Chester La Follette
Encyclopedia
Robert Chester La Follette, (March 31, 1897 in Pullman, Washington
- May 24, 1993 in White Plains, New York
) was an American painter. His portrait of his cousin Senator Robert M. La Follette, Sr.
hangs in the Senate Reception Room of he United States Capitol
. Allyn Cox
supervised the placement of the painting in the United States Capitol.
. He was the son of Congressman William La Follette
and nephew of educator, industrialist Harvey Marion LaFollette
. He was the brother of Washington state attorney and legislator William Leroy LaFollette, Jr.
. The libertarian editor and writer Suzanne La Follette
was his sister.
into a pioneer family. His grandparents had crossed the Oregon Trail
into the Oregon Territory
in the 1840s. His father had become one of the largest fruit exporters in the state of Washington before being elected to Congress in 1910. Chester completed his early education in Pullman
and continued high school in Washington DC when his family relocated there. The two LaFollette families shared a large house that the Congressman had purchased, and Chester spent his teen age years in the midst of lively discussions of the great events of the day.[] During this period he was introduced to the sculptress Vinnie Ream
and was influenced by her passion and technique.
Pullman, Washington
Pullman is the largest city in Whitman County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,675 at the 2000 census and 29,799 according to the 2010 census...
- May 24, 1993 in White Plains, New York
White Plains, New York
White Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound...
) was an American painter. His portrait of his cousin Senator Robert M. La Follette, Sr.
Robert M. La Follette, Sr.
Robert Marion "Fighting Bob" La Follette, Sr. , was an American Republican politician. He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, was the Governor of Wisconsin, and was also a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin...
hangs in the Senate Reception Room of he United States Capitol
United States Capitol
The United States Capitol is the meeting place of the United States Congress, the legislature of the federal government of the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., it sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall...
. Allyn Cox
Allyn Cox
Allyn Cox was an American artist known for his murals, including those he painted in the United States Capitol and the U. S. Department of State....
supervised the placement of the painting in the United States Capitol.
Family
Chester La Follette was a member of the politically prominent La Follette familyLa Follette family
The La Follette family is a family of politicians from the United States. Below is a list of members:*Robert M. La Follette, Sr. , District Attorney of Dane County, Wisconsin 1880-1884; U.S. Representative from Wisconsin 1885-1891; delegate to the Republican National Convention 1896, 1904; Governor...
. He was the son of Congressman William La Follette
William La Follette
William Leroy La Follette was a member of the United States House of Representatives representing Washington. He represented the 3rd District from 1911 to 1915, and the 4th District from 1915 to 1919....
and nephew of educator, industrialist Harvey Marion LaFollette
Harvey Marion LaFollette
Harvey Marion LaFollette was an Indiana teacher and educator who, as a young man, served two terms as Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction. He then moved to Tennessee where he established the town of LaFollette, Tennessee...
. He was the brother of Washington state attorney and legislator William Leroy LaFollette, Jr.
William Leroy LaFollette, Jr.
William LeRoy "Roy" LaFollette Jr. was a political figure and lawyer. He served in the Washington House of Representatives in the State Legislature. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Whitman County several times...
. The libertarian editor and writer Suzanne La Follette
Suzanne La Follette
Suzanne Clara La Follette was an American journalist and author who advocated for libertarian feminism in the first half of the 20th century. As an editor she helped found several magazines. She was an early and ardent feminist and a vocal anti communist.-Family:She was born in Washington state...
was his sister.
Early Years and Education
He was born in the Pacific NorthwestPacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
into a pioneer family. His grandparents had crossed the Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
into the Oregon Territory
Oregon Territory
The Territory of Oregon was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 14, 1848, until February 14, 1859, when the southwestern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Oregon. Originally claimed by several countries , the region was...
in the 1840s. His father had become one of the largest fruit exporters in the state of Washington before being elected to Congress in 1910. Chester completed his early education in Pullman
Pullman, Washington
Pullman is the largest city in Whitman County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,675 at the 2000 census and 29,799 according to the 2010 census...
and continued high school in Washington DC when his family relocated there. The two LaFollette families shared a large house that the Congressman had purchased, and Chester spent his teen age years in the midst of lively discussions of the great events of the day.[] During this period he was introduced to the sculptress Vinnie Ream
Vinnie Ream
Lavinia Ellen Ream Hoxie was an American sculptor. Her most famous work was the statue of Abraham Lincoln in the U.S. Capitol rotunda.-Early life:...
and was influenced by her passion and technique.