2015: Cherry Statue Time Capsule
In the fall of 1933 a group of faculty members "who were especially interested in launching a campaign leading to the carving and erection of a statue of President Cherry" began meeting.
A steering committee of sixteen was soon elected consisting of: Chairman J.R. Whitmer, Secretary Mattie McLean, Finley Grise, E.H. Canon, Roy Seward, W.J. Craig, M.C. Ford, L.T. Smith, W.M. Pearce, Kelly Thompson, Margie Helm, West Richards, Sterrett Cuthbertson, Florence Schneider, W.L. Matthews, Arndt Stickles.
The group met from 1933 through 1938 devising a plan, raising money, hiring architect Lorado Taft and distributing excess funds. Class sponsors were chosen for each of the thirty-one WKU classes to solicit donations from their classmates.
Lorado Taft died October 30, 1936 before the statue was cast in bronze. Henry Cherry died August 1, 1937 before the statue was completed. The committee worked with Taft's associates at Bronze Incorporated to have the statue finished. In October the committee assembled documents, photographs and artifacts to be placed in a time capsule in the base of the statue. It was decided to purchase a second box to house duplicates of these items and place it in the Kentucky Museum. This was done during a chapel service November 10 when the base was set and sealed. The statue arrived a few days later and was unveiled November 16, 1937 on what would have been Henry Cherry's 73rd birthday.
The time capsule items you see here are the duplicates that have been stored in the Kentucky Museum. See the Cherry State Committee collection inventory for more information regarding the creation of the statue.
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Address Accepting Chairmanship of the State Democratic Convention
Henry Cherry
Address made by Henry Cherry, president Western Kentucky State Normal School on accepting the permanent chairmanship of the state democratic convention published in the 1915 Democratic Campaign Book. This was included in the time capsule to show Cherry's interest in politics. He twice resigned as president of the university in order to run for governor.
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A Greater Kentucky
Henry Cherry
A discussion of the Declaration of Principles and Aims adopted by the Kentucky Educational Association. This address was delivered at the Warren County Kentucky Farmers' Chautauqua, held at Mt. Pleasant, 1913. It is an example of Cherry's writings on education.
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An Educational Creed
Henry Cherry
A small pamphlet published by Henry Cherry regarding the state of education in Kentucky. It is undated. It is one of the many examples of Cherry's writings about education.
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A Prophet Among His Own People
A. L. Crabb
A biography of Henry Cherry written by Southern Normal School alum A.L. Crabb especially for the unveiling of the Cherry Statue. This reprint is from an unidentified issue of the Teachers College Heights.
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Box Label 1
Western Kentucky University
Label for the duplicate box housed in the Kentucky Museum created by Mattie McLean. It reads: At the suggestion of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Lowe this bronze box was prepared as a duplicate of the one that was placed in the base of the Dr. H.H. Cherry Statue. This contains copies of practically everything that was placed in the original bronze box. Mattie M. McLean.
The duplicate box is actually copper.
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Box Label 2
Mattie McLean
A second label prepared for the copper box housed in the Kentucky Museum. The contents of this box duplicate as nearly as it is possible for us to do, the contents of the one which was placed in the base of Dr. Cherry's bronze statue. Mattie M. McLean, April 6, 1938.
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Catechism
Henry Cherry and WKU Board of Regents
Biennial report of the WKU Board of Regents to the governor and state legislature written by Henry Cherry. It is a discourse on the duties of the commonwealth in relation to education.
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Class of 1885
Southern Normal School
Southern Normal Class of 1885. Front row l to r: Lizzie Young, Judge Scott Smith, Edwin Norris, A.T. Snoddy, Stella Thompson. 2nd row l to r: Powell Black, J.R. Alexander, Cyrus Keane. Standing l to r: Jno. N. Skaley(?), J., J.C. Hutchinson, Ross Dunn and J.R. McCreary. Names are listed on the back of the photograph.
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Class of 1887
Shartle Studio
Southern Normal School Class of 1887. Front row l to r: ? Motley, ?, ? Noonan, ? Craddock. 2nd row l to r: A.A. Huddleston, ? Carnes, Mollie Williams?, ? Traymins?, Mollie Williams?, ? Gillanwaters. Back row l t r: ? Green, William Baker, Alfred Livingston, J.B. Cummings, R.W. Thomas, Omera Thomas, L.P. Tanner. Names are listed on the back of the photograph.
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College Heights
Henry Cherry
Henry Cherry's ode to College Heights the hill upon which Western Kentucky University is situated taken from the Teachers College Heights, Vol. 16, No. 3.
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College Heights Herald, Vol. XIV, No. 1
WKU Student Affairs
WKU campus newspaper reporting campus, athletic and Bowling Green, Kentucky news. This issue features articles about the Cherry Statue fund raising and unveiling.
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College Heights Herald, Vol. XIV, No. 2
WKU Student Affairs
WKU campus newspaper reporting campus, athletic and Bowling Green, Kentucky news. This issue features articles about the Cherry Statue fund raising effort.
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Commencement Program
Glasgow Normal School
Commencement program for the Glasgow Normal School. It does not include a list of graduates. The Glasgow Normal was the first school in the line that has become Western Kentucky University. It opened in 1876 and closed in the early 1890's.
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Commencement Program
Southern Normal School
Commencement program for the Scientific and Classic Classes of the Southern Normal School. The program does not list graduates. The Southern Normal was the precursor to Western Kentucky University run by Henry Cherry and his brother T.C.
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Commencement Program
Southern Normal School
Commencement program for the Scientific Class of 1899 which occurred over two evenings in May 1899. Graduates are not listed. Vitae Via Virtus Est translates to Virtue is the Way of Life.
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Commencement Program
Southern Normal School
The last "Southern Normal School" commencement program for the Scientific and Classic classes of 1907. It includes information regarding Baccalaureate services and several days of celebration. The Classic Class graduates are listed with their home state. Henry Cherry attended the Southern Normal, become its co-owner and relinquished it in 1906 to found the Western Kentucky State Normal School. The Southern Normal would become the Bowling Green Business College in 1907.
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Contents of Cherry Statue Time Capsule
WKU Cherry Statue Committee
Second list of items to be placed in time capsule beneath the Cherry Statue. This list includes a brief description of the chapel program when the items were actually sealed in the base of the statue. Items included on the list which have not been identified or included in the duplicate box housed in the Kentucky Museum:
- Sheet Music
- Report of expenses
- Coins
- Photograph of Cherry Statue
- Christmas cards from faculty to Cherry
- Lorado Taft photograph
- Extension folder
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Contents of Copper Box Placed Beneath Dr. H.H. Cherry's Statue
WKU Cherry Statue Committee
A list of items to be placed in the time capsule beneath the Cherry Statue. Several items were not duplicated in the box housed in the Kentucky Museum.
- Letters concerning cost of statue
- Report of expenses
- Coins
- Christmas cards to Cherry from the faculty
- Lorado Taft photograph
- Aerial photo of WKU campus
- Extension folder
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Contract for Bronze Statue of Henry Cherry
Bronze Incorporated and WKU Cherry Statue Committee
Contract between Bronze, Incorporated and the Cherry Statue Committee of Western Kentucky University to complete Lorado Taft's statue of Henry Cherry.
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Copper Box
WKU Cherry Statue Committee
Photo of the copper box used to store duplicate items in the Kentucky Museum. The box measures 15 1/4 inches in length, 10 inches in width and is 4 3/4 inches high.
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Copper Box
WKU Cherry Statue Committee
Copper box and some of the items stored in it, duplicates of items in the time capsule in the base of the Cherry Statue. These items and box are stored in the Kentucky Museum.
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Copper Box
WKU Cherry Statue Committee
Copper box and some of the duplicate items stored in it. These artifacts are housed in the Kentucky Museum.
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Declaration of Principles & Aims
Henry Cherry, McHenry Rhoads, E. O. Holland, T. J. Coates, J. H. Risley, N. C. Hammack, Barksdale Hamlett, and Kentucky Educational Association
Report by special Kentucky Educational Association committee charged to draft a Declaration of Principles or a statement of the aims and purposes of the educational forces of the State of Kentucky. The report was adopted unanimously at the annual meeting of KEA.
