Thomas Gibson Crawford (March 22, 1813/14 - October 10, 1857) was a sculptor who was born in New York City, the son of Aaron & Mary (Gibson) Crawford. He went to Rome to study sculpture in 1835 and made that city his home, visiting America only rarely. His major accomplishments include the figure above the dome of the United States Capitol entitled Freedom, and the bronze doors and pediment statues for the Senate wing.
Crawford died of cancer, in London, where he had gone for treatment on October 10, 1857 before Freedom was completed, and another artist finished the fine details. Another major work is "Orpheus and Cerebus" (1843), displayed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. He was married to Louisa Cutler Ward, a sister of Julia Ward Howe, and by her had four children. His only son was the writer Francis Marion Crawford. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki:
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Processed by Cynthia L. Barwick in 1984.
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Thomas Crawford Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Two undated letters of Thomas Crawford, American sculptor, to William F. Ritchie (discussing exhibits in Washington, D.C. and Richmond, Va.) and to G. W. Greene (asking him to visit).
2 items.
[Thomas] Crawford, n.p., to G. W. Greene, n.p. 1 p. ANS. Requests that he visit tomorrow at noon, as his illness is serious, undated. Tho[ma]s Crawford, n.p., to William F. Ritchie, n.p., undated, 1 p. ANS. Incomplete. Mentions exhibition in Washington, [D.C.], and hopes for the upcoming one in Richmond, [Va.].