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The Power of an Idea: United States Army Announces the Training of a Modern-Day Monuments Men Force

Robert M. Edsel

Oct 28, 2019

The Power of an Idea: United States Army Announces the Training of a Modern-Day Monuments Men Force

My quest began with a seemingly simple question: “How did so much of the world’s shared art and cultural heritage survive the most destructi

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And Then There Were Three:
The Passing of Monuments Man Rouben Sami

Robert M. Edsel

Feb 21, 2019

And Then There Were Three: The Passing of Monuments Man Rouben Sami

Certainly the greatest privilege of my work these past sixteen years has been meeting the Monuments Men and Women and the friendships...

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In Memoriam: Dr. Bruce Cole, Champion of the Arts

Robert M. Edsel

Jan 25, 2018

In Memoriam: Dr. Bruce Cole, Champion of the Arts

Works of art and other cultural treasures have not survived the ages by accident. Learned people of previous generations understood the...

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Robert M. Edsel

Jun 6, 2015

Eight Years Honoring the Heroes!

Eight years ago, on the 63rd anniversary of the D-Day landings, I announced the formation of the Monuments Men Foundation for the...

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Good morning! Buongiorno! Guten Morgen! Bonjour!

Robert M. Edsel

Jan 14, 2015

Good morning! Buongiorno! Guten Morgen! Bonjour!

Good morning! Buongiorno! Guten Morgen! Bonjour! I am proud to share with you that our Monuments Men Foundation website is finally...

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Monuments Man Seymour Pomrenze played a pivotal role in the post-war restitution of looted Jewish archives and cultural materials. As the first director of the Offenbach Archival Depot, he oversaw the return of hundreds of thousands of stolen books, Torah scrolls, and archival documents. His efforts remain a model for post-conflict restitution.

#MonumentsMen

✨From her childhood in London, to WWII Monuments Woman, art historian and celebrated editor, Anne Olivier Popham Bell’s life was dedicated to arts, culture, and literature.

The highest-ranking Monuments Woman in Bunde, Germany, she oversaw field operations at Divisional Headquarters there. Following the war, she spent 25 years editing Virginia Woolf’s diaries, a landmark five-volume work which shaped literary history. Olivier, as she was known to friends, was a true trailblazer. #MonumentsWomen #WWII

As a Monuments Man in WWII, Robert Posey used his architectural skills to clear a path through bomb rubble in the Altaussee salt mine, and became the first Monuments Man to enter, finding masterpieces such as Michelangelo’s Bruges Madonna and Vermeer’s The Astronomer.

Following the war, he began a nearly three-decade career at the architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, working on well-known projects such as the Sears Tower in Chicago. #WWII #MonumentsMen

✨Lincoln Kirstein was a cultural visionary who left an indelible mark on history. Best known as the co-founder of the New York City Ballet (@nycballet) Kirstein’s wartime contributions as a Monuments Man included the discovery of some of Europe’s greatest masterpieces looted by the Nazis.

For his extraordinary contributions to the preservation and promotion of art in all its forms, Kirstein received numerous accolades, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the National Medal of Arts.

#WWII #MonumentsMen #Nyc ballet

✨Monuments Man Frederick Hartt devoted his life to protecting and celebrating Italian art. As stated in his own words, “I lost my heart to Italy at the time of my very first visit to that beautiful land.”

From recovering masterpieces looted by the Nazis, including works by Michelangelo and Botticelli, to inspiring future leaders as a professor and author, Hartt’s legacy lives on. #WWII #MonumentsMen

✨Bernard Taper was a gifted writer, journalist, and professor whose remarkable life included service as a Monuments Man. Born in Scotland, he immigrated to the U.S. at age 11 and became a U.S. citizen during WWII, while training for the Army.

In 1946, he joined the Monuments Men in Germany as an arts intelligence officer, assuming the role of detective tasked with investigating and recovering works looted by the Nazis. Following the war, he resumed his career as a successful journalist, including an almost forty-year term as a staff writer for The New Yorker (@newyorkermag).

At once a creative journalist, determined art detective, and inspiring professor, Taper’s two years as a Monuments Man were only a small part of a life incredibly well-lived. #wwii #grateful

✨Harry Ettlinger’s life embodied resilience, service, and hope. As a boy, he fled Nazi Germany just weeks after his Bar Mitzvah. He returned six years later—not as a refugee, but as an American soldier, fighting to liberate the homeland he once fled.

Harry Ettlinger’s incredible WWII journey began as an infantryman, headed to the front lines of the the Battle of the Bulge. At the last moment, he was reassigned due to his fluency in German—ultimately becoming a Monuments Man.

Today, on the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, I am thinking of my friend Harry and the incredible life he led. He will forever be an inspiration to the many people whose lives he touched. #MonumentsMen

Mary J. Regan Quessenberry was a trailblazing art historian, educator, and Monuments Woman.

In July 1942 Regan enlisted in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps, the first female unit to serve in the U.S. Army in a capacity other than nursing. She was assigned to U.S. Eighth Air Force in 1943, where she trained to assess bomb damage and identify cultural sites at risk of being bombed. Following Allied victory, she volunteered to join the Monuments, Fine Arts & Archives, where she was welcomed by her former Harvard professor, Mason Hammond.

For her extraordinary leadership, she was awarded the Bronze Star. #WWIIHistory #MonumentsWomen

Art historian and Monuments Man, S. Lane Faison, Jr., played a pivotal role in uncovering and documenting art theft during WWII. A member of the Art Looting Investigation Unit, he helped locate stolen masterpieces, ensuring their restitution, and later called for prosecution of Nazi art looters.

After the war, Faison returned to Williams College (@williamscollege) where his students went on to lead iconic institutions like MoMA (@themuseumofmodernart), the National Gallery of Art (@ngadc), and the Guggenheim (@guggenheim).

I interviewed Lane just days before his passing in 2006. Despite his declining health, Faison vividly recalled wartime details during our three-hour conversation. It was one of the most moving moments of my life.

#MonumentsMen #WWIIHistory #PreservingHistory

General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s orders to safeguard monuments and historic sites during WWII set a precedent for the preservation of culture in times of conflict.

Today’s spotlight honors his leadership in protecting the past while shaping the future. #WWII #Eisenhower #grateful

The National WWII Museum (@wwiimuseum) in New Orleans is more than a museum—it’s a living testament to the courage, sacrifice, and innovation of the WWII generation. Through powerful exhibits, like their tribute to the Monuments Men and Women, they preserve the stories of those who fought to protect both freedom and culture.

Today’s spotlight: the National WWII Museum for their commitment to educating and inspiring future generations. #WWIIHistory #MonumentsMen #WWII
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The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA @usnatarchives) safeguards the invaluable documents of our history, including records that illuminate the stories of #WWII art theft and recovery. Their collections have been instrumental in my research for all of my books, including ‘Remember Us,’ which will be published in April.

Today’s spotlight is NARA for their dedication to preserving history and making it accessible to all.
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#WWIIHistory #MonumentsMen #NationalArchives

@christiesinc Auction House stands as a leader in addressing the impact of Nazi-era art theft. With one of the most experienced restitution teams in the art world, they prioritize meticulous provenance research and advocate for fair resolutions. Guided by the Washington Principles, Christie’s commitment goes beyond research—they highlight the courage of figures like Rose Valland through partnerships with organizations such as the Monuments Men and Women Foundation (@monumentsmenandwomenfnd), shining a spotlight on these historical injustices rather than allowing them to be forgotten.

Today’s spotlight celebrates Christie’s for their dedication to justice, restitution, and cultural preservation.

Restorations breathe new life into our most cherished cultural treasures, ensuring their beauty and history endure for generations. From rebuilding #NotreDame Cathedral to preserving #WWII monuments and masterpieces damaged by war, such as The Last Supper or the Ghent Altarpiece, restorers are unsung heroes of cultural preservation.

In today’s spotlight, the skilled individuals who dedicate their lives to restoration and preservation.

From his roots in the investment banking business to his transformative role at Harvard’s Fogg Art Museum, Paul Sachs’ legacy lives on.

During WWII, Paul Sachs, along with George Stout, helped develop plans to safeguard works of art, a pivotal effort that paved the way for the creation of the #MonumentsMen. His groundbreaking museum studies program trained a generation of art leaders, shaping the future of museum leadership and advancing the global effort to preserve cultural heritage

Today’s spotlight is Paul Sachs.

On #PearlHarborDay, we spotlight #MonumentsMan Sherman Lee. During WWII, Lee served in the Pacific, where his expertise in Asian art guided efforts to preserve Japan’s cultural treasures. In recognition of his service, Lee was honored with the Order of the North Star and the Order of the Sacred Treasures by the Japanese Government.
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After the war, Lee’s legacy continued at the Cleveland Museum of Art, (@clevelandmuseumofart) where he built one of the nation’s finest collections of Asian art.
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#MonumentsMen

Sculptor Walker Hancock’s World War II journey was as extraordinary as his art. From helping draft directives signed by General Eisenhower to protect cultural monuments, to inspecting war-torn Aachen Cathedral and uncovering treasures in mines, Hancock’s mission preserved history.
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Post-war, one of his most important commissions was the iconic Pennsylvania Railroad War Memorial in Philadelphia, a tribute to the 1,307 railroad employees who died during WWII. His wartime service and artistic achievements earned him some of the nation’s highest honors, including the Medal of Freedom.
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A true hero, today’s spotlight is Monuments Man Walker Hancock.
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#WWII #MonumentsMen

Social media Edith Standen, was a trailblazer! The only Monuments Woman to earn the Bronze Star, she protected cultural treasures during WWII and championed their restitution.

Following the war, she became a leading curator of textiles at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (@metmuseum), shaping art history through her scholarship and exhibitions. https://www.monumentsmenandwomenfnd.org/standen-capt-edith-a-wac
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#MonumentsWomen #MonumentsMen #WWII #BronzeStar #EdithStanden @monumentsmenandwomenfnd

✨During his service as a Monuments Man, James Rorimer was directly involved in some of the most notable achievements of the MFAA.

Following the war, he became one of the premier museum directors of the twentieth century at @metmuseum.

#MonumentsMen #MonumentsMan #JamesRorimer

Visionary, leader, hero, Monuments Man—George Stout laid the groundwork for the Monuments Men’s mission. His efforts saved some of the world’s greatest treasures during WWII. #MonumentsMen

The quiet bravery of this warrior for the arts emerged during the German occupation of Paris. Her courage ensured the survival of thousands of cultural treasures. In today’s spotlight: Monuments Woman Rose Valland!
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#RoseValland #MonumentsWomen #MonumentsMen

✨All month, I’ll be celebrating incredible individuals & groups- past & present- who inspire me with their bravery, sacrifice & dedication to preserving our shared history.

First up, the Monuments Men & Women. Follow along to see who will be next!
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#heroes #monumentsmen #monumentswomen

#OnThisDay - On November 15, 2007, President George W. Bush awarded the Monuments Men and Women Foundation (@monumentsmenandwomenfnd) with the National Humanities Medal, for sustained efforts to identify and recognize the contributions of the scholar-soldier of the Second World War.
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I had the honor to accept the medal on behalf of the Foundation and was accompanied by #MonumentsMen Seymore Pomrenze, James Reeds, Harry Ettlinger, and Horace Apgar, Jr. The National Humanities Medal is the highest honor given for excellence in the Humanities field.
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During his introduction of the recipients, President George W. Bush (@georgewbush) stated that “We are forever indebted to the men and women who, in an era of total war, rescued and preserved a precious portion of the world’s heritage.”

@thebushcenter @whitehousehistory

For keeping my family safe, thank you.

For answering the call of duty and going wherever you were needed to defend our freedom, thank you.

For volunteering when so many of your fellow citizens did not, thank you.

For protecting the shores of our nation from those who would do us harm, thank you.

For preserving the freedoms we too often take for granted, thank you.

For serving others before serving yourself, thank you.

For upholding the oath that you took to defend the Constitution, thank you.

For doing all this and expecting nothing in return, thank you.

🇺🇸 HAPPY VETERANS DAY!
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#veteransday #thankyou

⚾️Last night, watching the World Series with my boys, it occurred to me that I had never told them about the time I was invited to throw the opening pitch at Yankee Stadium (@yankeestadium) for the Yankees (@yankees) v. Cincinnati Reds (@reds). So I showed them my Yankee jersey, the baseball, and then watched the video clip. They couldn’t believe it, and made me feel a very cool dad 😎.
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I’ll never forget then-Yankees catcher Brian McCann (@brianmccann16_ ) walking up to hand me the ball, then saying “I’m a big fan of the #MonumentsMen and your work.” Special moments all!
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Can you guess why I picked the number 45 for my jersey?
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#baseball #firstpitch #cooldad #yankees #reds

Nothing like a good old fashioned newspaper article, and Moritz agrees. #MonumentsMen

For sale at Christie’s is a piece of history “that takes us to ground zero of the greatest theft in history.” Next month, the beautiful Largillièrre’s “Portrait de femme a mi-corps” (“Portrait of a woman, half length”), held by the soldier on the right in the iconic photo taken on the steps of Neuschwanstein Castle, will be offered for sale in Paris.

I’ve looked at that wartime photo every day for the last two decades. I was so happy to finally see a color reproduction of the Largillièrre, bringing that historic moment in 1945 to life!

The painting was recovered by the Monuments Men, thanks to the secret notes that Monuments Woman Rose Valland had secretly taken while working under the watchful eyes of the Nazis. Don’t miss the @monumentsmenandwomenfnd Monuments Men’s launch next month of “The Art Front,” the first ever translation into English of Rose Valland’s memoir of those war years.

#MonumentsMen #RoseValland #largilliere

Wonderful morning in La Gleize, Belgium, to celebrate their 80th anniversary of liberation and to honor Monuments Man Captain Walker Hancock, a great American sculptor who saved this town’s precious Madonna from destruction when German artillery damaged the roof of the church.
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📷Photos:.
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1. This past weekend in La Gleize with Bernard Treinen, owner of the December 44 museum, Bernard Geeneen and townspeople of La Gleize.
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2. Statue of the Virgin Mary inside La Gleize Church in Belgium, after the Battle of the Bulge, 1945. Thomas Carr Howe papers, 1932-1984. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. (@archivesamerart)
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3. I first saw the statue of the Madonna of La Gleize in 2012.
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4. Monuments Man Walker Hancock (front left, in U.S. Army helmet) assisted residents of the town of La Gleize with the relocation of the Madonna of La Gleize to a more secure site. (Walker Hancock Collection)
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5. The Église Nôtre-Dame de l’Assomption in La Gleize, a town located southeast of Liège in Belgium.
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#WWII #LaGleize #WalkerHancock #monumentsmen

Thank you to the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (@cultureelerfgoed) for inviting me to speak at the Symposium on the Future of Restitution in Amsterdam, addressing so many leaders in the art restitution community about the lessons we can learn more the work of the Monuments Men and Women of WWII.
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#WWII #Monumentsmen #monumentswomen

🇺🇸🇳🇱Yesterday evening I attended my first Liberation Concert at the Netherlands American Cemetery near Margraten, on the eve of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of this part of the Netherlands by American forces. A magnifficent rainbow and a sunset made this resting place of our fallen heroes look even more beautiful and sacred.
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(The first frame has footage via @l1mburg live broadcast, which I followed while stuck in traffic on my way to the cemetery).
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#margraten #americancemetery #rememberus #netherlandsamericancemetery #liberationconcert

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@robertedsel

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