By Melinda J. Overstreet / Glasgow News 1
The first woman to be honored with a statue in the Kentucky Capitol Rotunda is a Barren County native.
Though Nettie Depp never married or gave birth to children of her own, among her indirect descendants are the artist inspired to sculpt the statue, a school system superintendent, a well-known local historian, a circuit judge and even a movie star by the same last name, some of whom were in Frankfort on Thursday to witness the unveiling of her likeness.
This statue of the late Barren County educator Nettie Depp stands in the Kentucky Capitol Rotunda. Photo courtesy of Peter Menner
This statue of the late Barren County educator Nettie Depp stands in the Kentucky Capitol Rotunda. Photo courtesy of Peter Menner
Depp also left in her wake countless children whom she influenced through her professional career, which is what led her being chosen for this special honor in the commonwealth’s capital, which was certainly not the first significant recognition afforded her.
In mid-2013, a historical marker was erected at the southwest corner of the Barren County Courthouse lawn, diagonally across from what was then the Barren County Board of Education building. The marker states: “Nettie B.C. Depp (1874-1932) The first female public official in Barren [County], she was elected in 1913, seven years before women were allowed to vote. She was Barren Co. schools superintendent from 1914-1917. Instrumental in unifying local schools to create county’s first 4-year high school, housed in former Liberty College, Glasgow. During her time as superintendent, she introduced a uniform curricula for all schools, improved and repaired local one-room schools, and built seven new school houses. She was later principal at Cave City School until 1923. She was asked to run for re-election as superintendent, but declined. Taught school in Scottsvillle from 1923-31.
“It was truly a special moment for Barren County Schools, Nettie Depp’s family and certainly for me,” said Bo Matthews, current BCS superintendent and a great-great-nephew of Depp’s, through correspondence. “Nettie Depp was a visionary and champion of education. I’ve often thought of her accomplishments and drive for continuous improvement. She set the bar extremely high in all that she did. She’s a tremendous example of perseverance and tenacity. She helped remove barriers for women at the turn of the century and pressed for educational equity for all. Her leadership inspires leaders, including me, to this day! Knowing that Nettie Depp, who worked to better the lives of the people she served, now stands in our capital is an incredible source of pride to me. I’m honored to be her great, great nephew! It’s been a blessing to follow in her footsteps as the Superintendent of Barren County Schools. Generations to come will see her statue in the rotunda and learn about the impact of this special lady.”
He also specially noted that Amanda Matthews, the sculptor, is a great-great-niece and local historian Sam Terry is a great-great-nephew of Depp’s.
This statue of the late Barren County educator Nettie Depp stands in the Kentucky Capitol Rotunda. Photo courtesy of Peter Menner
Terry was also at the unveiling of the sculpture and passed along photos of the statue taken by Peter Menner, the husband of one of his cousins.
“It was very meaningful to be witness to the historical occasion of a woman being recognized in the Kentucky state capitol with a statue,” he said, noting the building’s existence since 1910. “So that was important, but it was also important to me as a great-great-nephew who has been the person who possesses her memoirs and her personal effects.”
Terry said he’s researched Depp and her life over the past 42 years and published a book highlighting that research a few years ago.
“A third aspect is simply being from Barren County and being so pleased that a Barren County native happened to be person for this honor,” he said.
Terry said he was extremely pleased with the sculpture when he got to see it in person after having received progress photos all through the process of its creation.
“Seeing it in its finished state was really quite amazing. The detail and all the symbolism that’s included there is really quite impressive,” he said.
For example, the broach shown on the likeness “is actually copied from a broach that appears on her in a photograph, and I have that broach minus the cameo stone that apparently was lost many many years ago.”
He said his great-great-aunt also wore a signet ring that was made part of the statue.
Gubernatorial press release
A press release from the governor’s office hailed the event as well, stating that Gov. Andy Beshear, along with Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, First Lady Britainy Beshear and members of the Monumental Women of Kentucky Committee, joined to officially unveil the long-awaited statue.
“Nettie Depp was a pioneer in the field of public education in Kentucky, serving as an elected school superintendent in Barren County seven years before women were given the right to vote,” Gov. Beshear said. “She is a distinguished Kentucky public figure, and we are proud to honor her with the first monument of a Kentucky woman installed in the statehouse.”
The nearly 7-foot-tall bronze statue of Depp now stands in the vestibule of the west entrance to the State Capitol building. It is adjacent to the hallway that displays the more than 60 portraits that comprise the Kentucky Women Remembered exhibit, which was installed in the West Wing of the Capitol in 1996. Until now, the only other permanently installed marker in the Capitol honoring a woman is a plaque featuring the likeness of the late Thelma Stovall, who in 1975 was the first woman elected lieutenant governor of Kentucky.
The Depp statue is now situated outside the entrance to Coleman’s office.
“As a young girl, I would often come to Frankfort with my father to visit the Capitol and, even at a young age, I was struck by the absence of women among those who were chosen to be honored with a statue,” said the lieutenant governor. “My young daughter and others like her will not remember a time that the Capitol did not include a permanent monument honoring a Kentucky woman. And as a teacher myself, I also think it’s serendipitous that her dedication comes just as we prepare to celebrate American Education Week.”
The Nettie Depp project has been in development since 2014, and the statue’s installation was first approved by the Historic Properties Advisory Commission in 2017 as a good representative of Kentucky women who have achieved personal and professional success. HPAC is the state entity responsible for developing criteria for displaying works of art in the Capitol, including sculptures, busts, plaques, paintings or portraits of Kentuckians of significance to the commonwealth. The unveiling of the Depp statue was originally scheduled for August 2020, but installation was postponed due to the COVID-19 worldwide health pandemic and widespread electrical and mechanical work that was completed as part of the ongoing Capitol restoration project, the press release continued.
The Depp statue was created by artist Amanda Matthews of Lexington, an internationally recognized, award-winning sculptor and designer of public art and CEO of Prometheus Foundry LLC.
Her idea for the Nettie Depp statue originated in September 2014 while she was researching gender equity issues. At that time, she became keenly aware of the lack of public statuary honoring the contributions of Kentucky women and pledged to remedy this omission. As a descendant of Depp’s, Matthews committed financial resources from The Artemis Initiative, a nonprofit she runs with her husband, Brad Connell, which was established to create and install public art to elevate the status of women, children, minorities, nature and animals. No state taxpayer dollars were used for the creation of the monument, the press released states.
“Years ago, I began a mission as a public artist to lift up muffled voices of our history, to reveal more faces and tell more stories of those who have been silenced and marginalized,” Matthews said. “Nettie Depp was a stalwart education reformer in Kentucky who used her powerful voice on behalf of public education for all children. She also advocated for teachers, suffrage and public service. My hope is that this sculpture not only honors Depp, but serves as a proxy for other unsung Kentucky heroes who dedicate their lives to their communities in service to others. Today, together, we change the trajectory of 230 years of Kentucky history.”
More about Depp
The historical marker in Glasgow honoring Nettie Depp is positioned across the street from what was the home of the Barren County Board of Education when the marker was erected on the southwest lawn of the Barren County Courthouse. Melinda J. Overstreet / Glasgow News 1
The press release continues with the following additional biographical information: Born on Nov. 21, 1874, in Barren County, Nettie Bayless Courts Depp was the daughter of John Burks Depp, a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives, and Mariba Elizabeth Reneau. One of six children, she was educated in the Barren County common schools and graduated from the Liberty Female College in Glasgow. Throughout her professional career as an educator, Depp supported fair pay for schoolteachers and was a tireless advocate for public education. … Depp died of breast cancer in 1932 at the age of 57.
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