Sam Butcher
Encyclopedia
Samuel J. Butcher is an American
artist
. He is mainly known as the artist behind the Precious Moments brand of characters based on American-Christian
themes. He draws in oil, water-color, acrylic, and mixed-mediums.
, the third of five children born to a poor family. Soon after, the family moved to Redding, California
. (PMI 2005a http://preciousmoments.com/)
As a young man, Sam was a "chalkboard minister", spreading the teachings of Christianity
through illustrations. This job paid very little, so Sam supplemented his income as a janitor
.
With the guide of Rev. Royal Blue, Sam made the decision to follow deeper into Christianity. He joined the Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) in Grand Rapids, Michigan
. There he met Bill Biel, with whom Sam would start his first business, Jonathan & David (J&D). During his ten year career with the CEF, Sam's work was seen by millions of people through the "Tree House Club" television programs. (PMC 2005)
oil-paintings to comic strips. These works can be observed at the Precious Moments Chapel in Carthage, Missouri
.
Some time before 1978, Sam met Eugene Freedman
at a Christian trade show in Los Angeles, California
. (Teepee 2005)
The three major products carried by J&D were greeting cards, porcelain figurines, and vinyl dolls. It was when J&D sourced the vinyl dolls in Asia that Sam fell in love with the Philippines
. In 1981 Sam and Bill traveled to The Philippines, where they gave financial assistance to a Bible college. (Butcher, J. 2005)
It was after that time that Sam and Bill went separate ways. J&D relinquished its greeting card business, passed its porcelain products to Enesco
, and abruptly stopped producing vinyl dolls. The doll business would be reborn as Precious Moments Country Dolls in 1989 - renamed Precious Moments Company Dolls in 1992. (PMC 2005)
With the success of the Precious Moments series, Butcher founded the Samuel J. Butcher Foundation and Precious Moments, Inc. (PMI). In 1989, he completed the construction of the Precious Moments Chapel. He privately funded the purchase of land on an island near Manila
(Sampaguita Gardens in Aklan
), and built a hotel resort. Through this resort Sam provides employment and training opportunities for people from Aklan and students from other provinces in Western Visayas.
Later in his adult life, he moved to St. Charles, Illinois
and lived with his children.
Yet he began to spend more and more time in his resort in The Philippines as the success of Precious Moments rose. At the height of popularity, Sam fell ill due to strokes brought on by self-medicating - his children brought him back to the States, where he was diagnosed bipolar and treated. He then returned to the Philippines. (PMCOM 2005)
When Sam decided to deal with his grief by returning to art, everyone around him was relieved. But what many did not notice was how intensely he put himself into his drawings. He worked tirelessly day and night on paintings in what is now called Phillip's Room at the Chapel. According to Chapel employees who watched Sam, "it was as though he was possessed by depression and anger. Finally, his body and mind could take it no more. Sam broke down, and stopped."
Sam's children urged their father to take better care of himself, and took over all business responsibilities at PMI. Sam left for The Philippines and would not return for some time.
Sam is known to make appearances at the Precious Moments Chapel in Carthage during the summer for the Precious Moments Family Reunion events. Unfortunately, because of his unstable health, fans are not able to verify his attendance prior to joining the event. (Chapel 2004)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
. He is mainly known as the artist behind the Precious Moments brand of characters based on American-Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
themes. He draws in oil, water-color, acrylic, and mixed-mediums.
Childhood
Samuel John Butcher was born in Jackson, MichiganJackson, Michigan
Jackson is a city located along Interstate 94 in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan, about west of Ann Arbor and south of Lansing. It is the county seat of Jackson County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534...
, the third of five children born to a poor family. Soon after, the family moved to Redding, California
Redding, California
Redding is a city in far-Northern California. It is the county seat of Shasta County, California, USA. With a population of 89,861, according to the 2010 Census...
. (PMI 2005a http://preciousmoments.com/)
As a young man, Sam was a "chalkboard minister", spreading the teachings of Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
through illustrations. This job paid very little, so Sam supplemented his income as a janitor
Janitor
A janitor or custodian is a professional who takes care of buildings, such as hospitals and schools. Janitors are responsible primarily for cleaning, and often some maintenance and security...
.
With the guide of Rev. Royal Blue, Sam made the decision to follow deeper into Christianity. He joined the Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
. There he met Bill Biel, with whom Sam would start his first business, Jonathan & David (J&D). During his ten year career with the CEF, Sam's work was seen by millions of people through the "Tree House Club" television programs. (PMC 2005)
Precious Moments
In 1974 he created the now-famous Precious Moments drawings for J&D, which was introduced to the market a year later. Before that, Butcher created many other pieces of work, from kitschKitsch
Kitsch is a form of art that is considered an inferior, tasteless copy of an extant style of art or a worthless imitation of art of recognized value. The concept is associated with the deliberate use of elements that may be thought of as cultural icons while making cheap mass-produced objects that...
oil-paintings to comic strips. These works can be observed at the Precious Moments Chapel in Carthage, Missouri
Carthage, Missouri
Carthage is a city in Jasper County, Missouri, United States. The population was 14,378 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Jasper County and is nicknamed "America's Maple Leaf City."...
.
Some time before 1978, Sam met Eugene Freedman
Eugene Freedman
Eugene Freedman was an entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is widely known as the founder of the Enesco Corporation, the worldwide distributor for Precious Moments porcelain figurines between 1997 and 2005.-Early life and education:Born in Philadelphia, Freedman grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin...
at a Christian trade show in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. (Teepee 2005)
The three major products carried by J&D were greeting cards, porcelain figurines, and vinyl dolls. It was when J&D sourced the vinyl dolls in Asia that Sam fell in love with the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. In 1981 Sam and Bill traveled to The Philippines, where they gave financial assistance to a Bible college. (Butcher, J. 2005)
It was after that time that Sam and Bill went separate ways. J&D relinquished its greeting card business, passed its porcelain products to Enesco
Enesco
Enesco is an American company specializing in the sales and distribution of giftware. The company was known as an industry leader during the 1970s, '80s, and '90s, as it carried the Precious Moments porcelain figurine line of products.-History:...
, and abruptly stopped producing vinyl dolls. The doll business would be reborn as Precious Moments Country Dolls in 1989 - renamed Precious Moments Company Dolls in 1992. (PMC 2005)
With the success of the Precious Moments series, Butcher founded the Samuel J. Butcher Foundation and Precious Moments, Inc. (PMI). In 1989, he completed the construction of the Precious Moments Chapel. He privately funded the purchase of land on an island near Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
(Sampaguita Gardens in Aklan
Aklan
Aklan is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas. Its capital is Kalibo. It is located at the northwest portion of Panay Island, bordering Antique Province to the southwest, and Capiz Province to the east...
), and built a hotel resort. Through this resort Sam provides employment and training opportunities for people from Aklan and students from other provinces in Western Visayas.
Later in his adult life, he moved to St. Charles, Illinois
St. Charles, Illinois
St. Charles is a Chicago suburb in Kane and DuPage counties of Illinois, United States, and is roughly west of Chicago on Illinois Route 64. According to a 2004 census estimate, the city has a total population of 32,134. The official city slogan is Pride of the Fox, after the Fox River that runs...
and lived with his children.
Yet he began to spend more and more time in his resort in The Philippines as the success of Precious Moments rose. At the height of popularity, Sam fell ill due to strokes brought on by self-medicating - his children brought him back to the States, where he was diagnosed bipolar and treated. He then returned to the Philippines. (PMCOM 2005)
Death of his Son
While Sam was in The Philippines on business, his 27-year-old son Phillip was killed. Sam turned inward, started drinking heavily, and could not pursue his interests in art. Sam did not show his feelings. He gave the eulogy at Phillip's funeral with a gleaming face. He could not deal with his grief. (TCF 1999)When Sam decided to deal with his grief by returning to art, everyone around him was relieved. But what many did not notice was how intensely he put himself into his drawings. He worked tirelessly day and night on paintings in what is now called Phillip's Room at the Chapel. According to Chapel employees who watched Sam, "it was as though he was possessed by depression and anger. Finally, his body and mind could take it no more. Sam broke down, and stopped."
Sam's children urged their father to take better care of himself, and took over all business responsibilities at PMI. Sam left for The Philippines and would not return for some time.
Today
Currently, Sam Butcher resides in The Philippines while his sons, Jon and Don, control PMI and most of his artistic assets.Sam is known to make appearances at the Precious Moments Chapel in Carthage during the summer for the Precious Moments Family Reunion events. Unfortunately, because of his unstable health, fans are not able to verify his attendance prior to joining the event. (Chapel 2004)
Sources and references
- CIO Insight. Precious Little Time. http://www.cioinsight.com/article2/0,1540,1869514,00.asp (retrieved December 2005).
- "We Need Not Walk Alone". TCF Magazine Special Anniversary Edition. Loder, Wayne. 1999. http://www.tcfatlanta.org/Precious.html (retrieved March 14, 2006).
- Butcher, Jon. Interview. Jun. 2004~Oct. 2004.
- Butcher, Sam & Butcher, Jon. Interview. Oct. 2004.
- Precious Moments Chapel employees et al., the. Interview. Jun. 2004.
- Precious Moments Community Website (PMCOM). http://www.preciousmomentscommunity.com/ (retrieved Dec. 25, 2005).
- Precious Moments Company Dolls (PMC). http://www.pmcdolls.com/museum/cohistory.html (retrieved Jan. 2005).
- Precious Moments Inc. (PMI a). How We Started: Samuel J. Butcher's Story. http://preciousmoments.com/about/story/ (retrieved July 1, 2005).
- Precious Moments Inc. et al. (PMI b) Moments: the official publication of the Precious Moments Collectors' Club by PMI. October 2005.
- Siytangco-Masigan, Sandee. "workbook: Precious Faith". August 31, 2004. http://www.herword.com/workbook/masigan08.31.04.html
- Teepee. Precious Moments History. www.tepee.com/pm/pmhistory.html
- Women of Faith. Sam Butcher