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

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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.

From the guide to the Avard T. Fairbanks papers, 1909-1999, (J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah)

Avard T. Fairbanks (1897-1987) was a well-known Utah artist. He was especially known for his religious sculptures.

From the description of Avard T. Fairbanks photographs, circa 1920s-1980s. (Brigham Young University). WorldCat record id: 221164661

Avard T. Fairbanks was an accomplished sculptor, anatomist and professor of sculpture at the University of Michigan. He created over 100 monuments, four of which are housed in the U.S. Capitol building.

From the guide to the Avard T. Fairbanks collection, 1915-1999, (Utah State University.)

Avard T. Fairbanks is a sculptor and professor of fine arts. In his career he created more than 100 public monuments to great characters and events in history. (Four are found in the U.S. Capitol Bldg. in Washington, D.C.).

From the description of Avard T. Fairbanks papers, 1906-1987. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 367928588

Sculptor and professor of fine arts at the University of Michigan.

From the description of Avard T. Fairbanks papers, 1938-1958. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 34420241

Mormon sculptor and Dean of Fine Arts at the University of Utah.

From the description of Representative sculpture, biography, and bibliography of Avard T. Fairbanks, 1940-1980. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122536466

From the guide to the Representative sculpture, biography, and bibliography of Avard T. Fairbanks, 1940-1980, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)

Sculptor and teacher (Salt Lake City, Utah).

From the description of Avard T. Fairbanks scrapbook, 1911-1981. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122389738

Avard T. Fairbanks was a sculptor and faculty member at the University of Michigan and University of Utah. He sculpted the Service Memorial that honors World War I veterans in the Oregon State University Memorial Union. Avard's brother was J. Leo Fairbanks, Professor of Art and Architecture at Oregon State College from 1923 to 1946.

Avard Fairbanks was born in Provo, Utah, in 1897 and studied sculpture in New York and France before turning 17. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Yale University in 1925; he became a faculty member at the University of Michigan's Institute of Fine Arts in 1929 and completed his Master of Fine Arts and a Ph.D. in Anatomy while at Michigan. Fairbanks was appointed Dean of the College of Fine Arts at the University of Utah in 1947, a position he held until his retirement in 1955. In addition to small and large bronzes, marble carvings, medals, and relief panels, Fairbanks designed hood ornaments for Plymouth and Chrysler, including the Dodge ram.

From the guide to the Avard T. Fairbanks Collection, 1911-1981, 1942-1981, (Oregon State University Libraries)

Avard Tennyson Fairbanks (1897-1987) was Dean of Fine Arts at the University of Utah.

Avard Tennyson Fairbanks was born 2 March 1897 in Provo, Utah to John Boylston and Lilly Annetta Huish Fairbanks. He married Beatrice Maude Fox on 25 June 1918 in Honolulu, Hawaii. They had ten children. Avard's father was a talented artist, and Avard followed in his footsteps, becoming well-known at a young age. He was called a young Michelangelo. He graduated from Yale and the University of Michigan and was eventually appointed Dean of Fine Arts at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Avard died 1 January 1987 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

From the guide to the Avard T. Fairbanks papers, 1906-1987, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Fox, Leonard Grant, 1892-. The Story of Jesse Williams Fox, Jr. Utah Division of State History, Utah Historical Society
creatorOf Spaulding, Thomas Marshall, 1882-1973. Thomas Marshall Spaulding papers, 1901-1959. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Fairbanks, Avard T. (Avard Tennyson), 1898-1987. Photographs. Utah Division of State History, Utah Historical Society
referencedIn University of Michigan. News and Information Services. Faculty and Staff Files, 1944-2005 (bulk 1960-1995) Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Representative sculpture, biography, and bibliography of Avard T. Fairbanks, 1940-1980 L. Tom Perry Special Collections
referencedIn PH 2030, Tanner, Nathan Eldon 1898-1982. N. Eldon Tanner photographs circa 1923-1982 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Church History Library
referencedIn Fairbanks, Avard : Biographical file. Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
creatorOf Avard T. Fairbanks Papers, 1929-1992 Whitman College and Northwest Archives
creatorOf Avard T. Fairbanks photograph collection, circa 1950-1980 J. Willard Marriott Library. University of Utah Photograph Archives
creatorOf PH 462, Fairbanks, Avard Tennyson 1897-1987. Photographs of Avard T. Fairbanks sculptures 1912-1965 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Church History Library
creatorOf Fairbanks, Avard T. Papers. Harold B. Lee Library
creatorOf Fairbanks, John B. (John Boylston), 1855-1940. John B. and Avard T. Fairbanks photograph collection, ca. 1897-1982. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn University of Michigan Faculty and Staff Portraits, ca. 1860-ca. 1960 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Utah. Capitol Commission. Correspondence, 1911-1917. Utah. Division of Archives and Records Service
referencedIn Fairbanks, Avard Tennyson, 1897- : [miscellaneous ephemeral material]. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
referencedIn Fairbanks, Eugene F. Life of Avard T. Fairbanks, sculptor, circa 1980. Harold B. Lee Library
creatorOf Fairbanks, Avard T. (Avard Tennyson), 1897-1987. Avard T. Fairbanks - pamphlet file. School of The Art Institute of Chicago, John M Flaxman Library
referencedIn Life of Avard T. Fairbanks, sculptor, circa 1980 L. Tom Perry Special Collections
creatorOf Fairbanks, Avard T. (Avard Tennyson), 1897-1987. Avard T. Fairbanks papers, 1906-1987. Harold B. Lee Library
creatorOf Fairbanks, Avard T. (Avard Tennyson), 1897-1987. Papers, 1928-1942. Washington State University, Holland and Terrell Libraries
creatorOf Avard T. Fairbanks scrapbook Archives of American Art
creatorOf Avard T. Fairbanks Collection, 1911-1981, 1942-1981 Oregon State University Libraries Special Collections & Archives ResearchCenter
referencedIn Papers relating to Avard T. Fairbanks Archives of American Art
creatorOf Fairbanks, Avard. Letters, 1934-1975. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Jackling, Daniel Cowan, b. 1869. Daniel Cowan Jackling photographs, circa 1900s-1950s. Harold B. Lee Library
creatorOf Fairbanks, Avard T. (Avard Tennyson), 1897-1987. Avard T. Fairbanks papers, 1938-1958. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Fairbanks, Avard T. (Avard Tennyson), 1897-1987. Avard T. Fairbanks photographs, circa 1920s-1980s. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Howard R. Driggs book collection at Howard R. Driggs elementary school. Utah Division of State History, Utah Historical Society
referencedIn Brigham Young University. Treasurer's Office. Records, 1940-1951. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Emil Lorch Papers, 1891-1963 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf MS 14557, Cannon, Tracy Young 1879-1961. Tracy Y. Cannon papers 1899-1961 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Church History Library
creatorOf Moore, Charles, 1855-1942. Charles Moore papers, 1889-1940. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Avard T. Fairbanks collection, 1915-1999 Utah State University. Merrill-Cazier Library. Special Collections and ArchivesUniversity Archives
referencedIn Charles Moore papers, 1901-1940 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Fairbanks, Eugene. Abraham Lincoln sculpture and other sculpture by Avard T. Fairbanks , 1942-1965 / information assembled by Eugene Fairbanks. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
creatorOf Avard T. Fairbanks papers, 1906-1987 L. Tom Perry Special Collections
referencedIn Thomas M. Spaulding papers, 1901-1969 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Avard T. Fairbanks papers, 1909-1999 J. Willard Marriott Library. University of Utah Manuscripts Division
referencedIn AV 1055, Prominent Mormon leaders and events circa 1930-1946 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Church History Library
creatorOf Fairbanks, Avard T. (Avard Tennyson), 1897-1987. Representative sculpture, biography, and bibliography of Avard T. Fairbanks, 1940-1980. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Halladay, Sydnee J. Letter, 17 Apr 1968. Utah Division of State History, Utah Historical Society
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Oral history interview with John Davis Hatch Archives of American Art
Relation Name
associatedWith Brigham Young University. Treasurer's Office. corporateBody
associatedWith Cannon, Tracy Young 1879-1961 person
associatedWith Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints corporateBody
associatedWith Fairbanks, Eugene F. person
associatedWith Fairbanks family family
associatedWith Fairbanks, John B. (John Boylston), 1855-1940. person
associatedWith Fox, Leonard Grant, 1892- person
associatedWith Halladay, Sydnee J. person
associatedWith Hatch, John Davis person
associatedWith Holland, Ernest Otto, 1874-1950. person
associatedWith Jackling, Daniel Cowan, b. 1869. person
associatedWith Lorch, Emil, 1870-1963 person
associatedWith Michigan Historical Collections corporateBody
associatedWith Moore, Charles, 1855-1942. person
associatedWith Oregon State University. Memorial Union. corporateBody
associatedWith Spaulding, Thomas Marshall, 1882-1973. person
associatedWith Tanner, Nathan Eldon 1898-1982 person
associatedWith University of Michigan corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. Dept. of Fine Arts. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. News and Information Services. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Utah corporateBody
associatedWith Utah. Capitol Commission. corporateBody
associatedWith Young, Brigham, 1801-1877 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Utah
Utah
Utah
Utah
Subject
Sculpture, American
Sculpture, American
Artists
Artists
Arts
Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
Bronzes
Universities and colleges
Corvallis
Fine Arts
Images
Material Types
Mormon art
Mormons
Oregon
Photographs
Portland
Sculptors
Sculptors
Sculptors
Sculptors
Sculptors
Sculptors
Sculpture
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1897-03-02

Death 1987-01-01

Americans

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