Beneficence
Encyclopedia
Beneficence is a bronze statue on the campus of Ball State University
, located in Muncie, Indiana
. It is referred to as "Benny" by the students.
and Ball State University
for the Ball Brothers
' extensive generosity to their community. The monetary value of the Balls' philanthropies in Muncie totaled $7 million by the time of the monument's completion in 1937.
The Chamber commissioned renowned sculptor
Daniel Chester French
, who sculpted the statue of Lincoln
in the Lincoln Memorial
in Washington, D.C.
The name Beneficence was chosen for the statue because it aptly described the feelings of the community and the actions of the Ball Brothers. French entrusted architect Richard Henry Dana to choose a location for the statue and to design the surrounding promenade.
The price tag for Beneficence, completed in 1930, was approximately $50,000. The progress toward installation crawled during the Great Depression
, as funds for the project became scarce. More than 11,000 individuals donated money to assist in the completion of the memorial, and Beneficence was dedicated in 1937. Although the project was the last for French, neither he nor Dana lived to see its dedication. The statue, affectionately known as Benny, symbolizes the selflessness of the five brothers in their service to the community. It is so entwined in the University's culture that its image is part of the school seal.
Beneficence's hand stretches to welcome new students to campus. The treasure box she holds in her other arm represents the treasure education can offer. Her wings represent the flight into the world that take place when students graduate. The five Corinthian columns
behind the statue represent the Ball Brothers, for whom the university is named.
Beneficence has a sister statue located in the Boston Gardens Park in Boston, Massachusetts, which holds a dish instead of a box.
. Another myth suggests that the ashes of each of the five Ball Brothers rest in individual urns on the top of the respective pillar; however, all five brothers are buried at Beech Grove Cemetery in Muncie. Perhaps the most notable legend states that a female student is not officially a coed until she is kissed by a male student beneath the statue.
Ball State University
Ball State University is a state-run research university located in Muncie, Indiana. It is also known as Ball State or simply BSU.Located on the northwest side of the city, Ball State's campus spans and includes 106 buildings...
, located in Muncie, Indiana
Muncie, Indiana
Muncie is a city in Center Township, Delaware County in east central Indiana, best known as the home of Ball State University and the birthplace of the Ball Corporation. It is the principal city of the Muncie, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 118,769...
. It is referred to as "Benny" by the students.
History
In 1927 the Muncie Chamber of Commerce proposed the building of a memorial to express gratitude on behalf of MuncieMuncie, Indiana
Muncie is a city in Center Township, Delaware County in east central Indiana, best known as the home of Ball State University and the birthplace of the Ball Corporation. It is the principal city of the Muncie, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 118,769...
and Ball State University
Ball State University
Ball State University is a state-run research university located in Muncie, Indiana. It is also known as Ball State or simply BSU.Located on the northwest side of the city, Ball State's campus spans and includes 106 buildings...
for the Ball Brothers
Ball Brothers
The Ball brothers were the founders of the Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing Business which eventually became Ball Corporation. They greatly improved the quality of life of Muncie, Indiana through their philanthropy and business. They were instrumental in the creation of Ball State University, and...
' extensive generosity to their community. The monetary value of the Balls' philanthropies in Muncie totaled $7 million by the time of the monument's completion in 1937.
The Chamber commissioned renowned sculptor
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
Daniel Chester French
Daniel Chester French
Daniel Chester French was an American sculptor. His best-known work is the sculpture of a seated Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.-Life and career:...
, who sculpted the statue of Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
in the Lincoln Memorial
Lincoln Memorial
The Lincoln Memorial is an American memorial built to honor the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. It is located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The architect was Henry Bacon, the sculptor of the main statue was Daniel Chester French, and the painter of the interior...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
The name Beneficence was chosen for the statue because it aptly described the feelings of the community and the actions of the Ball Brothers. French entrusted architect Richard Henry Dana to choose a location for the statue and to design the surrounding promenade.
The price tag for Beneficence, completed in 1930, was approximately $50,000. The progress toward installation crawled during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, as funds for the project became scarce. More than 11,000 individuals donated money to assist in the completion of the memorial, and Beneficence was dedicated in 1937. Although the project was the last for French, neither he nor Dana lived to see its dedication. The statue, affectionately known as Benny, symbolizes the selflessness of the five brothers in their service to the community. It is so entwined in the University's culture that its image is part of the school seal.
Beneficence's hand stretches to welcome new students to campus. The treasure box she holds in her other arm represents the treasure education can offer. Her wings represent the flight into the world that take place when students graduate. The five Corinthian columns
Corinthian order
The Corinthian order is one of the three principal classical orders of ancient Greek and Roman architecture. The other two are the Doric and Ionic. When classical architecture was revived during the Renaissance, two more orders were added to the canon, the Tuscan order and the Composite order...
behind the statue represent the Ball Brothers, for whom the university is named.
Beneficence has a sister statue located in the Boston Gardens Park in Boston, Massachusetts, which holds a dish instead of a box.
Campus Lore
Some students believe that one way to find one's true love is to sit under Benny and kiss him or her with closed eyes. If Benny's wings flap, then the love is true; if no flapping occurs, then the love is not meant to be. It also has been said that Benny cries tears of blood when a virgin graduates from Ball StateBall State University
Ball State University is a state-run research university located in Muncie, Indiana. It is also known as Ball State or simply BSU.Located on the northwest side of the city, Ball State's campus spans and includes 106 buildings...
. Another myth suggests that the ashes of each of the five Ball Brothers rest in individual urns on the top of the respective pillar; however, all five brothers are buried at Beech Grove Cemetery in Muncie. Perhaps the most notable legend states that a female student is not officially a coed until she is kissed by a male student beneath the statue.