University in Norman in Cleveland County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)

Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 20, 2025

1. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art Marker

Inscription.

Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. . This building honors the memory of Fred Jones. Jr., a University of Oklahoma student who died tragically in 1950. Jones was a Business Administration Senior in the Class of 1951. It was his love for flying that led to his untimely death when the small plane he was piloting crashed on a trip to the Sugar Bowl. , Jones was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Jones, pioneer Oklahoma City business and civic leaders. In order to enhance the cultural life of the campus and to give students an opportunity to view outstanding works of art, Mr. and Mrs. Jones decided to honor their son by contributing funds to build the art museum and the new School of Art building. The University of Oklahoma Museum of Art was originally established in 1936 in what is now Jacobson Hall, which honored the museum's founding director Oscar B. Jacobson. The new museum opened in 1971 as the Fred Jones Jr. Memorial Art Center. Over a long period, Mrs. Fred Jones, Sr. played a leading role in expanding the museum's collections. , The museum's permanent collection contains extensive examples of American, Native American, European, and African art, as well as photography from the Sandor collection, sculpture, and ceramics. It also contains the Fleischaker, Thams, and Tate collections of works by Taos artists. The Weitzenhoffer collection of French Impressionist art was given to the museum as a gift of OU alumnus Max Weitzenhoffer and his parents, the late Clara and Aaron Weitzenhoffer. At the time of the gift, in the year 2000, it was the single most important gift of art ever given to a U.S. public university. , In early 2005, the new Mary and Howard Lester Wing of the museum was opened. It was made possible by generous gifts from friends and alumni including a lead gift of $2.5 million by Mary and Howard Lester. Durant, Oklahoma native and former OU student, Howard Lester is a nationally known philanthropist and business leader and was the founder of the Williams-Sonoma and Pottery Barn companies. , The museum is recognized as one of the most important university-based art museums in the nation.

This building honors the memory of Fred Jones. Jr., a University of Oklahoma student who died tragically in 1950. Jones was a Business Administration Senior in the Class of 1951. It was his love for flying that led to his untimely death when the small plane he was piloting crashed on a trip to the Sugar Bowl.

Jones was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Jones, pioneer Oklahoma City business and civic leaders. In order to enhance the cultural life of the campus and to give students an opportunity to view outstanding works of art, Mr. and Mrs. Jones decided to honor their son by contributing funds to build the art museum and the new School of Art building. The University of Oklahoma Museum of Art was originally established in 1936 in what is now Jacobson Hall, which honored the museum's founding director Oscar B. Jacobson. The new museum opened in 1971 as the Fred Jones Jr. Memorial Art Center. Over a long period, Mrs. Fred Jones, Sr. played a leading role in expanding the museum's collections.

The museum's permanent collection contains extensive examples of American, Native American, European, and African art, as well as

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photography from the Sandor collection, sculpture, and ceramics. It also contains the Fleischaker, Thams, and Tate collections of works by Taos artists. The Weitzenhoffer collection of French Impressionist art was given to the museum as a gift of OU alumnus Max Weitzenhoffer and his parents, the late Clara and Aaron Weitzenhoffer. At the time of the gift, in the year 2000, it was the single most important gift of art ever given to a U.S. public university.

In early 2005, the new Mary and Howard Lester Wing of the museum was opened. It was made possible by generous gifts from friends and alumni including a lead gift of $2.5 million by Mary and Howard Lester. Durant, Oklahoma native and former OU student, Howard Lester is a nationally known philanthropist and business leader and was the founder of the Williams-Sonoma and Pottery Barn companies.

The museum is recognized as one of the most important university-based art museums in the nation.

Erected by The University of Oklahoma.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Charity & Public Work • Education.

Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art Marker, Side Two image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 20, 2025

2. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art Marker, Side Two

In addition, it is included in the University of Oklahoma series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1950.

Location. 35° 12.658′ N, 97° 26.798′ W. Marker is in Norman, Oklahoma, in Cleveland County. It is in University. It is on West Boyd Street 0.1 miles east of Elm Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Norman OK 73069, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Oklahoma — Frontier Country

and in Greater Oklahoma City.

It is also in the American South,

specifically on the prairies,

and on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Charles M. Russell Center (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic Holmberg Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Donald W. Reynolds (within shouting distance of this marker); Boyd House

Fred Allison Jones, Jr. (1925-1950) image. Click for full size.

Unknown; in Oklahoma City Times, Dec. 26, 1950 via Metropolitan Library System

3. Fred Allison Jones, Jr. (1925-1950)

He and two other Sigma Alpha Epsilon members died Dec. 26, 1950 when the Beechcraft Bonanza he was piloting crashed south of Hope, Ark.

(within shouting distance of this marker); Donald W. Reynolds Performing Arts Center (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art (about 300 feet away); Whitehand Hall (about 400 feet away); The Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Norman.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 17, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 14, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 84 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 14, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3. submitted on July 13, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

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