Elizabeth Blackwell, (sculpture).

Elizabeth Blackwell, (sculpture).

Aub, A. E. Ted, sculptor.

Benedict, Dexter Noel, 1944- , founder.

Aub, Susan, designer.

Jones, Jennifer, landscape architect.

Frontier Group, design firm.

Carol R. Johnson & Associates, landscape architect.

Elizabeth Blackwell, (sculpture).

Modeled 1992. Cast 1994. Dedicated Oct. 1, 1994.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: bronze; Base: Black Hills rose-hued granite.

Sculpture: approx. 6 ft. x 38 in. x 42 1/2 in.; Base: approx. 4 1/2 x 67 x 67 in.

(Side corner of bronze base, incised lettering:) A.E. AUB 1994 (Top front of granite base, incised lettering:) "I CANNOT BUT CONGRATULATE MYSELF ON HAVING FOUND AT LAST/THE RIGHT PLACE FOR MY BEGINNING."/ELIZABETH BLACKWELL/LETTER FROM GENEVA. NOV. 9. 1847 (Rear of granite base:) "SCULPTOR A.E. TED AUB, PROFESSOR OF ART, HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES--DEDICATED OCT. 1, 1994" signed

A full-length portrait of a youthful Elizabeth Blackwell, seen sitting sideways on a chair in a contemplative mood. She has her hair pulled back and wears a skirt with overblouse. Her proper left elbow rests on top of the back of the chair, her hand supporting the head, with the forefinger placed against the cheek. She holds a book in her lap with her proper right hand, the forefinger marking a page. By her proper left foot is a medical bag with the initials "E.B." on the strap. The sculpture has a short, square bronze base and is mounted upon a short, square granite base with a beveled edge.

Portrait female -- Blackwell, Elizabeth -- Full length

Occupation -- Medicine -- Doctor

Outdoor Sculpture -- New York -- Geneva

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

Located Hobart & William Smith Colleges, Near Rosenberg Hall & Gulick Hall, Geneva, New York

The sculpture commemorates Elizabeth Blackwell (1821-1910), a graduate of Geneva (now Hobart) College and the first woman doctor in America. The sculpture was commissioned by Hobart and William Smith Colleges and erected by a committee. The sculptor's rendering of Blackwell was inspired by a drawing done by Countess Clarice de Charnace, created in Paris in 1859. The sculptor used the models Rachael Theismeyer, Krist Flores-Fratto, and Patricia Nolan during the project. The quote on the bronze base is from an 1847 entry from Elizabeth Blackwell's diary, researched and selected by Professor Deborah Hall. The granite base was fabricated in Barre, Vermont. Jennifer Jones of Carol R. Johnson Associates oversaw the base design and installation. Casting was done by Dixon. The bronze commemorative plaque on the sidewalk in front of the sculpture was designed by Susan Aub of the Frontier Group; it reads: ELIZABETH BLACKWELL, M.D./1821-1910/Admitted to the Medical School of Geneva (now Hobart)/College in 1847 and graduated, first in her class, two/years later, Elizabeth Blackwell became the first female/physician in the United States. Her life was devoted/to women's and children's health care, reproductive/education, and to opening the medical profession to women.

IAS files contain articles from the Finger Lakes Times (Geneva, NY), Sept. 28, 1994, pg. 10A, and Oct. 2, 1994; and transcription of dedication speeches.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, New York survey, 1994.

Finger Lakes Times (Geneva, NY), Oct. 2, 1994, pg. 3A.

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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