Willa Cather, the Pulitzer Prize-winning American author renowned for her portrayal of the lives of pioneer settlers in the U.S. Heartland, was honored Wednesday with the unveiling of a bronze statue in her likeness in the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall.
Willa Cather, a trailblazer in the literary world
The statue’s creator, Littleton Alston, a professor of sculpture at Creighton University, is the first Black artist to have work represented in the national collection. This milestone is a testament to the progress made in recognizing the contributions of artists from diverse backgrounds.
Cather, whose works include “My Ántonia” and “O Pioneers!”, spent her young years in Red Cloud, Nebraska, and graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1895. She won the Pulitzer Prize for the novel “One of Ours.” Her writing has been celebrated for its ability to capture the essence of the American spirit, giving a voice to pioneers who chose to take a chance for a better life.
“Nebraskans are lucky to call Willa Cather one of their own,” said Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. “But ultimately, her work belongs here because it is American to the core. Her authenticity, emotion, artistry spoke of Americans’ fundamental values. Ultimately, it reminds us that this is a land of opportunity.”
A symbol of opportunity
U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith, a Republican from Nebraska, noted that Cather was a trailblazer in the literary world who has earned a lasting place among the great American writers. U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer of Nebraska said Cather’s fiction “truly feels like it grew from the soil of Nebraska.”
A reflection of the American Heartland
The unveiling ceremony was attended by officials who recognized Alston’s work, with Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen saying, “You’re work inspires us, and hopefully this experience can inspire all of us in this room to go home and to do a little bit more than we ever thought we could.”
A pioneer in the art world
Each state has two statues at the U.S. Capitol, with many in the Statuary Hall. Nebraska’s other statue, of Ponca Chief Standing Bear, was unveiled in 2019.
A symbol of American history
U.S. Rep. Hakeen Jeffries of New York, the Democratic minority leader of the House, said Cather was the first Pulitzer Prize winner and 12th woman recognized in the collection. He said she and Standing Bear captured “the heart and soul of the great state of Nebraska.”
A testament to Nebraska’s rich heritage
