Pioneer Woman

Artist / Maker Christian Petersen (Danish - American, 1885 - 1961)

Date1938

OriginU.S.A.

MediumPlaster

Dimensions23 x 7 x 6 in. (58.4 x 17.8 x 15.2 cm)

ClassificationsSculpture

Credit LineGift of Patricia Bliss. In the Christian Petersen Art Collection, Christian Petersen Art Museum, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.

Object numberum89.19

Status

Not on view

Collections

CultureAmerican

Label TextFrom the University Museums Collections Handbook, vol. 2, 2025: This 23 in. tall sculpture, Pioneer Woman, is made of white plaster and was proposed as a monument for the Iowa State College Cemetery to symbolize “the Alma Mater or Mother thinking of her lost ones.”16 Her pioneer dress serves as a reflection of the rural heritage of both Iowa and Iowa State College. Notes in Petersen’s papers indicated he did submit a proposal to a call for sculpture from Denton, Texas. His notes about the competition in 1936 outline sizing, finished material, and his interpretation statement of his Pioneer Woman (Alma Mater).17 The competition’s resulting Pioneer Woman statue, created by sculptor Leo Friedlander, is located at Texas Woman’s University (TWU) in Denton, Texas, and was commissioned as part of the Texas Centenary celebrations. The idea for the statue originated with the Texas Centennial Commission to fund a memorial, hoping it would honor the sacrifices of the pioneer women and inspire future generations. By 1936, an open nation-wide competition was announced for sculptors. Despite the contest’s complexity, with models being submitted, including by Petersen, and reviewed by a jury of professionals, the statue was ultimately created by Friedlander, becoming a lasting symbol of Texas’ pioneer heritage.

Locations