John Purdue Statue Dedication
| Event Date: | April 16, 2013 |
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A bronze statue of Purdue's benefactor and namesake was dedicated April 14, 2013 depicting John Purdue on a bench at a site near University Hall where it is said the man himself sat almost 140 years ago.
The statue of John Purdue with a regal cane and an open book will be placed on a new bench. Located east of University Hall and south of Memorial Fountain and John Purdue's grave, the bench will read, "For John Purdue, education was the flame that lit the world," which is a quote from his biography.
The statue was made possible through support from Purdue alumni and friends, the Order of Iron Key Class of 2012, and the university. Each class of the Order of Iron Key contains 12 members.
"Our university's name is Purdue, but many students don't realize where the name Purdue comes from. Many don't even know who John Purdue was," said Stuart Shippee, a fifth-year senior in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics and member of the Order of Iron Key Class of 2012.
John Purdue lived from 1802-1876. The university's primary benefactor, he was a prominent businessman in Lafayette. He was known for taking special interest in students; even paying for the education of those he thought held promise.
It's said Purdue sat outside University Hall, which was then called the Main Building, during its final construction in 1874. That same year, the first students arrived on campus. University Hall is the only building remaining of the original six-building Purdue campus.
The Iron Key class conceptualized its statue project in November 2011. At the end of spring 2012, the society requested artists' proposals. The society decided to hire Illinois-based sculptor Julie Rotblatt-Amrany. To install the statue on the West Lafayette campus, the society worked with members of the Office of the Dean of Students, University Development Office, Purdue Libraries, the Office of Marketing and Media, Physical and Capital Planning, Physical Facilities, and the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs.