Robert Dale Owen Memorial
Encyclopedia
Robert Dale Owen Memorial is a public artwork located at the south entrance of the Indiana Statehouse along Washington Street
in Indianapolis
, Indiana
. The memorial was dedicated to the state of Indiana in 1911 in honor of the politician Robert Dale Owen
(1807–1877). The bronze
portrait bust
by Indiana artist Frances Goodwin has been missing on this memorial since 1970. The remaining memorial pedestal is made from three stone blocks. The top pedestal includes a commemorative plaque.
.
The completed work was presented to the state on March 8, 1911, "as a lasting memorial to a man who for many years persistently labored to secure just laws concerning the educational and property rights of women." The governor, state legislature and Owen's great grand niece, Martha Fitton, were in attendance at the dedication. In 1905, the Robert Dale Owen Memorial Association was granted permission from the state to place the future memorial in the rotunda of the Statehouse. Today the memorial sits outside of the Statehouse walls, facing the southern entrance to the building where is was dedicated in 1911. The original memorial includes a portrait bust of the politician on a pedestal with commemorative plaque. On September 19, 1970, the portrait bust was stolen.
Communities and donated the proceeds to the cause. Julia Conklin did the same with her The Young People's History of Indiana. The Women's Club of New Harmony was the largest contributing group, raising $50 for the fund. In their final meeting on December 30, 1912, Association member Julia Sharpe presented her official record of the work accomplished by the group. The volume included illustrations of each member and a reproduction of the memorial bust. The group gave the book to the Indiana State Library as a reference for future generations.
to study painting. She soon discovered her love for sculpting and eventually worked as a student under the sculptor Lorado Taft
while at Chicago. She also studied sculpture at the Art Student's League in New York City with the sculptor Daniel Chester French
. Goodwin eventually traveled and studied art around Europe for four and a half years and set up a studio in Paris with her sister. She died in Newcastle at the age of seventy-four. A year later, in 1930, the Henry County
Historical Society planned to commission a memorial for their grounds dedicated to Frances Goodwin and modeled after a bird fountain she had created at the Newcastle Public Library.
in 1893 for which she earned an honorable mention. The statue later found its way into the Office of the Governor of Indiana. Goodwin's other works include a marble statue of Schuyler Colfax
in the senate gallery at the U.S. Capitol and a bronze memorial of Captain Everet Benjamin in New York. Her busts of Newcastle poet Benjamin S. Parker and Indianapolis rector Reverend James D. Stanley were on display both at the Historical Society of Henry County and at Herron School of Art
in Indianapolis. She also sculpted many studies of baby hands, which were popular with the public. After living in Paris for a few years, she returned to the U.S. to compete for the commission of the Robert Dale Owen Memorial and opened a temporary studio in Indianapolis to create the clay mold of the future artwork. She returned to Paris to cast the final bronze bust.
Washington Street (Indianapolis)
Washington Street is the primary east-west street in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The street follows the route of the National Road for almost all of its length in the city of Indianapolis. For a time, its entire length was designated as U.S...
in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. The memorial was dedicated to the state of Indiana in 1911 in honor of the politician Robert Dale Owen
Robert Dale Owen
Robert Dale Owen was a longtime exponent in his adopted United States of the socialist doctrines of his father, Robert Owen, as well as a politician in the Democratic Party.-Biography:...
(1807–1877). The bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
portrait bust
Bust (sculpture)
A bust is a sculpted or cast representation of the upper part of the human figure, depicting a person's head and neck, as well as a variable portion of the chest and shoulders. The piece is normally supported by a plinth. These forms recreate the likeness of an individual...
by Indiana artist Frances Goodwin has been missing on this memorial since 1970. The remaining memorial pedestal is made from three stone blocks. The top pedestal includes a commemorative plaque.
Description
The 200 pound bronze bust is in the likeness of a bearded Robert Dale Owen. The portrait bust sat on the top of the pedestal, in the center, facing the south entrance of the Statehouse. Presently, the bust is missing. The remaining memorial pedestal is composed of three stone blocks and stands 70 inches high. The lowest block is 45.5 inches wide, 42.5 inches deep, and 10 inches tall. The middle block measures 32" x 28.5" x 10". The top block is 24" x 21.5" x 50" . A memorial plaque is centered on the face in the middle of the top block and measures 20" x 24". It reads:- 1801-1877 / An Appreciation / Erected in the honor of Robert Dale Owen by the Women of Indiana in recognition of his efforts to obtain for them educational privleges and legal rights. / author, statesman, politician, philanthropist / "Write me as one who loved his fellow man."
Location
In 1905, the Robert Dale Owen Memorial Association was granted permission from the state to place the future memorial in the rotunda of the Statehouse. Today the memorial sits outside of the Statehouse walls, facing the southern entrance to the building where it was dedicated in 1911.Historical information
When fundraising efforts began in 1905 for the Robert Dale Owen Memorial, it was called "a woman's movement" and was meant to draw attention to the ongoing struggle for women's sufferage. The Memorial Association intended to raise $2,000-$2,500 for the commission of a bust and memorial. Artist Frances Goodwin was chosen for the creation of the bust. After Goodwin's clay model was approved by the Memorial Association and by Owen's son, Ernest Dale Owen, the final bronze bust was cast in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
The completed work was presented to the state on March 8, 1911, "as a lasting memorial to a man who for many years persistently labored to secure just laws concerning the educational and property rights of women." The governor, state legislature and Owen's great grand niece, Martha Fitton, were in attendance at the dedication. In 1905, the Robert Dale Owen Memorial Association was granted permission from the state to place the future memorial in the rotunda of the Statehouse. Today the memorial sits outside of the Statehouse walls, facing the southern entrance to the building where is was dedicated in 1911. The original memorial includes a portrait bust of the politician on a pedestal with commemorative plaque. On September 19, 1970, the portrait bust was stolen.
The Robert Dale Owen Memorial Association
The Robert Dale Owen Memorial Association was formed on June 30, 1905 by the Federated Women's Club of Indiana to urge the women of Indiana to help raise funds for the Robert Dale Owen Memorial. The Association was made up of ten women from around the state and led by Julia Conklin. The group published at least two pamphlets that were distributed around the state to educate women about their efforts. Robert Dale Owen and What He Did for Women of Indiana offered a brief biography of the politician. Another pamphlet appealed to the women of the state to help in fundraising efforts, detailed why women should care about a memorial for Owen, and presented many avenues for donation. To women's clubs dedicated to raising funds, they offered to send Association members to meetings to speak about the life and legacy of Robert Dale Owen. George B. Lockwood sold autographed copies of his book New HarmonyNew Harmony, Indiana
New Harmony is a historic town on the Wabash River in Harmony Township, Posey County, Indiana, United States. It lies north of Mount Vernon, the county seat. The population was 916 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Evansville metropolitan area. Many of the old Harmonist buildings still stand...
Communities and donated the proceeds to the cause. Julia Conklin did the same with her The Young People's History of Indiana. The Women's Club of New Harmony was the largest contributing group, raising $50 for the fund. In their final meeting on December 30, 1912, Association member Julia Sharpe presented her official record of the work accomplished by the group. The volume included illustrations of each member and a reproduction of the memorial bust. The group gave the book to the Indiana State Library as a reference for future generations.
Artist
Frances Murphy Goodwin (1855–1929) was born in Newcastle, Indiana to one of the city's oldest families. Both she and her sister, Helen Goodwin, were well known in Indiana artist circles. Goodwin briefly attended The Indiana Art School before moving to the Art Institute of ChicagoArt Institute of Chicago
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of America's largest accredited independent schools of art and design, located in the Loop in Chicago, Illinois. It is associated with the museum of the same name, and "The Art Institute of Chicago" or "Chicago Art Institute" often refers to either...
to study painting. She soon discovered her love for sculpting and eventually worked as a student under the sculptor Lorado Taft
Lorado Taft
Lorado Zadoc Taft was an American sculptor, writer and educator. Taft was born in Elmwood, Illinois in 1860 and died in his home studio in Chicago in 1936.-Early years and education:...
while at Chicago. She also studied sculpture at the Art Student's League in New York City with the sculptor Daniel Chester French
Daniel Chester French
Daniel Chester French was an American sculptor. His best-known work is the sculpture of a seated Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.-Life and career:...
. Goodwin eventually traveled and studied art around Europe for four and a half years and set up a studio in Paris with her sister. She died in Newcastle at the age of seventy-four. A year later, in 1930, the Henry County
Henry County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 48,508 people, 19,486 households, and 13,971 families residing in the county. The population density was 124 people per square mile . There were 20,592 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile...
Historical Society planned to commission a memorial for their grounds dedicated to Frances Goodwin and modeled after a bird fountain she had created at the Newcastle Public Library.
Art career
Frances Goodwin's first commission was for Education, a sculpture displayed in the Indiana building at the World's Columbian ExpositionWorld's Columbian Exposition
The World's Columbian Exposition was a World's Fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. Chicago bested New York City; Washington, D.C.; and St...
in 1893 for which she earned an honorable mention. The statue later found its way into the Office of the Governor of Indiana. Goodwin's other works include a marble statue of Schuyler Colfax
Schuyler Colfax
Schuyler Colfax, Jr. was a United States Representative from Indiana , Speaker of the House of Representatives , and the 17th Vice President of the United States . To date, he is one of only two Americans to have served as both House speaker and vice president.President Ulysses S...
in the senate gallery at the U.S. Capitol and a bronze memorial of Captain Everet Benjamin in New York. Her busts of Newcastle poet Benjamin S. Parker and Indianapolis rector Reverend James D. Stanley were on display both at the Historical Society of Henry County and at Herron School of Art
Herron School of Art
Herron School of Art and Design, a school of Indiana University, was ranked 45th overall by U.S. News and World Report among graduate schools of fine arts in 2008....
in Indianapolis. She also sculpted many studies of baby hands, which were popular with the public. After living in Paris for a few years, she returned to the U.S. to compete for the commission of the Robert Dale Owen Memorial and opened a temporary studio in Indianapolis to create the clay mold of the future artwork. She returned to Paris to cast the final bronze bust.
See also
- Frances Elizabeth Willard
- Hendricks Monument
- Oliver P. Morton and Reliefs
- Untitled (Mueller)
- George Washington (Houdon)
External links
- View more photos of this and other public art at the Indiana Statehouse on Flickr
- Indiana Statehouse Tour Office
- Photograph of Robert Dale Owen c.1847
- Information on Frances Goodwin's bust of Schuyler Colfax at the U.S. Capitol
- Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Robert Dale Owen Biography
