William Smith, (sculpture).

William Smith, (sculpture).

Aub, A. E. Ted, sculptor.

William Smith, (sculpture).

William Smith, Founder of William Smith College, Geneva, New York, (sculpture).

Dedicated Nov. 7, 2008

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: bronze; Base: polished marble base on concrete pad.

William Smith 1818-1912 / Dedicated on November 7, 2008 on the occasion of the Centennial Celebration of the founding of William Smith College. Presented as a gift from the men of the Hobart and William Smith Colleges Board of Trustees in honor of 100 years of coordinate education.

A full-length portrait of William Smith, a full bearded older gentleman, who is depicted walking in a full suit of clothes, including a vest with pocket watch chain, bow tie and removable high collar. He steadies himself with a hewn walking sick in his proper right hand, and in his left hand he holds a pinecone.

Portrait male -- Smith, William -- Full length

Occupation -- Education -- University Founder

Dress -- Accessory -- Cane

Outdoor Sculpture -- New York -- Geneva

Administered by Hobart & William Smith Colleges, 337 Pulteney Street, Geneva, New York 14456

Located Hobart & William Smith Colleges, In front of Hirshon House Residence Hall, Geneva, New York

A. E. Ted Aub, who is a Professor in the Art Department of Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York, created this sculpture of William Smith to commemorate the centennial of the college. William Smith was born in Kent, England in 1818. He immigrated to the United States with his mother in 1843. Upon arriving in Geneva, New York he became a nurseryman, breeding sought after plants. His successful plant nursery led to several other business interests in Geneva, and took him into banking. William Smith had no formal education, yet he taught himself through published materials, the elements of botany and astronomy. He appreciated the Arts, and established the Smith Opera House in Geneva, which continues to the present as a successful cultural venue. Following the death of his mother, his interests turned to Spiritualism and Philosophy. These interests introduced Mr. Smith to many of the progenitors of the Women’s Movement, which originated in central New York. Mr. Smith was a lifelong bachelor, and conscientiously decided to convert his wealth into a lasting legacy. He established William Smith College for women, alongside Hobart College in Geneva. Many colleges for women in the early Twentieth Century were denominationally based or focused only on vocational training. Mr. Smith envisioned that the college he would establish should offer training in the Liberal Arts, the foundation of all higher learning and very novel for time. Mr. Smith endowed William Smith College in 1906 with the first classes taking place in 1908. William Smith College commemorated the centennial of their founding in 2008, with a bronze figure of Mr. Smith, who died in 1912, on campus in an area known as "the Hill' where the original buildings of the college constructed through his endowment are grouped. The sculptor has creatively captured his subject boldly striding forward on a determined path to a better future for his benevolent posterity, as the pinecone in his hand symbolically sows the seeds of knowledge.

Orzell, Bill, 2012.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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