The Fraser – Shaler Connection | Member-Written NOW Articles

As we close out 2013, we are reminded that this year has been the 100th anniversary of the Buffalo Nickel, one of America’s most beloved, artistic, and truly American coins. It is appropriate then, that we revisit the story about the creator of this numismatic masterpiece, and his fleeting, though everlasting tie to a small town in mid-Wisconsin.

James Earle Fraser is one of this country’s greatest sculptors whose work can be seen as public monuments and in architecture across America. His artistic accomplishments and acclaim cannot be overstated, yet, it is but two of his sculptures that are most recognizable to the majority of Americans. Both with Native American themes; the ‘Indian Head Nickel’ (better known as the Buffalo Nickel) and ‘End of the Trail’, the sculpture that captures the end of a way of life, the end of freedom for Native Americans and the relentless industrial expansion of the west.

The Fraser – Shaler Connection Fraser was born in Minnesota in 1876 and gradually moved west as his father worked for the expanding western railroads. His experiences on the frontier, and exposure to the plight of Native Americans made and indelible impression on young James, whose art reflected his memories. At age 17 he created the original model of ‘End of the Trail’, the diminutive sculpture measuring just eighteen inches in height. Over the next 20 years he perfected and educated himself in his craft, famously studying under Augustus St. Gaudens during this period. In 1914 he was approached to recreate ‘End of the Trail’ for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition held in San Francisco beginning in February of 1915. This ‘world’s fair’ if you will, was to be a celebration of the opening of the Panama Canal, but also a chance for San Francisco to showcase the beauty of its city and reconstruction after the earthquake of 1906. Fraser’s giant masterpiece, (17 ft. x 14 ft. x 5 ft.) sculpted in plaster, left the thousands upon thousands of patrons in mesmerized awe as they strolled through the expositions’ Palace of Fine Arts building.

One of those who was jolted by the beauty and poignancy of ‘End of the Trail’ was a philanthropist from Waupun, Wisconsin by the name of Clarence Addison Shaler. Born in Mackford Prairie, WI (just west of Waupun) on May 29, 1860, he attended Ripon College earning an M.A. and began manufacturing umbrellas of which he perfected and invented the ‘replaceable umbrella cover’. Among many other inventions he made a fortune with his ‘vulcanization’ of automobile tire patches in the early days of the auto industry. Shaler never forgot his encounter with ‘End of the Trail’ in 1915, nor did he ever forget his roots. The mid-to-late 1800’s were pioneering days in Wisconsin and he well remembered interacting with the native peoples of the area and their ultimate demise from industrial expansion. He shared Fraser’s admiration and empathy for the Native American people. So in 1927, he commissioned Fraser to cast the full size sculpture in bronze as a tribute to the native people. After two years, three tons of bronze, and $50,000, Shaler offered it as a gift to the City of Waupun where it was unveiled at its present site on June 23, 1929. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites.

In 1930, at the age of 70, Shaler took up sculpture as a hobby, which became a passion and his legacy is darted throughout Waupun. (He also has pieces in Ripon and as far away as California and Florida) Several of his sculptures reflect pioneer and Native American themes. All of this sculptural art compelled Waupun to express itself as the ‘City of Sculpture’, and rightly so. On a cool summer day you can easily walk the ‘sculpture tour’ in an hour or two, or take a leisurely drive. There are eight sculptures in all, one called the ‘Recording Angel’ by another famous American sculptor, Lorado Taft (also commissioned by Shaler), Fraser’s ‘End of the Trail’, and six others all done by Shaler. Don’t forget your picnic basket and camera for a brush with the creator of the Buffalo Nickel and a great day in Waupun, Wisconsin.

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