Seerley Hall Reading Room | UNI Museum @ Rod Library

Displaying 1 - 5 of 5

	Catalog #	Name	Description
1	00.39.13	Painting	Oil painting of President Seerley seated at his desk.
2	00.39.15	Desk	Rolltop Desk and Chair of Homer H. Seerley, President of ISNS and ISTC from 1886 - 1928.
3	1967.33	Artwork	"In Memorium" This painting is dated after Armistice Day and the background is France. In this painting Peace is the central figure with the Sword of the Allies upon her lap. The Allies are clustered about Peace at the rear and at the left with their flags furled and their attitude that of obedience to order. America is represented on the right with the flag flying and soldiers advancing because America was only temporarily suspending action and is ready to respond to the urgency of war at a moments notice to go on to Berlin. The mother heart of America resists this, trying to detain the soldiers from continuing the war. In the lower right corner the chief sufferers of all wars, The Family, is shown, the little lad assuring his mother of his willingness to defend the family. On the extreme left the Iowa soldiers in action are shown in the conflict, with death mowing them down. The American Soldier was under arms as an enemy to the Central Powers until the Treaty of Peace between Germany and the United States in 1921." Quote comes from 1927 Bulletin of ISTC, The Library (1972.54.2) The artist, Henry de Leftwich Dodge was born in Bedford County, Virginia in 1867 and was taught by his mother to be a painter at an early age. He moved to Paris shorty after his birth and spent his youth living between Paris and Munich. He tutored under Jean-Leon Gerome in the Ecoles des Beaux-Arts and won awards and medals for his work. He stayed in New York for most of his life and created artwork across the country. He died in 1935. In Memorium was the first installed in the new library (Seerley Hall) which opened on May 2, 1911 and was commissioned by the Board just after the end of World War 1. In total, Dodge was commissioned to paint five murals for the Iowa State Teachers College, the first two being 40 feet in length and covering the walls on the end of the room. Dodge was paid $5,000 for the first two murals and took six month to complete these in his New York studio. The University paid an additional 2,000 for shipping to the ISTC campus and they were installed by September of 1920.
4	1967.34	Artwork	"Education" - This painting has three allegorical figures on the portico of the Temple of Knowledge: Knowledge in the center, teaching the world the truth essential to civilization; Fortune at the left, the result of being well educated; Time at the right, the character that is always required in obtaining education and the one who removes from the temple of knowledge the incompetent and heedless. The Mother in the foreground, as the first teacher of the Child, is giving him instruction. The child is the sole object of the efforts of Education. What Education involves is indicated by the Greek Civilization represented by Homer seated with his musical instruments by Fortune; the Roman and the Romance Civilizations represented by Virgil and Dante standing near Time. Law, as an important part of education, is represented by Justinian and Napoleon in the background, and Shakespeare in front of them represents Literature. In the background, and sitting in conference, are representatives of Science, Columbus and the Greek philosophers, deciding the actual present day contribution of science that should be studied by scholars." Quote comes from 1927 Bulletin of ISTC, The Library (1972.54.2). Education was the first installed in the new library (Seerley Hall) which opened on May 2, 1911 and was commissioned by the Board just after the end of World War 1. In total, Dodge was commissioned to paint five murals for the Iowa State Teachers College, the first two being 40 feet in length and covering the walls on the end of the room. Dodge was paid $5,000 for the first two murals and took six month to complete these in his New York studio. The University paid an additional 2,000 for shipping to the ISTC campus and they were installed by September of 1920.
5	1967.35	Artwork	Series of three panels entitled "Glory and Grandeur of Iowa" that were commissioned by the ISTC Board after the installation of the first two murals in 1920. The board paid William de Leftwich Dodge an additional $10,000 to produce these three panels for the west wall of the reading room. He had them completed by September of 1921 and their cost made up 9% of the total cost of the building. The three panels are: "Agriculture" This painting represents prehistoric Iowa when life consisted of the American Indian and animal and bird life of that period. In this painting the artist emphasizes the importance and worth of soil as a fundamental basis of future prosperity. The chief allegorical figure of Ceres, the Goddess of Grain, plowing with two white oxen, representing labor and action that will produce a wonderful harvest on this delta soil between the majestic rivers, and where the glacial epochs of many years produced the results that have made agriculture a business that will sustain a happy and successful population. The Indians in the foreground and the birds on the ground and in the air typify what existed before the civilization of the white man came." "Council of Indians" This painting consists of an exhibition of the peaceful way in which the white man in Iowa superseded the red man. The central figure is an allegorical one representing 'The Great Spirit,' the God of the Indian. This figure is surrounded by the Medicine Men on the platform interpreting the wishes of the Great Spirit that the new civilization should take place in this territory. The uplifted hand hand of the Great Spirit here shown is indicative of approval. The pipe of peace is being smoked by the members of the Council in session while the warriors in the background stand in form to see that the conference is properly conducted. At the left is a chief of the Iowa Indians and behind him a warrior in the posture of peace. Behind is the friendly scuffle of the white and Indian boys. The settlers are garbed in the costumes of 1841 and the whole scene is one of peace and promise. The single squaw in the wigwam is preparing refreshments for the members of the conference after the agreement and ceremonies are completed. "The Commonwealth" This painting indicates the grand procession that civilization organized when the white people came and inaugurated government, law and business. The white horses represent destiny drawing in an elaborate chariot the State as organized personality, her hands holding the lines but not controlling the steeds and Progress holding the torch before the State as an indication of the way to go to secure abounding success. Agriculture is represented by trophies on the chariot, Industry and Mining are represented by the marching hosts in the background, and Action is represented by the whole demonstration. The past is shown by the Indians at the left shading their eyes in order that they may safely look upon the brilliance and grandeur of the great procession." Quotes comes from 1927 Bulletin of ISTC, The Library (1972.54.2) The artist, Henry de Leftwich Dodge was born in Bedford County, Virginia in 1867 and was taught by his mother to be a painter at an early age. He moved to Paris shorty after his birth and spent his youth living between Paris and Munich. He tutored under Jean-Leon Gerome in the Ecoles des Beaux-Arts and won awards and medals for his work. He stayed in New York for most of his life and created artwork across the country. He died in 1935.