The Google Doodle of George Peabody that appeared on the Google homepage on March 16, 2018.
Last month, designers from the Google Doodle project visited George Peabody Elementary School on 6th Avenue to debut a new mural at the school, commemorating the school’s namesake.
The large mural was installed inside the school’s cafeteria, and pays tribute to Peabody’s life for which he is widely considered “the father of modern philanthropy.”
- During his life, Peabody immersed himself in public causes, with a particular focus on educational initiatives. In fact, it was on this day in 1867 that he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal after donating $2,000,000 (upwards of $30,000,000 today!) for the advancement of education, an act of generosity made all the more impressive by the fact that he left school at the age of 11. It’s believed that Peabody gifted over $8,000,000 in the course of his lifetime, about half of his $16,000,000 fortune.
Peabody earned his fortune by first opening a local general store in Massachusetts in the early 1800s. His experience in the dry goods business expanded and led to international trade in London, where he would eventually work as a banker and settle in 1837. In that role, Peabody accumulated great wealth and his involvement in both the American and English business and social scenes provided him widespread recognition.
The final mural inside the school’s cafeteria.
The mural artwork also appeared as a Doodle on the Google homepage on March 16, 2018. The mural came from a collaboration between Google Doodle designers and George Peabody Elementary students, and went through many iterations before it was finalized. Watch the timelapse video below of the mural’s painting.
Thanks to the Richmond Review for the tip.
Sarah B.
Early concepts of the George Peabody mural / Google Doodle