Ulric dunbar

Lawrence Hayward Collection

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From the records I have access in finding there is mention of the two of them working on a bust for Mayor Pingree of Chicago.

           The father Alexander was a veterinarian of sorts and had a way of shoeing horses, which he sold to the U.S. Calvary.  In the early 1880’s perhaps 1883 he is listed in Washington D. C.  He stays in the city directory for many years and listed as Physician.

           Ulric is found in the same city directory by 1885 and his studio is in the Corcoran Gallery.  His movements are as always in and out but I was able to find his being one of the founders of the Washington Art Society.

           There is proof that he worked for the Smithsonian Institute of Washington executing portraits of famous American Indians and portraits of his friends and family.

           The statue of Vice President Hendricks is in the city standing full figure in bronze.  As stated there were some busts done in bronze.  The list is a long one and I have never found too much proof of where they are today.

           His granddaughter came to see me from Florida and gave me a lot of photos of bas-reliefs he did of famous people.  I have the two he did of Vincent Massey and his wife who lived in Port Hope Ontario.

           The ethnological showcases that were in the Royal Ontario Museum have been destroyed and I do not have those photos to show at this time.

           It is interesting that every time the family wanted information on this relative my name came up as the source.  I have not been able to find that relative in Florida.

           It is the same struggle as always in those early days both in Canada and the United States of America.  Many buildings were being built and statues erected and it was matter of luck you got the commission.  Ulric not only had Canadian Sculptors to compete with but American.

           I hope some day all of his works will be found and shown properly in a bibliography like I planned.

When you see this name the very length of it says he has to be successful in any thing in his lifetime.  Such is the case with Ulric.  His family came from Scotland first and settled in Ireland before coming to Guelph Ontario.

The homestead was near Guelph and the schools were the general public and Norwood Academy which his older brother F.A.T. Dunbar who has already a up and coming sculptor in Canada.

Ulric Stonewall Jackson Dunbar 1862 - 1927