This relief art sculpture of Stephen A. Duglas, sculpted in 1958, by Avard T. Fairbanks, depicts Douglas at the time of the Lincoln-Douglas debates. This plaster cast sculpture is a replica of the bronze relief art sculpture, which stands at the east entrance to Old Main on the Knox College Campus in Galesburg, Illinois, where their fifth debate was held in 1858.
The sculpture depicts Douglas at a slight angle, with him facing a little to the right. He is clean shaven and looks forward. He is wearing period clothing, with a ruffled button up shirt, buttoned up vest, suit coat and bow tie. Along with a likeness of Lincoln, the sculpture includes the following text:
STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS
AT KNOX COLLEGE
1858
THIS
TABLET
COMMEMORATES
THE ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE FIFTH DEBATE BETWEEN
ABRAHAM LINCOLN &
STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS
HELD ON THIS SITE OCTOBER SEVENTH
1858
This sculpture of Stephen A. Douglas is included in a collection of Abraham Lincoln sculptures,created by the native Utah and internationally important American sculptor, Dr. Avard Tennyson Fairbanks.
They Depict Lincoln at different stages of his life; (as a frontiersman, at the pivotal time when he put down the axe of the frontiersman and began the study of letters, as an orator, as a political candidate participating in the Lincoln - Douglas debate, as the American President, and writing the Gettysburg Address).
Many of the sculptures in this Abraham Lincoln collection, including this relief sculpture of Stephen A. Douglas, are replicas of sculptures located throughout the country. Additional information on the original sculptures, including this one, can be found at: (
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To check out the original, which has already been waymarked, go to: (
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"Dr. Avard Tennyson Fairbanks
Born: March 2, 1897 - Died: January 1, 1987
Avard Tennyson Fairbanks was born in Provo Utah in 1897. The son of John B. Fairbanks a well known artist, Avard will continue the family legacy as a prolific sculptor. With the death of his mother Lilly when he was only about a year old, and his father busy providing for his family Avard’s brother J. Leo Fairbanks will manage the family.
At the age of 12, Avard showed interest in sculpting. With the guidance of J. Leo, Avard’s first work was a clay model of a rabbit. This model would win first prize in the State Fair. At the age of 13, Avard would follow his father to New York City. Modeling animals from the Bronx Zoological Gardens and showing a natural talent for sculpting, Avard would be awarded scholarships to study at the Arts Students League at New York. During this time Avard would become personally acquainted with several notable sculptors. These included Cyrus E. Dallin (sculptor of the Winfield Scott Hancock on the Pennsylvania Memorial) and Lorado Taft (sculptor of the 3rd, 4th Michigan Infantry Monuments and the Michigan “Custer” Memorial). In 1913 Avard would move to Paris to study at the Ecole Nationale des Beaux Arts. While in Paris he would also study at the Ecole de la Grande Chaumiere and other noted schools.
Today, Fairbanks is considered one of the most distinguished sculptors in America. His statues have been erected around the world. Throughout the United States, Fairbanks is particularly well known for his Lincoln monuments. Four of his works are on permanent display in the U.S. Capitol Building’s statuary hall as well as four marble busts of Lincoln located in Ford Theater, Washington DC." (
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"An outstanding regional cultural center which showcases regional history, art and a world-class collection of Arvard T. Fairbanks's works of art. The museum features sculptures, a replica of the Huntington Mammoth, carvings, and artwork. Two buildings of exhibits will keep visitors engaged for hours." (
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"Historical artifacts, art (sculpture and painting), humanities lectures, school tours, local historic archive, oral history collection, family history collection. New Columbian Mammoth skeleton, extensive Avard Fairbank sculpture collection." (
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