»Chapman University Collection of Historical Figures

All across the Chapman campus, busts of historic figures showcase our nation’s history and notable individuals from around the world. The large majority of the busts that adorn our campus highlight a tradition to mark the establishment of a new endowed chair, which is among the highest honors that can be bestowed on a faculty member. This longstanding tradition reflects the often-eclectic sources of inspiration of the donors themselves and has resulted in the diverse array of busts we see on campus today.

Chapman has an unwavering commitment to foster a rigorous intellectual community for our students and to provide an environment in which they can go beyond just learning facts to develop their own views and grow their own value system. This is best done by being confronted with discordant ideologies, and by studying the imperfect history that provides a foundation for creative influence on this world, this country and this university.

To truly offer an exemplary educational experience, a university is bound to expose students to ideas, images, art and history they may dislike or even find objectionable, while at the same time providing a safe place to debate and engage in civil discourse so we can learn together and grow in each other’s viewpoints. 

Follow the links on this website to learn more about the iconic figures behind the busts. Commentary by Chapman faculty experts provides critical context for intellectually robust discussions of the complex roles these individuals played in the broad sweep of history.

bust of A.P. GianniniA.P. Giannini
bust of Abraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln
bust of Adam SmithAdam Smith
bust of Albert SchweitzerAlbert Schweitzer
bust of Alexander HamiltonAlexander Hamilton
bust of Arnold O. BeckmanArnold O. Beckman
bust of Ayn RandAyn Rand
bust of Benito JuarezBenito Juarez
bust of Cecil B. DemilleCecil B. Demille
bust of Dale E. FowlerDale E. Fowler
bust of Diane J. RinkerDiane J. Rinker
bust of Donald P. KennedyDonald P. Kennedy
bust of Donald WillDonald Will
bust of Donna Ford AttallahDonna Ford Attallah
bust of Elie WieselElie Wiesel
bust of Ella FitzgeraldElla Fitzgerald
bust of Ethel MermanEthel Merman
bust of Fahmy AttallahFahmy Attallah
bust of Fra Luca PacioliFra Luca Pacioli
bust of George L. ArgyrosGeorge L. Argyros
bust of George P. ShultzGeorge P. Shultz
bust of George WashingtonGeorge Washington
bust of Giacomo PucciniGiacomo Puccini
bust of Harry S. RinkerHarry S. Rinker
bust of Henri TemiankaHenri Temianka
bust of James MadisonJames Madison
bust of Joseph C. SodaroJoseph C. Sodaro
bust of Madame Marie CurieMadame Marie Curie
bust of Margaret ThatcherMargaret Thatcher
bust of Marion KnottMarion Knott
bust of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.Martin Luther King, Jr.
bust of Milton FriedmanMilton Friedman
bust of Nadia Murad Basee TahaNadia Murad Basee Taha
photo of Paulo FreirePaulo Freire
bust of R.C. HoilesR.C. Hoiles
bust of Ronald ReaganRonald W. Reagan
bust of Sandra Day O'ConnorSandra Day O'Connor
bust of Thurgood MarshallThurgood Marshall
bust of Winston ChurchillWinston Churchill
bust of Wolfgang Amadeus MozartWolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Collection of Historical Figures Map

View the map locations of the Collection of Historical Figures statues located throughout the Chapman campuses.