The focal point of this bronze statue is a motherly figure, all decked out in academic robes, standing tall at a whopping twelve feet. Originally designed to take a step forward with outstretched arms, she's a popular spot for students to strike a pose with the friendly-faced Alma Mater. A favorite for graduation photos, she embodies the romantic, heraldic spirit and warm embrace of her stance. Two informative sidekicks attached to the mother-figure represent 'Learning' and 'Labor'.
'Learning' follows an ancient Greek heraldic pose, while 'Labor' draws inspiration from 'Learning'. Sculpted by the American Art Bronze Foundry, the statue was made possible through generous donations from the Alumni Fund and senior classes of 1923-1929. The artist himself, Lorado Taft, a University of Illinois graduate from 1879, dedicated his talent to the project. Upon being unveiled on campus, the statue stood proudly as a campus guardian at the university entrance, until 1962, when the Alumni Association decided to move her indoors to Altgeld Hall, causing a bit of a furor in the Daily Illini.
In 2012, Alma Mater was relocated once more, this time for restoration, and made her grand return to her rightful place on campus in the spring of 2014.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Friendly Jane
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