The statue of Athena was gift from the class of 1912, a copy of the original marble artwork that stands in the Vatican.
Originally erected in 1922 in an alcove of the Main Building auditorium, the statue was later moved into the Estill Library reading room in 1928.
Years later, and after suffering a few injuries, the statue moved into an art studio on Estill's third floor. Eventually the statue was placed into storage where it remained until rediscovered during the restoration of the Estill Building.
The statue was then moved to the reading room of the Peabody Library in 1997. It remained there until it the Peabody archives moved to the Gresham Library, and the statue was returned to the art department.
