Marilyn Stokstad

Marilyn Stokstad (February 16, 1929 – March 4, 2016) was a scholar of medieval and Spanish art, Judith Harris Murphy Distinguished Professor Emerita of Art History at the University of Kansas, and an author of art-history textbooks, including "Art History." First published in 1995, "Art History" was widely adopted at colleges and universities throughout the country and is currently in its fifth edition. In February 2016, Time Magazine named Dr. Stokstad 32nd of the 100 most-read female authors in college classrooms.

Stokstad received a lifetime achievement award from the National Women’s Caucus for Art, Kansas Arts Commission Governor’s Arts Award as the Kansas Art Educator of the Year, Chancellors Club Career Teaching Award, and an honorary degree of doctor of humane letters by Carleton College. She served as a consulting curator of medieval art for the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Mo.

From 1961-1968, she was director of the Spencer Museum of Art at the University of Kansas, where she started her illustrious career in 1958 in the Department of Art History. Dr. Stokstad remained in the department for the entirety of her career, advancing to associate professor in 1962 and full professor in 1966. In December 2012, she contributed a lead gift to establish an endowed directorship at the Museum. From 1978-1980, she was president of the College Art Association, having served as the organization's vice president from 1976-1978 and its secretary in 1974.

Stokstad was born in Lansing and received her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan with a dissertation on "The Pórtico de la Gloria of the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela." She earned her master's degree from Michigan State University with a thesis on "Norwegian Mural Painting from 1910 to 1950."Dr. Stokstad spent a year at the University of Oslo in Norway as a Fulbright Fellow after receiving her B.A. from Carleton College in 1950. She died in Lawrence, Kansas at the age of 87 on March 4, 2016.

Upon her death, Stokstad bequeathed $1.1 million to the University of Kansas.

Books

• Stokstad, M., Grayson, M. S., & Addiss, S. (2011). Art history. 4th ed. (1st ed. 1995, 2nd ed., 2002, 3rd ed., 2008) New York: H.N. Abrams. ISBN 978-0-8109-1960-0
• Stokstad, M. (2004). Medieval art. 2nd ed. (1st ed. 1985) Boulder, Colo: Westview Press. ISBN 978-0-8133-3681-7
• Orel, H., Stokstad, M., & Snyder, H. L. (1981). The Scottish world: history and culture of Scotland. New York: Abrams. ISBN 978-0-8109-1630-2
• Stokstad, M. (1978). Santiago de Compostela in the age of the great pilgrimages. The Centers of civilization series. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 978-0-8061-1454-5
• Reviews, The Catholic historical review. 84, no. 4, (1998): 734
• Enggass, R., & Stokstad, M. (1974). Hortus imaginum: essays in Western art. Lawrence: University of Kansas. OCLC 1689214
• Stokstad, M. (2005). Medieval castles. Greenwood guides to historic events of the medieval world. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press. ISBN 978-0-313-32525-0
• Stokstad, M., & Stannard, J. (1983). Gardens of the Middle Ages. Lawrence: Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas. OCLC 9681549
• Stokstad, M. (1968). Renaissance art outside Italy. Art horizons series. Dubuque, Iowa: W.C. Brown. OCLC 438469

Exhibition catalogs

• Broun, E., Benton, T. H., Hyland, D., & Stokstad, M. (1980). Benton's Bentons: selections from the Thomas Hart Benton and Rita P. Benton trusts : catalogue and essays. Lawrence: Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas. OCLC 11915624
• Addiss, S., & Stokstad, M. (1982). Tōkaidō: on the road, pilgrimage, travel and culture. Lawrence, Kansas: Helen Foresman Spencer Museum of Art. OCLC 9755206
• De Unger, E., & Stokstad, M. (1983). Medieval enamels and sculptures from the Keir Collection: [exhibition]. Kansas City, Mo: The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. ISBN 978-0-942614-09-1
• Stokstad, M., & Waller, B. (1965). Optics, illusion and art: Museum of Art, the University of Kansas, May 14-June 7, 1965. Kansas: The Museum. OCLC 84603451
• Stokstad, M. (1964). The Salzer collection: trompe-l'oeil and still life paintings : a loan exhibition. Lawrence, Kan: Museum of Art, University of Kansas. OCLC 222187152