Background
He was the son of Congressman William Louisiana Follette and nephew of educator, industrialist Harvey Marion LaFollette.
He was the son of Congressman William Louisiana Follette and nephew of educator, industrialist Harvey Marion LaFollette.
Allyn Cox supervised the placement of the painting in the United States Capitol. He was the brother of Washington state attorney and legislator William Leroy LaFollette, Junior. He was born in the Pacific Northwest into a pioneer family.
His father had become one of the largest fruit exporters in the state of Washington before being elected to Congress in 1910.
Chester completed his early education in Pullman and continued high school in Washington District of Columbia when his family relocated there. The two LaFollette families shared a large house that the Congressman had purchased, and Chester spent his teen age years in the midst of lively discussions of the great events of the day.
During this period he was introduced to the sculptor Vinnie Ream and was influenced by her passion and technique. He studied the violin, and continued to work on his sculpture and painting techniques.
In the mid-1920s he journeyed to Paris to continue his musical studies and to refine his painting.He spent many long hours in museums viewing the masters.
His portrait was unveiled in the Senate Reception Room in 1959.
Chester Louisiana Follette was a member of the politically prominent Louisiana Follette family.