(Dog and Boy), (sculpture).

(Dog and Boy), (sculpture).

Unknown (Elmira, New York), fabricator.

(Dog and Boy), (sculpture).

Sculptures: painted cast iron; Bases: concrete.

2 pieces. (Dog: approx. 36 x 12 1/2 x 56 in.; Base: approx. 5 in. x 8 ft. x 5 ft.); (Boy: approx. 40 x 16 x 16 in.; Base: approx. 6 x 14 1/2 x 14 1/2 in.).

A two part sculpture, comprised of a life-sized Newfoundland dog, painted black, wearing a collar around his neck. Originally next to him, and now placed indoors, is a figure of a young, barefoot African-American boy with suspenders and rolled up baggy pants. The boy holds the dog's leash and held an American flag in his upraised proper right hand.

Figure male -- Child -- Full length

Ethnic -- African American

State of Being -- Other -- Enslaved

Outdoor Sculpture -- Indiana -- Lafayette

Lafayette Fire Department, Five Points Station, 1511 Main Street, Corner of Main & South Streets, Lafayette, Indiana 47901

Lafayette Fire Department, Fire Station No. 3, Purdue Street, Lafayette, Indiana 1912-1922.

Emerson, Harry, 928 State Street, Lafayette, Indiana until 1912.

Formerly located Emerson, T. P., 928 State Street, Lafayette, Indiana until 1912.

The sculptures were cast in Elmira, New York. They were used as a hitching post by the Emerson family until 1912, when they were given to the old Fire Station #3 on Purdue street, where they stood until 1922 when the new fire station was built. At the new Five Points fire station, both pieces were installed outside from 1922 through 1969. The boy was occasionally stolen, usually by college students, but recovered each time. In 1968, Lafayette's Human Relations Commission received complaints that the sculpture was racist and offensive because it depicted an enslaved boy with a dog. Various proposals were presented for removal or reconfiguring the sculpture. Before a decision was reached, the figure of the boy was decapitated by vandals in February of 1970. The sculpture of the boy was then placed in storage, until restoration in 1977. The figure of the boy is now displayed inside the fire station; the dog remains outside the station. IAS files contain photocopies of historic photographs showing the original placement of the boy and dog together outside the fire station. IAS files also contain newsclippings from Courier (Lafayette, IN), Nov. 27, 1968, March 26, 1969, and Nov. 21, 1977, discussing the history and controversy of the sculpture.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Indiana survey, 1993.

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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