Award Medals

References:   ANS 38, Baxter 182, MACo 1919-003

The obverse bears Art Deco image of Bellerophon with lyre riding winged pegasus above sun. Around, ART DIRECTORS CLUB / INCORPORATED 1920.

The reverse bears painter with palette and brush in center. Around center, AWARDED FOR SPECIAL MERIT. Around edge, laurel wreath with (PM monogram) at bottom.

The edge is marked MEDALLIC ART CO. N.Y.

Louis Pedlar founded the Art Directors' Club of New York in 1920 in response to the uncertain relationship between advertising art and fine art. Pedlar assembled a group of art buyers, art department managers and layout artists to ponder whether advertising art could be judged by the same stringent standards as fine art.

Obviously the answer was "yes" because Paul Manship was asked to create a medal to be used as an award. Awards were given annually in the areas of black-and-white illustration, color illustration, oil painting, and poster art, though not always in all areas.

An article published in Printers' Ink Monthly outlines the process that was used:

"All mediums were given consideration; black-and-white, flat color, oil painting and decorative design. A rigid standard of selection was enforced, and the 300 pictures shown, selected from many thousands submitted, represented the best there is in advertiding design.

Both the organization and the award still exist but the medal was replaced by a modern cube in the 1970's.

The medal measures 54mm (2 1/8in) in diameter and were manufactured by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

References:   MACo 1921-07, Murtha 139

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Abraham Lincoln, facing right. To his left, torch. At left, 1809 / 1865; around right, LINCOLN. Signed under torch at left, © DOUGLAS VOLK / DEL. / CHAS. L. HINTON · / Sc.

The reverse bears oak wreath around center field. At top of center field, LINCOLN / · ESSAY · MEDAL ·  / · AWARDED · TO ·

Douglas Volk created a Lincoln portrait that shows him gaunt, almost skeletally thin, a sad resolve readiating from his expression. Hinton translated the design into a beautiful medal.

This medal is cataloged as King 892.  A variant with a date of February 12, 1924 exists and is cataloged as King 891.

The circular medal was struck in bronze by the Whitehead & Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey. No mintage is reported.

References:   Marqusee 203

References:   MACo 1924-040, Marqusee 9

The medal's obverse bears kneeling woman with stole or garlands, facing right, in round field with incuse border. Below, NATIONAL ORATORICAL / CONTEST / PRESENTED BY / THE DETROIT NEWS / CLARENCE TARZWELL

The reverse bears legend: WE THE PEOPLE OF THE / VNITED STATES IN ORDER / TO FORM A MORE PERFECT / VNION, ESTABLISH JVSTICE, INSVRE DOMESTIC TRANQVILITY, / PROVIDE FOR THE COMMON / DEFENCE, PROMOTE THE / GENERAL: WELFARE, AND SECURE / THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY / TO OVRSELVES AND OVR / POSTERITY DO ORDAIN AND / ESTABLISH THIS CONSTITVTION / FOR THE VNITED STATES / OF AMERICA

The National Oratorical Contest grew from a local competition held by the Los Angeles Times in 1923 to a national movement sponsored by the major regional newspapers of the day. Topics had to be related to the U.S. Constitution and prizes were a hefty $1,500 for the winner.  The competition was held annually until 1933.

On April 11, 1925, Clarence Tarzwell won the local competition for oratory that was held at his high school in Deckerville, MI. He went on to become a well-known biologist and is credited as a major contributor to the Clean Water Act of 1972.  He retired to South Kingstown, Rhode Island, where he died in 1993.

These plaques exists in many variants.  Many were struck with the sponsoring newspaper's name in raised letters.  The shields on the plaquettes usually come engraved with the contest year (1924 - 1933). I have chosen to only track the different metals as variants.  The plaquettes are known to have been struck in bronze, silver and even gold. With 10 years of competition, and five or more participating newspapers, the mintage must be substantial. It should be noted that the New York Times awarded a different medal designed by Emil Fuchs.

References:   MACo 1924-008

The medal's obverse bears a muscular male figure carrying an unconscious female figure in both arms. Signed above exergue at right, J. Juszko

The medal's reverse bears tree with legend across:  THE BRITTON - I. BUDD / MEDAL - FOR THE / SAVING OF / HUMAN LIFE; in cartouche below, inscribed to EMMETT McSHANE

Britton I. Budd (1871-1965) was dubbed the "electric railroad magnate" of Chicago.  He was Samuel Insull's right-hand man and very good at running transportation and infrastructure companies.

The medal was first awarded in 1926 but I have found newspaper articles from as late as 1952 that mention the award. 

Emmett McShane was a resident of Waukegan, Illinois, and received his award in 1928.  I could not ascertain the act of valor that caused him to receive this medal.

The circular medal measures 89mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York.

References:   MACo 1926-025

The medal's obverse bears seated young woman binding fasces before outline of the United States. Around, "TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION... AND SECURE THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY"; signed in exergue, E.F.

The reverse bears images of Lincoln and Washington in wreaths above dedication field. In field, NATIONAL ORATORICAL CONTEST / ON THE / CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES / AWARDED BY / THE NEW YORK TIMES / TO / ROGER WOOD / 1931

The National Oratorical Contest grew from a local competition held by the Los Angeles Times in 1923 to a national movement sponsored by the major regional newspapers of the day. Topics had to be related to the U.S. Constitution and prizes were a hefty $1,500 for the winner.  The competition was held annually until 1933.

This medal was issued by the New York Times in the years from 1926 to 1932. Most other newspapers issued variants of a Kilenyi-designed plaquette.  The Times later reused this design for the New York Times Constitution Essay Medal, which took the place of the Oratorical Contest in 1932.

The medal measures 44.8mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and 14kt gold by the Medallic Art Company of New York.  No mintage is reported.  While I have not seen it in silver it probably exists in that metal as well.

References:   Baxter 293, MACo 1926-020-001

The medal's obverse bears an eagle standing guard over nest with two eggs in front of Independence Hall and rising sun. Signed, ALBERT LAESSLE.

The reverse bears a laurel wreath around central field with rising sun and legend MEDAL OF AWARD. Around, SESQUICENTENNIAL - INTERNATIONAL - EXPOSITION - PHILADELPHIA / 1776 - 1926.

Leassle designed this medal for an exposition on his "home turf" in Philadelphia. He was justly awarded with his own medal in gold.

The circular medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck by Baily Banks & Biddle Co., Philadelphia. No mintage is reported.

References:   Marqusee 235

The medal's obverse bears muscular nude male figure in dynamic flying pose, cradling globe in sling made from cable loops. Around top edge, SAMVEL FINLEY BREESE MORSE MEDAL; signed below feet at right, (LGF monogram)

The medal's reverse bears sextant over compass rose in center, fleur-de-lis and two shrouded nudes at top. Around, AMERICAN - N - GEOGRAPHICAL · SOCIETY ·

Samuel Finley Breese Morse (1791-1872) was a successful portrait painter before he became world-famous by contributing significantly to the the invention of a single-wire telegraph system. He was the co-inventor of the still used Morse code and spent the second phase of his life in telegraphy-related pursuits. His role as telegraphy's inventor and near-monopolist was challenged several times and while his achievements were never denied, the scope of his patents was eventually limited by the famous O'Reilly v. Morse Supreme Court decision.

The Samuel Finley Breese Morse Medal was established as an award in 1902. The medal is awarded by the American Geographical Society for "achievements and pioneering in geographical research." The AGS itself was founded in 1851 by 31 wealthy New Yorkers in response to the request of Lady Franklin to search for her husband and his voyagers lost in the Polar Franklin Expedition.

The circular medallion measures an impressive 101.6mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

Many thanks to a collector who wishes to remain anonymous for sending me the images of this beautiful medal.

References:   MACo 1928-021