controversy, and failing to secure a place in 1909, Poe was admitted to the Hall of Fame in 1910, and his bust was dedicated on May 20, 1922. The ceremony was held at 4:30 pm, with the unveiling of Poe’s bust being performed by Edwin Markham (New York Times, May 7, 1922). The bronze bust of Poe was executed by Daniel Chester French (1850-1931). It was donated by J. Sanford Saltus (1853-1922), the heir to the Saltus Steel fortune, and a devoted patron of the arts. The plaque beneath the bust reads, “Edgar Allan Poe. 1809-1849. ‘A poem deserves its title only inasmuch as it excites by elevating the soul.‘” (The quotation is taken from Poe’s essay “The Poetic Principle,” based on his poetry lectures and published shortly after his death in Sartain’s Union Magazine for October of 1850.) The Hall of Fame resides on the Bronx campus of New York University.