Thursday, April 23, 2009

Francis Eppes

 
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This is a statue of Francis Wayles Eppes (1801-1881), one of the founders of Florida State University and the grandson of President Thomas Jefferson. He is sitting in front of Eppes Hall which was built in 1918.

16 comments:

Unknown said...

You are teaching me so much about my hometown, it's quite embarrassing that we natives take so much for granted....Thank you, I really enjoy your blog and your tidbits of info are just enough..

Cezar and Léia said...

Great tribute to him! Very interesting post!
Thanks Lois!
Léia

Unknown said...

I like it when statues are on the same level as we do.

B SQUARED said...

Never knew that. Wonder where the descendants are today.

Clytie said...

I think I'd like to sit next to him and chat a while .....

Hilda said...

Kudos to Mr. Eppes! Anyone who founds a school deserves a memorial, I think.

Lowell said...

Very interesting and informative post along with a super photo. I had not known that a grandson of Thomas Jefferson was involved with FSU.

Thanks!

Dan said...

The Eppes name is more familiar to me from the tales told by my mother of the Eppes sisters, three granddaughters of Francis who lived with their mother and drove around town in a Model T Ford. I think the car was later donated to the Tallahassee museum.

Lisa Wilson said...

Looks like you could sit down and have a conversation with him.

Lois said...

I never knew that about the Eppes sisters Dan. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

I must say that I have read a lot about Thomas Jefferson but it was a long time ago and I have since forgotten most of what I knew then. I am not familiar with his grandson but would be interested in the genealogy.

Jim said...

I like the more casual, seated depiction for this statue in a beautiful setting.
Sydney - City and Suburbs

airplane5312 said...

Great statue. He literally looks like he's about to get up.

Stefan Jansson said...

Interesting pose. I wonder what it means, and perhaps that's what the artist wanted, to make us stop and think about that. Any idea how old it is and who the artist is/was?

Lois said...

This statue is fairly new. The official unveiling was on the January 24, 2002. The sculptor was Edward Jonas, a 1972 graduate of Florida State University. Apparently Mr. Eppes is supposed to be gazing toward downtown Tallahassee.

Stefan Jansson said...

Aha, thanks for the info, it does look to be a bit older, which is probably the point!