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 He earned his a bachelor's degree at the University of Illinois
and a master's at Harvard. He was a fiction editor for the New
Yorker and worked with many noted authors, including John Updike,
John Cheever, John O'Hara, J.D. Salinger, Shirley Hazzard, Vladimir
Nabokov, Mary McCarthy, Eudora Welty, Harold Brodkey, Mavis Gallant,
Isaac Bashevis Singer and Frank O'Connor.
He was also an author in his own right, publishing ''They Came
Like Swallows'' (1937), ''Time Will Darken It'' (1948), ''So Long,
See You Tomorrow'' (1980), ''The Old Man at the Railroad Crossing
and Other Tales'' (1966), ''Over by the River, and Other Stories''
(1977), and ''Billy Dyer and Other Stories'' (1992).
Even though he left Lincoln at an early age, he called Lincoln
home, and he said on more than one occasion that this community
provided the backdrop for many of his own works.
The afternoon began with Richard Sumrall, director of the Lincoln
Public Library District, welcoming guests.
Sumrall noted that in attendance were members of the Rolling
Prairie Library System in Decatur, Mayor Keith Snyder, Lincoln City
Council members and some special friends from Joliet.
Sumrall acknowledged the Friends of Maxwell group, saying that
this organization was responsible for making this day possible.
He then introduced Friends member Margaret Pfeifer, who spoke
briefly about Maxwell and the group dedicated to remembering him to
the Lincoln community.
She spoke about David Welch, who admired the writings of Maxwell
and was instrumental in getting the Illinois State Historical Marker
placed at the Maxwell childhood home in Lincoln.
In 2007 the Friends group organized, with the help of Sumrall and
tourism director Geoff Ladd, a 100th birthday celebration, which was
on Aug. 16, 2008, in the Logan County Courthouse.
The thought of a bronze bust came into play then.
Pfeifer said they first got a quote that came to approximately
$10,000 for the work. The Woods Foundation had agreed to assist with
the funding but felt that the cost was too high. Pfeifer said two
anonymous donors came forward and funded the project, enabling the
group to move ahead.
After Pfeifer spoke, Mayor Keith Snyder and Ted Perry did the
official unveiling of the bust.
Sumrall then read a written statement he'd received from
Maxwell's daughter, Kate.
Maxwell's daughter, who lives in Manhattan, said she was very
pleased and honored to have the bust of her father presented at the
library. She referred to Lincoln as the home of her father's
imagination.
Sumrall read a quote from John Updike: "A good editor is one who
encourages a writer to write his best, and that was Bill."
Updike is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author known for his novel
series that revolved around fictional character Harry "Rabbit"
Angstrom, a former star basketball player for his small-town
Pennsylvania high school.
The novels he penned in that series were "Rabbit Run," "Rabbit
Redux," "Rabbit is Rich," "Rabbit at Rest" and "Rabbit Remembered."
Updike won Pulitzer Prizes for both "Rabbit is Rich" and "Rabbit at
Rest."
Next up to the podium was Kathleen Farrell, the artist who
designed and sculpted the bust. Farrell is a member of the Friends
of Community Public Art, a not-for-profit organization out of
Joliet.
She spoke about the challenges of doing a sculpture based on
photos from different time periods in the subject's life. She noted
that she wanted to capture the expression and personality of the
man.
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She also offered an explanation of how a bust is made.
A sculpture begins with a clay depiction, which is then covered
with silicone backed with fiberglass. When that dries, it is cut
into pieces. Next wax is applied to the inside of the mold, and the
pieces are put back together. When the wax is hardened, it is also
cut into pieces. Those pieces are coated with porcelain and allowed
to cure.
During this process wax straws are incorporated, which create
small holes in the porcelain. Once everything is dried, the
porcelain is heated until the wax melts and runs out the holes.
The next step is to fill the cavity created by the absent wax
with molten bronze.
Once the bronze is fully cooled, the porcelain is chipped away;
the edges of the pieces are smoothed and prepared for welding.
Farrell said the welding process has to be done with meticulous
precision so the seams are invisible.
Once the bronze is constructed, it is given its rich patina using
a chemical application and a propane torch.
It is then buffed and polished, then a sealant and wax are
applied to protect the finish.
Farrell finished her explanation by saying, "And that's why the
bust is so expensive."
The bronze bust is mounted on a beautiful wood pedestal. Sumrall
acknowledged Kent Whiteside of Miller Whiteside in Bloomington, who
made the pedestal.
For those who have never been inside the Lincoln Public Library,
it would be well worth the trip just to see the ornate beauty of the
interior. Inside the walls of the library, visitors will find a
stained glass Tiffany-style dome in the lobby, beautifully detailed
woodwork and a variety of art.
Sumrall ended the day by commenting that the Maxwell bust was a
wonderful addition to the interior of the building. He noted the
dome, art pieces such as the Grecian urn, the Indian statue, the
"Three Sisters" painting and a number of pieces of photo art.
After the unveiling, Sumrall invited everyone to enjoy food
provided by Peggy's Place bakery in Lincoln.
At the beginning of the day Sumrall mentioned that the unveiling
is the kickoff of National Library Week.
The library will have special events during this week, including
National Library Workers Day on Tuesday and Global Youth Services
Day on Friday.
To learn more about the library, visit
http://www.lincolnpubliclibrary.org/.
[By NILA SMITH]
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