Friends of Stillwater Public Library raising funds for Angie
Debo sculpture
For over a year, the Friends of the Stillwater Public Library
have been working on a project to erect a sculpture on the front
lawn of the Stillwater Public Library.
According to Library Director, Lynda Reynolds “The Friends
received a $10,000 bequeath from former Library Director, Della
Bennett, and wanted to do something unique with the donation”.
“After committing an additional $5,000, the Friends formed a
committee of community members led by Past Friends Chair, Bob Darcy,
which solicited proposals from sculptors across the nation seeking a
sculpture that evoked a combination of libraries, reading,
Stillwater, and/or Oklahoma.”
The committee settled on a local Stillwater artist, Phyllis
Mantik, and her proposal for a life size sculpture of Angie Debo.
The proposed sculpture by Ms. Mantik depicts Angie Debo as a young
woman sitting in reflection with several books by her side. “I chose
to show Angie Debo as a young woman to focus on her character and
highlight that at an early age she chose the life of a scholar
rather than what was expected for a woman of her time” said Mantik.
The Friends have started raising additional funds for the
sculpture which will sit outside the front of the Stillwater Public
Library and is scheduled for completion in the Fall of 2010. A
dedication ceremony is being planned as well as an educational
supplement in the Oklahoman newspaper for school children and
programs with the OSU Library highlighting the life of Angie Debo.
Fore more information about Angie Debo, visit the “links” tab on the Stillwater Public Library
website at library.stillwater.org. To make a donation toward this
project, contact Library Director, Lynda Reynolds, at 405.372.3633
ext. 101.
View Friends of the Library brochure about
Angie Debo and the Sculpture Project |
