THE KATE KIMBALL STATUE

Kate F. Kimball

The CLSC, the life work of Kate Kimball, will be celebrating its 150th year in 2028. Kate served as the Executive Secretary of the CLSC for 33 years until her death in 1917.  In celebration of the CLSC's sesquicentennial year, the Alumni Association is offering the Kate Kimball reading challenge.

Kate's Story

Responding to the overwhelming initial success of the CLSC, Bishop Vincent realized there was a need for help in the form of an Executive Secretary, someone to hendle correspondence, send books to CLSC members, provide support and answer questions, as well as organize the Classes and the Recognition Day events.

In 1878, Bishop Vincent was introduced to eighteen-year-old Kate F. Kimball, just graduated from high school. Concerned that she was too young for the job, she asked him to give her a chance and if found not equal to the task, she would step aside. That never happened. Kate Kimball became the life force of the CLSC and stayed 33 years.

In 1915, the trustees of Chautauqua ordered that a street be named in her honor in a new development south of the main gate; the development never occurred. After her death, one of the classrooms in Alumni Hall was named for her and a garden was planted in her honor at the rear of the building. The Class of 1925 chose her as its class honoree. 

IT IS TIME FOR KATE KIMBALL TO BE RECOGNIZED AS A FOUNDER OF THE HEART OF CHAUTAUQUA - THE CLSC

The Project

An energized team of Chautauquan CLSC women, led by Megan Smith and Karen Paul, are taking action to remedy this situation. Stop in any day at Alumni Hall to view a prototype of the proposed statue of Kate Kimball created by sculptor, Lauralynn White. The statue's prototype is sitting on a pedestal built by Tony Beckett. This team hopes to turn clay into bronze and install Kate next summer in St. Paul’s Grove between the Hall of Philosophy and Alumni Hall.

The Artist

Lauralynn White is an exhibiting artist and curator living and working in Chicago and Chautauqua. She earned a BFA in Illustration and Art History from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). She is a Signature Member of the National Association of Women Artists (NAWA), serving on their exhibitions and PR committees, and is also an exhibiting artist member of Chautauqua Visual Arts. She has served on the board of ArtFusion, Pottstown, PA and as a juror/curator for exhibitions, including; Oliva Gallery, Albright College, YorkArts, Alvernia University and Reading Film Festival. For nearly a decade, White was Gallery Director at GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, Reading, PA and was founding Director/Curator of Contemporary Art Gallery, Chautauqua, NY. White has exhibited nationally and internationally, integrating the human form in landscape and bringing to her work a vision of humanity in the natural world. 

White was moved to create the Kate F. Kimball tribute statue in part because of her connection to the CLSC as the 2019 Class President. 

 

Pictured above is the clay sculpture that will be used for the bronze casting. It is currently on display in the Kate Kimball Room at Alumni Hall. The sculpture can be viewed daily from 12:00 - 5:00, Sunday through Friday throughout the season.

Donations are now being accepted to defray the cost of this project. Be a part of the Kate Kimball story by donating today.