All Medals

The plaque bears portrait of Frank H. Krusen, facing right. Above, · FRANK · H · KRUSEN · M · D · ; below, · 1960 ·

Frank H. Krusen (1898-1973) was an American physiatrist. He is regarded as a "founder" of the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation. He founded the first Department of Rehabilitation at Temple Hospital in 1928.

This plaque is not signed and not listed in Murtha's reference on Manship's works, but it comes from the artist's estate and the is unmistakably a Manship work.  Gilroy Roberts designed a Krusen medal for the Connecticut Society of Physical Medicine in the same year.  Maybe Manship submitted this design to the Society and they picked Roberts' or maybe he just wanted to honor him separately, unrelated to the Society's medal issue.

References:   Cal HM-1997

This medal's obverse bears conjoined busts of Warner and Swasey facing left. Around edge, WORCESTER REED WARNER · AMBROSE SWASEY; to left of Warner, 1846 - / 1929; in exergue, 1880 · 1930; signed in exergue under truncation, V.D.BRENNER

The reverse bears large telescope in observatory with two men seated to left, one standing on raised platform at ocular, and one on tower at telescope mount. Around edge, THE WARNER & SWASEY CO. / CLEVELAND OHIO. U.S.A. / LICK TELESCOPE

The medal celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Warner & Swasey Company of Cleveland, Ohio. Warner and Swasey had worked together at Pratt & Whitney and cofounded their eponymous company in 1880 in Chicago. in 1881 they moved to Cleveland to be located closer to one of their major customers.

The company manufactured lathes and other metal working machines and existed as a subsidiary of Giddings & Lewis until 1992 when it was shut down. Before that it had been acquired by the Bendix Corporation in 1980, Cross & Trecker in 1984 and finally Giddings & Lewis in 1991.

This medal was issued several years after V.D. Brenner's death and is a reworking of a medal that Brenner designed ten years earlier to celebrate the company's 40th anniversary. The original design was modified by updating the anniversary date and by adding Warner's lifespan; he had died a year earlier.

The medal measures 64mm in diameter and was struck in bronze. The mintage is not reported.

References:   MACo 1930-018

References:   MACo 1951-050

The medal's obverse bears youthful male figure with outstretched arms, standing on two outcroppings labeled 1833 and 1933 respectively. To his left, branch with leaves above RESEARCH; to his right, rectilinear design above INDUSTRY; signed at right, ERZ

The reverse bears an aerial view of the fair grounds. Around, - 1933 - A - CENTURY - OF - PROGRESS - INTERNATIONAL - EXPOSITION - CHICAGO; signed at left, ZETTLER

As the artist wrote in the pamphlet accompanying the medal:

"The youthful figure of strength, energy and action represents the intellectual arch between natures's resources and man's work. From research and invention have come the great achievements of the century, 1833-1933. The extended arms of the figure praise the work of Science and Industry and their great benefits to humanity."

This is a beautiful example of both art deco and machine age symbolism. As the U.S. was struggling to leave the Great Depression, belief in science and technology was at an all-time high and the Century of Progress Exposition was a way to celebrate this "scientific optimism."  Those were the endeavors that would make life better for everyone.  Unfortunately, the horror of World War II that was only six years in the future would illustrate the other uses of research and industry.

The medal was struck in different sizes. The large size is the official souvenir medal whereas the smaller sized "so-called dollar" HK-463 is the official medal. No mintages are reported.

References:   Marqusee 415

This plaquette bears portrait of Smith facing right; ivy ranks framing window behind him. At top, VERITAS; below window frame, BOSTON / 1915; at bottom THEOBALD SMITH

Theobald Smith (1859-1934) was a pioneering epidemiologist and pathologist and is widely considered to be America's first internationally significant medical research scientist. In 1895 Smith moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts to accept a dual appointment: serve as professor of comparative pathology at Harvard University, and direct the pathology lab at the Massachusetts State Board of Health. Smith joined the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research as Director of the Department of Animal Pathology in 1915 and remained there until his retirement in 1929.

This plaquette was commissioned by Harvard University to commemorate Smith's departure after 20 years as a professor. 

My copy comes framed and I did not have the heart to take the assembly appart to take a stand-alone picture. If someone has a good picture to share, I would appreciate it.

The plaquette measures 51mm x 73mm and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York.  No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1915-015, Marqusee 324

References:   Murtha 471

The medal's obverse bears kneeling female representing Friendliness, with arms outstretched at aerial view of fair grounds. Around, incuse, PACIFIC SOUTHWEST EXPOSITION / LONG BEACH CALIFORNIA 1928; in exergue, FRIENDLINESS;

The reverse bears art-deco styled winged female wearing Victory crown and holding blank cartouche for inscription. Signed at lower left, R. N. Burnham

The circular medal measures 50.8mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1928-031

The galvano bears two cornucopias above open scroll flanked by female figures standing on winged spheres; figure at left bearing caduceus, figure at right burning torch; at bottom, two dolphins. On scroll, To commemorate / the visit of / President elect / EPITACIO / PESSOA / of BRAZIL / to the / UNITED STATES / of AMERICA / 1919

This was a design for the reverse of a medal commemorating the visit to the United States in 1919 of Dr. Epitacio M. Pessoa, president-elect of Brazil. Dr. Pessoa had been the Brazilian representative at the armistice negotiations in Versailles and on his return he visited the United States. He arrived in New York City, then traveled to Boston and Washington, D.C., where he made ceremonial appearances meant to solidify relations between Brazil and the United States.

It is fascinating to contrast this design with the one on the finished medallion:  the flanking figures change sex and orientation, they carry different props, a ship is added at the bottom, and the lettering changes.

The galvano measures 79.8mm in diameter.