Welcome back to our ongoing series “Designing the University of Wyoming,” which explores the stories behind the campus’s architecture, landmarks, and artistic features that have shaped the university’s identity over the decades.
Standing proudly on the lawn south of the Arts and Sciences Building, the bronze figure of Benjamin Franklin has been watching over UW students for more than six decades. But this isn’t just any campus statue—it’s a piece of Wyoming history with an intriguing backstory, complete with artistic vision, generous benefactors, and even a bit of journalistic satire.
A Revolutionary Idea Takes Shape
The story begins in 1955, when the approaching 250th anniversary of Franklin’s birth sparked an ambitious idea. UW professor and sculptor Robert Russin (1914-2007) joined forces with Wyoming rancher and oilman Warren Richardson to create something special for the university. Richardson, along with his siblings Clarence and Valeria, saw the University as the perfect home for a commemorative statue of one of America’s most versatile founding fathers.
In a letter to UW President George Duke Humphrey on February 18, 1956, Richardson described their vision:
It is therefore particularly appropriate that a commemorative statue of this foremost American be placed on the grounds of our great state university as a guiding inspiration to the youth of Wyoming.
The trustees were convinced. At their March 9 meeting, they approved the proposal and accepted a check from the Richardson family for $17,500—equivalent to over $200,000 in today’s dollars—a substantial sum that would bring Russin’s artistic vision to life.1
From Clay to Bronze
Russin had already created a model, and the process of completing the seven-foot statue began in earnest. The bronze figure would rest on a large, polished granite base, positioned prominently where students, faculty, and visitors could encounter Franklin’s presence daily.
After considering several locations around campus, the trustees settled on the lawn south of the Arts and Sciences Building—a fitting spot for a polymath who embodied the spirit of learning and discovery. Long-time campus visitors might remember this area as the site of the beloved Peanut Pond, where students once gathered for fly-casting contests and tug-of-wars before the small cement-lined pond was filled in during 1962.
Dedication Day and Words of Wisdom
The statue was installed on April 1, 1957, and formally dedicated on May 24. At the dedication ceremony, sculptor Russin delivered remarks that captured both his artistic philosophy and Franklin’s enduring relevance to university life:
My remarks will be brief, and since the statue must speak for itself, in effect, I have already said my say. It is especially appropriate that a monument to Franklin be placed on a campus of learning…He was a student, in the truest sense, for all of his life. In his own words, ‘The doors of wisdom are never shut,’ and this applies truly to this campus.2
A Western First
What makes UW’s Franklin statue particularly special is its distinction as the first statue of Benjamin Franklin erected west of the Mississippi River. For the Richardson family and the university, this represented an opportunity to bring a piece of foundational American history to the frontier state.3
A Journalistic Jab with a Point
Not long after the statue’s installation, the campus newspaper The Branding Iron published a satirical piece that would become part of the statue’s lore. In a clever article titled “Inscription on Franklin Statue Hacks Stranger,” student journalists created a fictional encounter between a student and a mysterious figure named “Silence Dogood”—a reference to one of Franklin’s own pseudonyms.
The fictional Dogood character complained that the statue’s inscription listed Franklin as “scientist, man of letters, economist, politician” but failed to mention what he considered Franklin’s most important identity: “Printer and journalist!” The character argued passionately that Franklin’s career in printing and journalism was the foundation for all his other achievements.4
This playful critique highlighted an important aspect of Franklin’s legacy while demonstrating the kind of critical thinking and spirited debate that Franklin himself would have appreciated.
Weathering Modern Controversies
The statue’s peaceful existence was briefly disrupted in September 2017, when a student group staged a mock protest to make a point about the national conversation surrounding historical monuments. The group organized a fake petition drive asking students to sign a petition to remove the Franklin statue. Students who signed were then given a flyer explaining that the group wasn’t actually trying to remove the statue, but rather protesting what they saw as the troubling trend of tearing down historical monuments across the country.5
The incident sparked conversations about historical memory, the role of monuments on campus, and how universities should navigate politically charged discussions about public art and commemoration.
A Continuing Presence
More than sixty years after its installation, Franklin’s bronze form continues to occupy its prominent spot on campus. The statue has become part of the daily rhythm of university life, a familiar landmark that has appeared in countless graduation photos and served as an informal meeting spot for generations of students. Whether viewed as an inspiration, a conversation starter, or simply as a piece of campus history, Franklin remains a constant presence in the ever-changing landscape of the University of Wyoming.
Explore More UW History
Want to see how dramatically the University of Wyoming has transformed over time? The American Heritage Center offers two online exhibits that bring campus history to life. “University of Wyoming: A Brief History of Campus” takes you on a visual journey through the university’s evolution, while “Keeping History Alive: 136 Years of Progress” offers a then-and-now comparison, pairing 2023 photographs of campus buildings and features with historical images to reveal how much the landscape has changed. These exhibits provide a great backdrop for understanding how landmarks like the Franklin statue fit into the university’s ongoing story of growth and transformation.
Sources
1. American Heritage Center, “Benjamin Franklin Statue,” in Keeping History Alive: 136 Years of Progress, Virmuze, January 23, 2023.
2. Ibid.
3. “UW to Get Bronze Franklin in 1956,” Branding Iron (University of Wyoming), March 23, 1956, 6.
4. Silence Dogood and Dick Bohrer, “Inscription on Franklin Statue Hacks Stranger,” Branding Iron (University of Wyoming), April 5, 1957, 3.
5. Shannon Broderick, “Faux-test,” photograph, Laramie Boomerang, September 14, 2017, A5.
