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to commemorate the role of US President At that time Manship finished the Aero Memorial
Woodrow Wilson in the creation of the League Sphere in Philidalphia based on his studies of the
of Nations, the first international organization celestial spheres, and was thinking of creating
with universal peace as its goal. They began in a large-scale version for the International Fair
1929, when a prize, similar to today’s Nobel in New York. This large-scale Sphere was to
Prize, was given to the League of Nations, and it be supported upon the backs of four tortoises,
was decided to make a memorial to its “founding taken from his models for the gates to the New
father”, President Wilson. Ideas included a tower York Bronx Zoo, which in turn rest upon a
in front of the Assembly Hall doors, and, later on, stepped plinth bearing a cast representation
the bronze three-part Assembly Hall entrance of the Chinese “celestial sea” (Hai Shui Jiang
doors, so that all delegates could pay their Ya). The tortoises may therefore be thought to
respects as they entered. The Wilson Foundation represent the Chinese tortoise of immortality Ao
chose Paul Manship, an Art Deco artist famous - an auspicious symbol from the Tang dynasty.
for heavy bronze constructions with symbolic Other zodiacal signs came from the world’s
meaning. His 1929 draft proposals were accepted major civilizations, both past and present.
by a consensus of countries, and construction of
the Palais began in 1931 with the intention of Manship described this sphere in the following
integrating the doors as part of this. words: “The representation of the heavenly
constellations is derived from Babylonia and
But we do not see those doors. Where are they? Assyria: the Greeks and Latins added their names
Some events delayed construction until 1934, and gave the constellations a local significance
when the idea was revisited by the second in some cases, and I have adhered as closely as
League of Nations Secretary-General, Mr possible to the ancient forms. Thus the star,
Avenol. He studied the project and questioned Aldebaran, which represents the eye of Taurus,
whether the doors should be a monument to dictates the character of the design, as is also
just one person. This turned into a several-year- the case of Regulus, Leo’s Heart, and so on with
long correspondence between the many parties all the constellations. The forms and attitudes
concerned. While this was ongoing, the Wilson of the figures have been made to correspond
Foundation and Paul Manship visited Geneva, with the positions and meanings of the emblems
and Paul Manship was inspired by the idea of a themselves. After that, the inter-relationship of the
sphere. constellations was designed to create a harmonious
ensemble ».
A letter from the archives of the Secretary of the
Building Committee: “On Monday, August 20th So, this means that the Sphere project was
(1935), Mr Manship called to see me again and selected to be the Memorial instead of the doors.
said that during the weekend he had a new idea When did it happen?
about the memorial, which was to use a celestial As shown in the Ham Armstrong’s letter to
globe representing the constellations in symbolic Arthus Sweetser dated 30 June 1935, the building
form. Mr Manship had shown photographs of committee considered the Celestial Sphere idea
such a globe during the previous meeting he had superb, not only in originality of conception but
had with M. Avenol. As everyone had seemed also for its spiritual meaning. Manship’s proposal
to find the idea a striking one, he thought there for a monumental celestial sphere was accepted
was no reason why it should not be used as the and a commission for the project was awarded
design for the Woodrow Wilson Memorial. With to him in April 1936. By then Geneva turned
suitable supporting figures and one or two verbal into a real centre of peace, and the monument
inscriptions on the plinth it could be made a very got a double purpose – not only the memorial
striking and original monument which would to President Wilson, but also to the League of
find an excellent site on the terrace in front of Nations, the Spirit of Geneva and the ideals of
the Assembly Hall. Mr Manship promised to get the League.
the necessary material from the architects and to
make a drawing, which he would forward to the In the spring of 1936, immediately after the
Secretary-General in the near future”. approval by the committee, Manship began

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