County fo statue: Greene County
Location of statue: Main St. (US 67) & Ayres St., Whiteside Park, White Hall
Artist: Lorado Zadoc Taft, sculptor
Monument text:
(Proper Left Base): In Memory of Annie Louis Keller who saved sixteen children but sacrificed her own life when a tornado demolished Centerville School April 19 1927
(Proper Right Base): Centerville Pupils April 19 1927
Hester Batty
Eileen Chapman
Helen Field
Calvin Field
Curtis Field
marian Hildebrant
Avery Hildebrant
Ralph Hobson
Bennett Hudson
Jamimi Knight
Virginia Powell
Howard Powell
Alberta Powers
Orville Powers
Ralph Powers
Arthur Schnelton
Louis Thomas
Billy Thomas
Lelia Thomas
Prpoer Description: "The base and figures have been carved from the same stone. The three figures, the teacher with her arms around two children, emerge from the base and are depicted waist length."
~ Smithsonian American Art Museum
"Annie Louise Keller Monument - clay model | University of Illinois Archives
"Title: Annie Louise Keller Monument - clay model
Date: ca. 1929
Description: Photograph of clay model of Lorado Taft's Annie Louise Keller Monument
Original photo located in RS 26/20/16, Box 30, Board #80
From verso: "During a disastrous tornado which passed thorugh Greene County, Ill., Tuesday, April 19th, 1927, Miss Annie Louise Keller, teacher of Centerville School, was killed outright while attempting to save 16 pupils when the school building was demolished. Her bravery and heroic action were the means of saving all the children with slight injury to only five but in saving them she sacrificed her own life......The memorial was erected August 25th, 1929, at Whitehall, Illinois, at Whiteside Park. Whitehall was the home of Miss Keller. The monument is the work of Lorado Taft, sculptor."
Phys. Desc: TIFF Original photo is 7" x 9", mounted on gray backing board with handwritten title
ID: 0006218
Repository: University of Illinois Archives
Found in: Lorado Taft Papers, 1857-1953
Creators: Taft, Lorado (1860-1936)
Subjects: American Sculpture Memorials Taft, Lorado, 1860-1936
Contributor: Ricker Library of Architecture
Rights: The holder of copyright for this image is unknown. Please contact us if you would like to purchase a high-resolution copy of the image or if you can help us identify the copyright holder."
~ University of Illinois Archives
Annie Keller's grave site listing on Find-A-Grave with additional information and plaque at the grave site.
And this from Lorado Taft: The Prairie State Sculptor