The newly erected statue on Wilmington College’s campus features Quakers and tells a uniquely Quaker story. Indeed, members of the Society of Friends were behind much of its $84,000 fundraising effort. Yet, in many ways, the sculpture is intended largely for non-Quakers.

In 750 pounds of sculpted bronze, the piece titled “Who Sends Thee?” reflects the Quaker Testimonies of peace, integrity, simplicity, community and equality, which are included prominently among Wilmington College’s core values.

The statue depicting locals Quakers, Isaac and Sarah Harvey, on their way to Washington D.C. to speak with President Abraham Lincoln about the emancipation of enslaved persons in 1862 was unveiled and dedicated Sunday (Sept. 20) afternoon.

It is permanently positioned facing east between Watson Library and the Meriam R. Hare Quaker Heritage Center.

An overflow audience in the T. Canby Jones Meetinghouse heard the story of Isaac Harvey’s revelation in which God called upon him to petition the president to end slavery in the United States.

The program began with a re-enactment of Nellie Blessing Eyster’s (1831-1922) original narrative from “A Day with the Quakers” featuring Miriam and Donald Speaight of Springfield Friends Meeting.

Isaac Harvey, a Quaker farmer who held a deep concern for the condition of enslaved persons in the South, said, “One day while plowing I heard a voice, whether inside or outside of me I knew not, but I was awake. It said ‘Go thou and see the president.’ I answered, ‘Yea Lord, thy servant heareth.’

“And unhitching my plow, I went at once to the house and said to mother, ‘Wilt thou go to Washington with me to see the president?’ ‘Who sends thee?’ she asked. ‘The Lord,’ I answered.”

Shortly after the couple’s visit to Washington D.C., on Sept. 22, 1862, Lincoln presented the draft of the Emancipation Proclamation to his cabinet.

Roy Joe Stuckey, a WC trustee and one of the project’s major donors, called the statue a “significant, tangible element” that proclaims Quaker values on the College’s campus.

“This will present these ideals to others besides card-carrying Quakers,” he said. “There are more than 1,100 non-Quakers who walk around this campus everyday — a few I hope will stop and read the plaque.”

Also, Stuckey noted that local persons lobbying elected officials did by no means end with Isaac and Sarah Harvey in 1862.

“Quakers are still going to Washington to try to influence national legislation and the administration’s policy on behalf of peace and social justice,” he said, noting that some 50 years ago he and his wife, Ruth, led a group of students to the nation’s capital.

Also, in more recent years, WC faculty members Neil Snarr, Donald Chafin and Michael Snarr have led contingents of students to lobby legislators in Washington.

Ruth Dobyns, curator of the Quaker Heritage Center expressed her pleasure with the “convergence” of public history and the Quaker world that is represented in the statue.

“This is truly a Quaker story that provides and unavoidable teaching moment,” she said, noting Friends should be proud their ancestors were among the leaders of the Abolitionist Movement. “Also, if we (Quakers) do not advocate for our history, who will?”

The sculptor, Alan Cottrill, recalled hearing in 2003 that “some Quaker ladies” wished to speak with him about creating a statue. He was impressed with the “Who Sends Thee?” story and especially inspired by its inherent “human emotion.”

“There’s an understated energy and power in this piece,” he said.

WC President Dan DiBiasio cited the “patience, persistence and perseverance” of three key members of the Wilmington Yearly Meeting Heritage Fund Committee, which, along with the College, raised some $84,000 from 171 donors.

“I hope Judy Sargent, Mary Ellen Hadley Krisher and Christine Hadley Snyder feel the great joy of a job well done,” he said.

DiBiasio noted the statue complements the Ohio Historical Marker installed on campus as part of Ohio Bicentennial in 2003 that denotes the Quaker migration from the East Coast into Ohio and the founding by Friends of a Quaker college in Wilmington.

Also, he said this is the only known Quaker statue in the Midwest.

“We are humbly proud that this sculpture rests on this campus,” he added.

Sargent, the committee’s clerk, credited Providence for the successful campaign.

“God took a dream, smiled and made it come true,” she said. “Truly this is a wonder of wonder, miracle of miracles.”