Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Guide to the Gibb Family Crouching Cougars Realia
1994-2018
Cage 928
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections
- Creator
- Gibb Family
- Title
- Gibb Family Crouching Cougars Realia
- ID
- Cage 928
- Date [inclusive]
- 1994-2018
- Extent
- 5 Linear feet of shelf space, 4 boxes
- Language
- Collection materials are in English.
- Abstract
- Miniature molds and models of Avard T. Fairbanks “crouching cougar” statues found at Washington State University and at Salt Lake City’s Hogle Zoo. Written historical documentation is included.
Preferred Citation
[Item Description] Gibb Family Crouching Cougars Realia, 1994-2018
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
Biography/History
Robert P. Gibb entered Washington State College in 1940, and graduated in 1944 despite serving in the Navy during the second World War. From 1973-1979, he served as a regent for WSU. He passed away on July 16, 2018.
Scope and Content
The collection consists of two different plaster molds, created in 1994, one for each of two “crouching cougar” statues, and two 18 inch tall patinaed bronze statues created from those molds in 1996. Additionally, the collection includes a 34 page bound “Crouching Cougars” monograph, written by Robert and Ruth Gibb, detailing the histories of the original cougars, the new ones created in the 1990s, and the molds and models in this collection. Also included are a dedication ceremony brochure from the Sept. 21, 1996 dedication of the Beasley Coliseum cougars, and a 2018 brochure from Robert Gibb's memorial service.
The original “crouching cougar” statues were created by sculptor Avard T. Fairbanks for Salt Lake City’s Hogle Zoo in about 1940. When a cast of a different “leaping cougar” statue was given to Mr. Gibb by Avard’s son Eugene, in about 1990, Gibb's interest in the crouching cougar statues was piqued. While the leaping cougar molds, slightly modified, were used to create a statue for WSU’s Lewis Alumni Centre (placed in May 1994), and then similar statues in downtown Pullman and on WSU’s non-Pullman campuses, Gibb had new molds created from the Salt Lake City crouching cougars in 1994. Bronze cougars were created from those, mounted on pedestals, and installed outside WSUs Beasley Coliseum in 1995
Arrangement
The collection is housed loosely chronologically by date of creation. The two molds are each in their own protective boxes, and are placed at the beginning of the collection. The two miniature statues are housed jointly in the next box, and then the paper materials are in the final box.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections © 2019
http://www.libraries.wsu.edu/masc/
Terrell Library
P.O. Box 645610
Pullman, WA, 99164-5610 USA
509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Restrictions on Access
This collection is open and available for research use.
Restrictions on Use
Copyright restrictions apply.
Processing Information
Protective boxing and housing was devised by the MASC’s Linnea Rash. The collection was processed in January of 2018 by University Archivist Mark O’English.
Related Materials
Separated Material
One unrelated item, a WSC beanie belong to Mr. Gibb, was moved to SC 10, WSU Ephemera and Realia Collection.
Names and Subjects
Corporate Name(s)
Subject(s) :
- Washington State University
- Hogle Zoological Garden (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Genre(s)
- Sculptures
Personal Name(s)
Subject(s) :
- Gibb, Robert P.
- Fairbanks, Avard T. (Avard Tennyson), 1897-1987
Creator(s) :
- Gibb, Robert P.
- Gibb, Ruth
- Fairbanks, Avard T. (Avard Tennyson), 1897-1987
Subject(s)
- Animal Sculpture--Pullman (Wash.)
- Animal Sculpture--Salt Lake City (Utah)
- Fine Arts
- Colleges and Universities
- Washington (State)
Detailed Description of Collection
| box | item | |||
|
Miniature Crouching Cougar molds 1994 |
1-2 | 1-2 | ||
|
Miniature Crouching Cougar statues 1996 |
3 | 3-4 | ||
| box | folder | |||
|
Crouching Cougars (Beasley Coliseum) dedication brochure 1996 September 21 |
4 | 5 | ||
|
Crouching Cougars bound monograph 2010 June |
4 | 6 | ||
|
Robert P. Gibb Celebration of Life program 2018 |
4 | 7 | ||