Iowa City

The historic seven-foot, 1,500-pound bronze sculpture of Dr. Lulu Merle Johnson was unveiled last Saturday at the Johnson County Administration Building in Iowa City.

Despite creating many sculptures, the Lulu Merle Johnson sculpture was the largest ever made at the foundry.

Before the statue was completed, Johnson’s great-niece, Sonya Jackson, and other members of the family worked closely with the county to help preserve Johnson’s memory and legacy.

Johnson attended the University of Iowa and became the first Black woman in Iowa to earn a Ph.D.

She earned three degrees from the University of Iowa, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in history in 1929, a Master of Arts in 1930 and her Ph.D. in 1941.

Details on the statue

Looking closely at the statue, Johnson can be seen holding her diploma, which represents her legacy in the classroom and her historic achievement of becoming the first Black woman in Iowa to earn a Ph.D.

The statue also depicts Johnson wearing a dress along with her cap and gown, representing her academic accomplishments and the three degrees she earned from the University of Iowa.

Steve Maxon and his team at Max-Cast created the sculpture, while Will Thomson of Armadillo Arts assisted with the project.

Thomson was responsible for the design and renderings used for the sculpture.

Those interested in seeing the statue can visit the Johnson County Administration Building in Iowa City, where it is on permanent display.

Johnson County namesake

In 2021, Johnson County changed its namesake to honor Lulu Merle Johnson.

Prior to the change, the county was named after former Vice President and slaveholder Richard Mentor Johnson, who was from Kentucky and never visited Iowa.

After conducting research and debating whether the county should change its namesake, officials decided they no longer wanted the county associated with Richard Mentor Johnson. In June 2021, Lulu Merle Johnson officially became the county’s new namesake.

Dr. Lulu Merle Johnson’s career

Throughout her career, Johnson taught at several schools, including Talladega College in Alabama, Tougaloo College in Mississippi, Florida A&M University in Florida, West Virginia State College in West Virginia and Cheyney State University in Pennsylvania.

In 1941, Johnson created the course “The Negro in American Life,” which she continued teaching during her career before retiring in 1971.

 Johnson died in 1995, and 31 years later, her life and accomplishments have been honored by the county with a permanent bronze sculpture.

The process of creating the statue

In 2022, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors initiated the project to create a statue honoring Lulu Merle Johnson. In 2024, the county hired Steve Maxon of Max-Cast in Kalona to create the seven-foot sculpture.

Each member of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors attended the dedication ceremony, including Chair Jon Green, who served as the main speaker.

Former board member Royceann Porter, who played a role in the county changing its namesake, was unable to attend but provided a statement for the ceremony.

“This permanent tribute ensures that Dr. Johnson’s legacy will endure. Today’s dedication represents what can happen when we recognize a story that has been overlooked for far too long. Thank you for helping preserve Dr. Johnson’s legacy and ensuring that her story will continue to inspire future generations.”

Jackson also attended the ceremony and spoke about how, despite her great-aunt not receiving a position in Iowa, Johnson went on to have a lengthy teaching career.

“She never received the job, but she created the course and continued teaching for 30 years. Now, 85 years later, Iowa has honored her legacy in bronze.”

University of Iowa Assistant Professor of History and African American Studies Dr. Ashley Howard also spoke during the ceremony, describing Johnson’s life and legacy.

“History is both an act of imagination and investigation, exploring how things change over time. Dr. Lulu Merle Johnson is a testament to that commitment through her scholarship, her life in this community and the long journey that led to the celebration.”

Following the unveiling, Jackson thanked those who helped make the project possible and expressed her appreciation for the statue honoring her great-aunt.

“Thank you to the Johnson County Board of Supervisors, to Steve Maxon and the entire Max-Cast team who put her in bronze, to Melissa Roberts, Allison Jones, the Johnson County staff who made this happen.”

Max-Cast

Max-Cast is located at 611 B Ave in Kalona and has been in operation for 43 years after being founded by Maxon in 1983.

The Kalona foundry creates bronze sculptures such as the Lulu Merle Johnson statue, along with smaller sculptures that are available for purchase.

Those interested in learning more about Max-Cast, its sculptures or having a sculpture created can contact the foundry at (319) 242-3253.