Columbia

Columbia is a sailor in President William McKinley's navy, and is trying on "world power" on April 6, 1901; the feather is smoke representing expansion into the Pacific and Caribbean

Columbia was a goddess-like female figure who was common representation in art of the United States, as The Goddess of Democracy. The Latin term derived from Christopher Columbus, "The lands of Columbus". Columbia is often a name of vessels used in exploration. She is seen as virtuous and protective, the symbol of American pride and progress. Miss Columbia's popularity declined after the 1920s, as she was replaced by the Statue of Liberty as the female symbol of America.

Thomas Nast, the great cartoonist of the 1870s, often used Columbia to portray America. Here she is enslaved by taxes. Harper's Weekly Feb. 9, 1878

Columbia was introduced by black poet Phillis Wheatley (1753–1784) in her 1776 poem, "To His Excellency George Washington".^[1] Wheatley's poem was based heavily on classical Roman sources, which she used in translation, and as befits a model of Republicanism, Columbia is garbed in Roman dress.^[2] Washington was impressed and asked to meet Wheatley. The term caught public fancy and many places in the United States were named after her, such as the District of Columbia, Columbia University, and the Colombia River.^[3] Before Columbia came into wide use around 1790, America was often represented as an Indian princess, especially in European cartoons.

Space Shuttle Columbia, NASA.

History[edit]

In 1792, a statue of Columbus was raised at Tammany Hall in New York City and an eloquent oration was delivered by Mr. John B. Johnson. A toast of honor was given,^[4] "May the genius of liberty, as she has conducted the sons of Columbia with glory to the commencement of the fourth century, guard their fame to the end of time."

John Gast, "American progress" (1872); she holds a school book and a telegraph wire

In a 1872 painting by John Gast, "American Progress," Columbia leads civilization to the westward frontier with American settlers. Columbia usually was disdainful of aristocracy and royalty, but was of mixed feelings about imperialism.

Decline[edit]

As an iconic image of America, Columbia was commonly used in World War I, until displaced by the Statue of Liberty in the 1920s. By 1950, the image was much diluted, seen as antiquated and is seldom seen today. A Hollywood studio took the name "Columbia Pictures" in 1924 and still features Columbia's image at the start of its films; the studio is now owned by Sony of Japan. The name without the image remains more common, as in the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) or in the space shuttle Columbia, and Columbia Encyclopedia. Many cities attribute the name Columbia such as Columbia, South Carolina or the Columbia City of Washington, Indiana and Oregon.

Uncle Sam, by contrast remains the male symbol of America. Though commonly, Uncle Sam is more representative of the government^[5][6] of America than the people or the ideals that made America exceptional and unique.

Character[edit]

Columbia was kind, and fiercely patriotic. As befits a woman, she was emotional, and virteous. Columbia represented the American people, not big government, and so was a symbol of small government, republicanism, and popular soverignty. Columbia was seen embracing abused nations, welcoming new republics, and being the better side of Uncle Sam, persuading him to do the right thing. She was also courageous, and was used in World War I to encourage the American people to do what they could - men fight, and women hold the home front. She was the American people, kind and Christian, whom nations celebrated and flocked to for help, Christ's church.

Poems and songs[edit]

To His Excellency George Washington - Wheatley's Poem[edit]

One century scarce perform'd its destined round,

When Gallic powers Columbia's fury found;
And so may you, whoever dares disgrace
The land of freedom's heaven-defended race!
Fix'd are the eyes of nations on the scales,
For in their hopes Columbia's arm prevails.

Hail Columbia[edit]

Columbia appears as "Public Opinion" who brands corrupt politicians in this Puck cartoon of Aug. 11, 1886

Unofficial national anthem until the Star Spangled Banner. The song is still used today for the entrance of the Vice President.^[7]

Hail, Columbia, happy land,
Hail, ye heroes, heav'n born band,
Who fought and bled in Freedom's cause,
Who fought and bled in Freedom's cause,
And when the storm of war was gone,
Enjoy'd the peace your valor won.
Let independence be our boast,
Ever mindful what it cost,
Ever grateful for the prize,
Let its alter reach the skies.

Firm, united let us be,
Rallying round our liberty,
As a band of brothers join'd
Peace and safety we shall find.

Sound, sound the trump of fame,
Let Washington's great fame
Ring through the world with loud applause,
Ring through the world with loud applause,
Let ev'ry clime to freedom dear,
Listen with a joyful ear,
With equal skill, with God-like pow'r
He governs in the fearful hour
Of horrid war, or guides with ease
The happier time of honest peace.

Germania (Germany) and Columbia are united in grief after a cyclone killed 50 American sailors and 90 German sailors in Samoa in March, 1889. Puck cover, April 10, 1889^[8]

Columbia, The Gem of The Ocean[edit]

O, Columbia! the gem of the ocean,
The home of the brave and the free,
The shrine of each patriot's devotion,
A world offers homage to thee.
Thy mandates make heroes assemblev When Liberty's form stands in view;
Thy banners make tyranny tremble
When borne by the Red, White and Blue!
When borne by the Red, White and Blue!
When borne by the Red, White and Blue!
Thy banners make tyranny tremble
When borne by the Red, White and Blue!
The wine cup, the wine cup bring hither,
And fill you it true to the brim!
May the wreaths they have won never wither,
Nor the star of their glory grow dim!
May the service united ne'er sever,
But they to their colors prove true!
The Army and Navy forever,
Three cheers for the red, white and blue,
Three cheers for the red, white and blue,
Three cheers for the red, white and blue,
The Army and Navy forever,
Three cheers for the red, white and blue.

Columbia (the American people) reaches out to help oppressed Cuba in 1897 while Uncle Sam (the US Government) is blind. Judge Feb. 6, 1897

See also[edit]

Columbia Pictures, Sony logo

• Christopher Columbus
• Patriotism
• America
• British Columbia

External links[edit]

• Images of Miss Columbia
• Patriotic Themes
• Columbia University New York City.

References[edit]

1. ↑ Previous poems by others had used the term in the 1760s, but they were forgotten.
2. ↑ Thomas J. Steele, "The Figure of Columbia: Phillis Wheatley plus George Washington," New England Quarterly, Vol. 54, No. 2 (Jun., 1981), pp. 264-266 in JSTOR
3. ↑ In 1858, Queen Victoria, on advice of her husband Prince Albert, chose "British Columbia" for a new colony that later became part of Canada. It was named after the Columbia Department of the Hudson Bay Company, which in turn was named after the Columbia River. Ged Martin, "The Naming of British Columbia," Albion: A Quarterly Journal Concerned with British Studies, Vol. 10, No. 3 (Autumn, 1978), pp. 257-263 in JSTOR
4. ↑ Columbus and Columbia, Millersville.edu
5. ↑ The Fellers Called Him Bill: Secession and the Outbreak of War, Book 1
6. ↑ Encyclopedia of Media and Propaganda in Wartime America, Volume 1
7. ↑ Hail, Miss Columbia: Once a U.S. symbol, she's lost out to Uncle Sam, Lady Liberty, Post-Gazette.com
8. ↑ See for details

Further reading[edit]

• Sheppard, Alice. Cartooning for Suffrage (1994) online at Questia, discusses numerous cartoons featuring Columbia

• Columbus and Columbia: A Pictorial History of the Man and the Nation (1893)