Oscar Jacobson

Oscar Jacobson (May 16, 1882 – September 15, 1966) was a Swedish-born American painter and museum curator. From 1915 to 1945, he was the director of the University of Oklahoma's School of Art, later known as the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. He is the namesake of Jacobson Hall on the OU campus.

Jacobson was born on May 16, 1882 in Kalmar County, Sweden. He emigrated to the United States and settled in Kansas in 1890. He graduated from Bethany College in 1908. He earned a master's degree at Yale University, and returned to Bethany College, where he earned a PhD.

Jacobson was the director of the School of Art at the University of Oklahoma from 1915 to 1945. It became known as the University of Oklahoma Museum of Art in 1936. With Edith Mahier, he supported Native American artists known as the Kiowa Five. Another Native American artist, William Standing, also attended OU thanks to Jacobson. Jacobson retired as a research professor emeritus of art in 1952. The same year, Jacobson Hall on campus was named in his honor.

Jacobson was also a painter. He did over 500 paintings over the course of his career. Most of them were sold to private collectors. They were also acquired by the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, and the Woolaroc Museum.

Jacobson was the founder of the Association of Oklahoma Artists. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1949.

Jacobson married married Jeanne d'Ucel; they had a son and two daughters. They resided at the Oscar B. Jacobson House in Norman, Oklahoma, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Jacobson died on September 15, 1966 in Norman. His funeral was held at the First Presbyterian Church in Norman.

The School of Art at OU was renamed the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art in 1992. Jacobson's work was featured at "The Art of Oklahoma" exhibition at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art in 2017.