John Brown, (sculpture).

John Brown, (sculpture).

Unknown (Italian), sculptor.

John Brown, (sculpture).

Statue of John Brown, (sculpture).

1910. Dedicated June 1911. Relocated 1963.

Sculpture: Italian marble or Italian granite; Base: Vermont granite and concrete.

Sculpture: approx. H. 6 ft.; Base: approx. 7 ft. 6 in. x 5 ft. x 5 ft.

(Carved on front of upper base:) ERECTED TO/THE MEMORY OF/JOHN BROWN/BY A GRATEFUL/PEOPLE (On bronze plaque on lower front of base:) WESTERN UNIVERSITY/MEMORY CLUB/Commemorates this site/of Western University/1881-1943

A full-length portrait of John Brown with a full beard and mustache. He is seen standing with proper left hand resting on his hip. He holds a the remains of an object (now missing) at his side in his proper right hand. He is dressed in a knee-length coat and a buttoned vest. A tree stump supports his proper right leg. The sculpture is set atop a multitiered granite base which rests on circular concrete base. The base is bordered on one side by a semi-circular seating area.

Portrait male -- Brown, John -- Full length

Occupation -- Other -- Reformer

Ethnic -- African American

History -- United States -- Black History

History -- United States -- Underground Railroad

Outdoor Sculpture -- Kansas -- Kansas City

Administered by Western University Association, Board of Directors, 22 Sherwood Drive, Overland, Missouri

Located 27th & Sewell Street, Kansas City, Kansas

Formerly located Western University, 27th & Sewell, In front of Ward Hall, Kansas City, Kansas

The sculpture commemorates abolitionist John Brown, who came to Kansas in the late 1850s. The sculpture cost $2,000 and was funded through popular subscription by friends and students of Western University and by African Methodist Episcopal church members. Most of the contributors were African-American laborers and women, who gave anywhere from fifty cents to ten dollars. The sculpture was originally placed in front of Ward Hall on the Western University campus. It was dedicated on commencement day in 1911.

Sometime after January 1963, the sculpture was relocated to its current more prominent site. It is placed near the site of the former Western University and the historic town of Quindaro which served as a station on the underground railway. IAS files contain transcription of two nearby bronze plaques which describe both Western University and the Quindaro area. IAS files contain historic newsphotos which show the sculpture in its original location and an undated newsclipping from the Kansas City Star. IAS files also contain related articles from the Kansas City Kansan, Dec. 5, 1962, and Jan. 27, 1963, pg. 7A; and excerpt from Orrin McKinley Murray, Sr.'s "The Rise and Fall of Western University," pg. 6-7.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Kansas survey, 1994.

Kansas City Kansan, Dec. 5, 1962.

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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