Articles of Interest

The Internet provides a vast resource for historical research and commentary on the arts. We come across many articles relating to mountain man art and when we feel it is appropriate we like to republish these on the Mountain Man Bronzes by BR Pettit web site. 

Below you will find a complete list of articles that are currently republished on this site. If you have an article or editorial that you feel would be appropriate please contact us at wittigwriter@gmail.com.  

Here you will also find historic articles about Bill Williams, and news about BR Pettit (Bill Pettit, Billy Ray Pettit) of Williams, AZ.

The artist, a Northern Arizona University (NAU) graduate, created Mountain Man motif bronze sculptures, monuments and statues of William Sherley Williams and other mountain men characters. The Arizonan artist's most famous piece stands sentinel at "The Gateway to the Grand Canyon" in Williams,  Arizona and has become a Route 66 icon.

• Pettit's Bronze Work is Back
  
  Bill Williams AKA William Sherley Williams is the mountain man fur trapper depicted by Arizona artist B R Pettit in his iconic bronze statue entitled "William Sherley Williams: Ole Bill Williams" located in Williams, AZ. Control Number: IAS AZ000467 Repository: Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
• Photos of B R Pettit's Work in the News
  
  B R Pettit's sculpture apears in the Oval Office, on the Capitol Steps and in the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.
• Local Mountain Man Immortalized at Sedona Foundry
  
  Sedona Red Rock News publishes article and photos about Lee Henson's trip to Artscape Bronze Casting with Laurha Beveridge, the artists' widow. They are researching the recasting of the mountain man reenactor's bust by dead artist Bill Pettit.
• The silent sentinel of Williams
  
  Bill Williams is the silent sentinel of Williams, AZ. The bronze monument of the famous mountain man was created by Arizona artist Bill Pettit in 1980. B R Pettit studied under Winthrop Williams at Northern Arizona University (NAU).
• Bill Williams, Mountain Man of the Santa Fe Trail
  
  Bill Williams, mountain man and scout, is featured in the 1893 book entitled "The Santa Fe Trail: The story of a Great Highway."
• Bill Williams, Mountain Man as told by C G McGhee
  
  Bill Williams was the guide for the ill-fated 1848 Fremont Expedition. C G McGhee gives his first hand account of the expedition in this excerpt from his book, Rough Times in Rough Places.
• Bill Williams Monument Plans Unveiled
  
  Bill Williams monument plans are unveiled in this March 15, 1979 Williams Newspaper article. Arizona artist Bill Pettit ( B R Pettit) works with Winthrop Williams, professor at Northern Arizona University (NAU) to design the Bill Williams (William Shirley Williams)monument sponsored by the Williams Grand Canyon Chamber of Commerce, the Bill Williams Mountain Men and the City of Williams.
• Monument Fund Off to Good Start
  
  Williams, AZ raises money for Bill Williams monument. Artist B.R. (Bill) Pettit estimates cost for building bronze statue of mountain man Bill Williams in Williams, Arizona to be $3500.