Avard T. Fairbanks papers

Collection

Identifier: ACCN 1336

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Avard T. Fairbanks papers (1880-2015) contain materials regarding Avard Tennyson Fairbanks (1897-1987), an internationally known sculptor from Utah. Included in the collection are contracts, correspondence, notes, sketches, illustrations, news articles, project proposals, biographical information, pamphlets, and other papers. The collection deals with sculpting projects carried out by Fairbanks, such as the Lycurgus statue for Greece, the Pony Express monument for Salt Lake City, and several statues of Abraham Lincoln for Illinois and Hawaii. Most of this material is in the form of correspondence between Fairbanks, patrons, and institutions affiliated with individual projects. Sketches, news articles, and statements regarding each project generally accompany the correspondence. Correspondence dealing with the Ford Motor Company, senators and legislators, and Fairbanks' art achievement awards is also included in the collection, as well as notes and other documents from art and architecture classes he taught at the University of Utah. The collection also includes information on the Fairbanks family.

Dates

1880-2015

Creator

Fairbanks, Avard T. (Avard Tennyson), 1897-1987 (Person)

Language of Materials

Collection materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Conditions Governing Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Biographical Sketch

Avard Tennyson Fairbanks (1897-1987) was born to John B. and Lilly Annetta Huish Fairbanks. His artistic talent was recognized around the age of twelve when he created his first sculpture, a rabbit, which he entered in the Utah State Fair. A year later he began to copy sculptures from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and was awarded scholarships to continue his studies. Fairbanks' obvious talent later took him to the finest art schools in the United States and France. He was commissioned to create small sculptures, portrait paintings, and heroic-sized monuments as a result of this training. In addition to his sculpting commissions, Fairbanks served as assistant professor at the University of Oregon during the 1920s, received his B.F.A. degree from Yale in 1925, taught sculpture classes at and graduated with a M.A. from the University of Michigan during the 1930s-1940s, and taught at the University of Utah during the 1950s and 1960s. He also received many fellowships to study art in Europe and served as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in various capacities, including creating statues and murals for several temples. Fairbanks and his wife, Maude, had ten children.

Extent

62 Box (36.5 linear feet)

Additional Description

Abstract

The Avard T. Fairbanks papers (1880-2015) contain materials regarding this internationally known sculptor from Utah. Included in the collection are contracts, correspondence, notes, sketches, illustrations, news articles, project proposals, pamphlets, exhibition display boards, and biographical information. Fairbanks was a prominent Utah sculptor. He also organized the College of Fine Arts at the University of Utah.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Eugene Fairbanks (boxes 1-7) in 1992.

Donated by Eugene Fairbanks (boxes 8-10) in 1996.

Donated by Eugene Fairbanks (boxes 11-15) in 1999.

Donated by Donald Thomas in 2008.

Donated by Dr. Daniel J. Fairbanks in 2009.

Donated by Donald Thomas (box 8, folder 19) in 2008.

Donated by Eugene Fairbanks (boxes 17-56) in 2015

Separated Materials

Photographs and audio-visual materials have been transferred to the Multimedia Division of Special Collections (P0542 and A0012). One CD containing Fairbanks' autobiography and some of his works is located in the Manuscripts Division's CD case. One map folder containing drawings for the Wilson garden fountain is located in the Manuscripts Division's map case.

Processing Information

Processed by Lisa Townsend and Kate Kimball in 1998 and 2000.

Addendum processed by Betsey Welland in 2012.

Addendum (box 17-56) processed by Chelsea Olsen in 2016.