The Pioneer Mother (Eugene, Oregon) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pioneer Mother |
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The sculpture in 2007
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| Artist | Alexander Phimister Proctor |
| Year | 1932 |
| Type | Sculpture |
| Medium | Bronze |
| Subject | An Oregon pioneer mother |
| Location | Eugene, Oregon, United States |
| 44°02′39″N 123°04′33″W / 44.04416°N 123.07579°W | |
The Pioneer Mother is a special statue found at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon. It's a six-foot-tall sculpture made of bronze, created by an artist named Alexander Phimister Proctor. A man named Burt Barker gave this statue to the university. His daughter, Barbara Barker, showed it to a big crowd for the first time on May 7, 1932, during a celebration for students and Mother's Day.
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How the Statue Was Made
The idea for the Pioneer Mother came from Burt Barker. He was a vice-president at the University of Oregon. He wanted to honor the pioneer mothers who helped settle the state. Barker had enough money to pay for the sculpture as a gift.
He asked Alexander Phimister Proctor to create the statue in 1927. Proctor was a good choice because he had already made another famous statue called The Pioneer. The person who posed for the Pioneer Mother statue was Barker's own mother, Elvira Brown Barker. She had traveled to Oregon across the Great Plains way back in 1847.
What the Statue Shows
The Pioneer Mother statue shows a woman in her later years. She has finished her long, hard journey west. When Burt Barker announced his gift, he explained what made this statue special. He said, "Others have shown the struggles of the pioneer mother; I want to show the peace that came after her struggles."
The statue sits on a six-foot-tall base made of pink granite. The woman is sitting peacefully on a straight-backed chair. She has a Bible resting on her lap. The simple design of the base helps show how calm and rested she is.
Her journey, which is shown in detailed bronze pictures on the sides of the base, is over. She is now firmly settled in her new home. Her simple hair and dress show that she represents all pioneer mothers in their older years.
Where the Statue Is Located
The statue was placed in a busy spot on the University of Oregon campus on purpose. Burt Barker said at the unveiling that it was put there "in the middle of the students and their activities." He hoped it would share its story as a work of art. He also hoped it would help students learn to love beautiful things as they passed by it every day.
Why This Spot?
An article from Old Oregon magazine describes how the exact spot was chosen. They made a cardboard cutout of the statue. Then, they moved it around to different places on campus. After the whole women's area of the campus was changed, the Mother statue was placed in the center. It was put close to several paths so she could "catch bits of University chatter."
The statue faces north, looking toward The Pioneer statue, which shows a male pioneer. Johnson Hall, the main administration building, is between them. The two statues are about one hundred yards apart. However, old records don't say that they were meant to face each other, even though many people today believe they were.
Recent History
In June 2020, the statue was taken down by activists. The The Pioneer statue was also taken down at the same time. The university president said that these actions were acts of damage to property.
