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Line 1: − + + + + + − Columbia was introduced by black poet Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784) in her 1776 poem, "To His Excellency [[George Washington]]". <ref>Previous poems by others had used the term in the 1760s, but they were forgotten.</ref> 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. <ref>Thomas J. Steele, "The Figure of Columbia: Phillis Wheatley plus George Washington," ''New England Quarterly,'' Vol. 54, No. 2 (Jun., 1981), pp. 264-266 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/364975 in JSTOR]</ref> Washington was impressed and asked to meet Wheatley. The term caught public fancy and many places in the Western Hemisphere were named after her, such as the [[District of Columbia]], [[Columbia University]], and the Colombia River.<Ref> In 1858, Queen Victoria named [[British Columbia]] part of Canada, named after its' Columbia River.</ref> Before Columbia came into wide use around 1790, America was often represented as an Indian princess, especially in European cartoons. + − + + − 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. − [[File:Space Shuttle Columbia NASA.jpg|thumb|Space Shuttle Columbia, NASA.]]
art
[[File:Columbia4.jpg|thumb|220px|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]]
[[File:Columbia4.jpg|thumb|220px|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 has declined due to the [[Statue of Liberty]] having taken her place next to Uncle Sam.
'''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 the1920s, as she was replacewd by the [[Statue of Liberty]] as the female symbol of America. [[Uncle Sam]] remains the male symbol.
[[File:Columb1.jpg|thumb|220px|left|[[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]]". <ref>Previous poems by others had used the term in the 1760s, but they were forgotten.</ref> 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. <ref>Thomas J. Steele, "The Figure of Columbia: Phillis Wheatley plus George Washington," ''New England Quarterly,'' Vol. 54, No. 2 (Jun., 1981), pp. 264-266 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/364975 in JSTOR]</ref> 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.<Ref> In 1858, [[Queen Victoria]], on advice of her husband Prince Albert, chose [[British Columbia|"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 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/4048132 in JSTOR]</ref> Before Columbia came into wide use around 1790, America was often represented as an Indian princess, especially in European cartoons.
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, <ref>[http://www.millersville.edu/~columbus/data/art/WESTKLN1.ART Columbus and Columbia, Millersville.edu]</ref> ''"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." ''
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, <ref>[http://www.millersville.edu/~columbus/data/art/WESTKLN1.ART Columbus and Columbia, Millersville.edu]</ref> ''"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." ''
[[File:Gast1872a.jpg|thumb|200px|John Gast, "American progress" (1872); she holds a school book and a telegraph wire]]
[[File:Columb1.jpg|thumb|220px|left|[[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]]
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.
[[File:Space Shuttle Columbia NASA.jpg|thumb|Space Shuttle Columbia, NASA.]]
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.
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.