Winter 2005
NEWS
Mystery
of Missing Minerva Statue Baffles SUNY Geneseo Officials
By Mary E. McCrank
Wanted: Roman goddess to stand guard over students as they acquire wisdom.
Her name is Minerva, and she has been missing for more than a half century
from the State University of New York at Geneseo.
So this week, Milne Library officials plastered wanted posters —
some asking, "Have you seen this goddess?" — around campus
and in the village in hopes that faculty and staff, nearby residents or
alumni may have some clue as to where Minerva is hiding.
A statue of the Roman goddess of wisdom and patron of warriors graced
the College’s library in the Old Main building when Geneseo was a
normal, or teacher training, school. College historians say all of the
state’s normal schools were given statues of Minerva, and Geneseo
received its statue in 1906. The 6’2" Minerva statue stood in
the entrance of the building until 1921, but was later moved to the ground
floor of the library because she weighed 350 pounds.
Minerva was last seen in 1951, before Old Main was razed, and she is now
estimated to be 98 years old. The most persistent rumor is that she was
razed, along with Old Main, but another rumor is that she was used as
rubble to help fill a parking lot on campus. Still, the librarians are
hopeful they will find her in one piece.
"I think she’s tucked away. She’s waiting to be found,"
said Ed Rivenburgh, director of libraries for the College.
Minerva is the Roman counterpart of the Greek goddess Athena. Minerva
sprang from the head of Jupiter — her father who was king of the
gods — fully grown and in full armor. She was the patron of warriors,
defender of home and state, and the embodiment of wisdom, purity and reason.
She also was the patron of the arts, handicrafts and trades.
"What didn’t she do? This woman was a remarkable woman before
her time," said Rivenburgh.
But Rivenburgh and Liz Argentieri, special collections librarian,
are hoping the rumors of her demise are just rumors.
"The Stone Strength of the Past," the College’s history
published in 1971, made note of the statue. It reads: "Minerva was
seldom noticed by the students. Minerva was the center of attention at
one time, though, when her plain features were brightened by an application
of lipstick and rouge."
"Usually Minerva passively and somewhat contemptuously observed lesser
mortals pursue learning," the book continued.
Rivenburgh wonders if anyone proposed to his college sweetheart under
the statue or if it is true students placed cosmetics on her face. He
hopes alumni will write or call the library to tell their stories, along
with leads to where she might be located.
And as Minerva has a place in the history of the College, library officials
have found a place where they plan to put Minerva upon her much-awaited
return: The main entrance to Milne Library.
"We’ve cleared a place for her," said Argentieri. "And
we hope she comes home."
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Argentieri at (585) 245-5195
or argente@geneseo.edu.
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The
statue of the Roman goddess Minerva dominates the library in the
Old Main building at the State University of New York at Geneseo.
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The University at Albany displays its original Minerva statue in the science library on the university’s main campus. Photograph courtesy of University at Albany. |