Story by Logan Jackson
- Abby Plenge – senior constitutional democracy and history double major
- Research Mentor: Kristin Schwain, professor in the School of Visual Studies; art history coordinator; affiliate faculty in the Honors College
As a senior constitutional democracy major, Abby Plenge has spent countless hours on the fourth floor of Jesse Hall, the home of the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy. While the entire space has served as a special place for Plenge, there is one spot that has always been a bit more unique – the fishbowl.
A study space utilized by constitutional democracy students, the fishbowl features a decades-old mural painted by James P. Hatfield, a Mizzou graduate and longtime college professor. During Plenge’s time as a marketing ambassador for the Kinder Institute, her curiosity about the mural grew. The Cherng Summer Scholars program has given her the opportunity to dive deeper into the history of the painting as well as how the fourth floor of Jesse Hall has changed over the years.
“I am always looking for cool stories to share about the fourth floor because it’s so special to so many students,” said Plenge, who is also pursuing a degree in history. “I had always been interested in the mural, but as I kept searching for potential features, that curiosity grew. It seemed like a perfect subject to research over the summer.”
The Cherng Summer Scholars program, supported by a gift from Peggy and Andrew Cherng, is a nine-week research or creative scholarship program for Mizzou students pursuing the Honors Certificate. The program allows students to participate in individually designed projects under the mentorship of a Mizzou faculty member. Students also take part in a weekly seminar course and present their research findings during Mizzou Office of Undergraduate Research’s Summer Forum.
“The program is neat for me because I’ve been able to see all the ways that ambition can be applied in so many different disciplines,” Plenge said. “All of the students are highly motivated and highly intelligent, and it just motivates me to work even harder. It’s also exciting to come together every week to discuss our projects and support each other.”
There are three components to Plenge’s project. The first is focused on creating a microhistory surrounding the mural, which was uncovered a decade ago during renovations to the fourth floor of Jesse Hall hidden behind wooden pegboards. That primarily involves doing a deep dive into Hatfield and his impact at Mizzou and beyond. Hatfield earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Mizzou and a master’s degree in art. He was a middle school art instructor in Columbia, and, along with his mural on the fourth floor of Jesse Hall, he also had an exhibition on the second floor that included around 20 watercolor paintings and other sketches of Columbia and Trenton, Missouri, where he was from.
Hatfield later went to Colorado where he taught art at a university for more than 30 years.
“There wasn’t a ton known about Hatfield, so it’s been rewarding to research his history and what all he accomplished,” Plenge said. “I’m still working to figure out why he was chosen to take on such a big project and if he has any other connections to prominent Missouri artists during that era.”
The next level centers on researching what all was going on in the art department at Mizzou during the 1940s. Plenge said there were some hugely impactful artists and others employed by the university at that time, such as Frederick Shane. Another aspect of this phase involves documenting how the fourth floor of Jesse Hall has transformed over the years. She said it has been home to a variety of departments and programs.
“The space means so much to me and others; I really consider it my second home,” Plenge said. “It’s been rewarding to be part of preserving the history of this space.”
The final part of Plenge’s project explores the art industry on a national level during the 1940s.
Plenge’s research mentor is Kristin Schwain, a professor in the School of Visual Studies and art history coordinator. Schwain is also affiliate faculty in the Honors College. This is Plenge’s first foray into a project of this nature, and she said she was thankful to have the support of Schwain and the Honors College behind her.
“Without this opportunity, I would have never had a chance to lead a project of this nature,” Plenge said. “I’ve met so many incredible people and been exposed to the numerous paths I could take with my areas of interest. One of my goals for the year was to publish something, and I’m thrilled that the Honors College gets to be part of that story. This has been an amazing experience overall.”