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More Smithsonian Searches     Who else has...     Torrey, Fred M.,     Roman Bronze Works,     History -- United States     History -- United States     History -- Exploration     Figure group     Portrait female -- Munn, Lillie Gordon     Occupation -- Other     Dress -- Historic     Portrait male -- Coronado, Francisco Vasquez de     Occupation -- Other     Ethnic -- Spanish     Portrait male -- Buffalo Bill     Performing Arts -- Circus     Occupation -- Farm     Occupation -- Religion     Architecture -- Vehicle     Animal -- Horse     Animal -- Buffalo     Animal -- Cattle     Object -- Flower     Allegory -- Arts & Sciences     Allegory -- Arts & Sciences     Allegory -- Arts & Sciences     Outdoor Sculpture -- Kansas -- Topeka     Relief     Bench     Sculpture

Munn Memorial, (sculpture). Artist:  Torrey, Fred M., 1884-1967, sculptor. Roman Bronze Works, founder. Title:  Munn Memorial, (sculpture). Other Titles:  Kansas Pioneers, (sculpture). Homage to the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas, (sculpture). Lillie Gordon Munn Memorial Monument, (sculpture). Pageant of Kansas History, (sculpture). Dates:  Commissioned 1936. Completed Sept. 24, 1939. Dedicated Dec. 1939. Medium:  Figures: bronze; Base: pink granite; Bas-relief plaque: Indiana limestone; Benches: cement; Steps: granite; Foundation: cement and asphalt. Dimensions:  Overall: approx. 16 x 86 x 16 ft.; Figures: approx. H. 9 ft.; Relief plaque: approx. H. 9 ft. x D. 3 ft. x L. 46 ft. 6 in. Inscription:  (On sculpture base:) Fred M. Torrey Sc. 39. (On sculpture base:) Roman Bronze Works, N.Y. (Across the lower section of the bas-relief, incised letters:) THIS MEMORIAL ERECTED BY LILLIE GORDON MUNN TO COMMEMORATE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE NATIVE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF KANSAS/AD ASTRA PER ASPERA (On back of base, incised letters:) The Munn Memorial Commission Robert Stone Arthur Capper Mrs. Chas. F. Spencer Chester Woodward Thomas F. Doran signed Founder's mark appears. Description:  A monument to Kansas pioneers. The monument includes a figurative bronze sculpture ("Homage to the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas"); and a carved stone relief plaque ("A Pageant of Kansas History"). The bronze statue portrays pioneer Lillie Gordon Munn, in a long dress, holding sunflowers in her arms. A man stands at her proper left side and is dressed in shirt, trousers, and knee-high boots. He carries an ax in his lowered proper left hand; his proper right hand encircles her waist. The figures are set atop a square pink granite base. They stand before a large relief plaque which is flanked on either side by low curved benches. The large bas-relief depicts the movement of civilization from east to west. Included are scenes of Indians, Spaniards led by Coronado, scouts, explorers, and priests, a covered Conestoga wagon drawn by oxen, a pioneer family, cattlemen, farmers, and figures symbolizing learning, culture, natural science, patriotism, and industry. A single buffalo is carved on each of the two flanking benches. Three granite steps lead up to the monument. Subject:  History -- United States -- Westward Expansion History -- United States -- Kansas History -- Exploration -- Americas Figure group Portrait female -- Munn, Lillie Gordon -- Full length Occupation -- Other -- Pioneer Dress -- Historic -- Pioneer Dress Portrait male -- Coronado, Francisco Vasquez de -- Full length Occupation -- Other -- Explorer Ethnic -- Spanish Portrait male -- Buffalo Bill -- Full length Performing Arts -- Circus Occupation -- Farm Occupation -- Religion -- Clergy Architecture -- Vehicle -- Carriage Animal -- Horse Animal -- Buffalo Animal -- Cattle Object -- Flower -- Sunflower Allegory -- Arts & Sciences -- Education Allegory -- Arts & Sciences -- Science Allegory -- Arts & Sciences -- Industry Object Type:  Outdoor Sculpture -- Kansas -- Topeka Relief Bench Sculpture Owner:  Administered by City of Topeka, Parks and Recreation, 201 North Topeka, Topeka, Kansas 66603 Located Gage Park, South entrance at 10th Street, Topeka, Kansas Remarks:  The sculpture was funded by a $50,000 bequest from Lillie Gordon Munn, a noted philanthropist and prominent Topekan. The monument was dedicated on the 85th birthday of Topeka. It was to serve as a memorial to the native sons and daughters of Kansas and to depict the historical growth and progress of the state. Initial plans called for a large reflecting pool to be placed in front of the memorial. IAS files contain related articles from the Pictorial Times, July 3, 1968; The Kansas City Star; and the Christian Science Monitor, Dec. 12, 1989. IAS files also contain a copy of the remarks by Robert Stone made at the unveiling of the memorial. References:  Save Outdoor Sculpture, Kansas survey, 1994. Hamlin, Gladys E., "The Sculpture of Fred and Mabel Torrey," Alhambra, CA: Borden Publishing Company, 1969, pg. 120. Illustration:  Image on file. Pictorial Times, July 3, 1968. Hamlin, Gladys E., "The Sculpture of Fred and Mabel Torrey," Alhambra, CA: Borden Publishing Company, 1969, pg. 121. Note:  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. Repository:  Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012 Control Number:  IAS KS000528   Copy/Holding information Smithsonian AmericanArt Museum Control Number   Inventory of American Sculpture KS000528 Add Copy to MyList Format: HTMLPlain textDelimited Subject:   Email to:

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