Vigo County Historical Society

This week’s historical treasure, a framed, oil reproduction of Willard’s "The Spirit of ‘76," is one of the museum pieces with multiple levels of historical significance. As a national symbol of the American Revolution, the depiction pays homage to the courage, fortitude and resolve of the colonial patriots who believed in and demanded American separation from the British Crown.

The men in the painting show their proud determination as they forge ahead with drums and fife, cheering their comrades on toward victory over British rule.

With the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, the American theory of government was established, a theory that states the main role of government is to protect the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness of all people. It also defined the right--and responsibility--of people to discard and replace any government which treads upon or usurps those rights.

This "spirit" of independence established in 1776 also formed the ground work of the new state governments which came into being after the adoption of the Declaration. This lends the painting historical significance at the state level, since it symbolizes the ideas upon which Indiana government is patterned.

Ideally, local governments, too, are designed chiefly to protect the rights of the people and are subject, should they fail in this regard, to that same "spirit" of courage, independence and rebellion exhibited by our national forefathers in 1776.

The responsibilities and remedies are clear in these words of Jefferson drawn from the Declaration of Independence.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. -- That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. -- That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Rights of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

The painting’s local significance is that the copy was produced by a local man and that it once hung in Garfield High School, a Vigo County school from 1912 to 1971. The painting is signed: "Willard’s Spirit of ‘76, John M. Wilson, 1926, GHS 1916."

A brass tag on the frame states simply, "Presented by John M. Wilson 1917." A museum notation adds that the piece "formerly hung in the front hallway of the Old Garfield High School." By sorting the dates out, one can conclude that Wilson was a 1917 graduate of Garfield who made the painting in 1926. When he or his heirs presented it to the school is not mentioned.

The painting also represents the centuries-old practice of adorning classroom walls with historical artwork: framed history lessons, so to speak. Common examples are prints of presidential portraits, famous documents, and depictions of significant moments in the historical record.

The "Spirit of ‘76" presently hands in the military room of the museum.

As we celebrate this week of over 200 years of independence, let us also remember those very real people who forged for us the form of self-government we enjoy today. Let us remember even more that we must not sit back and expect the courage of those patriots to carry us along, but that we must heed Jefferson’s advice to pay the price of democracy--eternal vigilance--at all levels of government if the system is to endure.