Award Medals

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Benjamin Ourisman facing left. Around, BENJAMIN OURISMAN MEMORIAL CIVIC AWARD; signed on truncation, G. ROBERTS 1957

The reverse bears Star of David at top. Below, PRESENTED TO / (cartouche) / BY THE / JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER / OF WASHINGTON / IN RECOGNITION OF / OUTSTANDING AND MERITORIOUS / SERVICES / (cartouche)

The circular medal measures 75.6mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1957-064

The medal's obverse bears teacher surrounded by group of students and chemical flasks. Around, AWARDED FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRE HIGH SCHOOL CHEMISTRY TEACHING; signed on truncation of pupil at right bottom, J. E. R. Sc.

The reverse bears chemical vessels, book and banner for engaving. Around, PRESENTED BY / CHEMICAL MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION; on banner, AWARDED TO

This medal comes in (two or) three flavors: one for college level teaching, one for high school, and one for pre-high school. Dick Johnson, who is the authority for anything related to the Medallic Art Company only lists the first two but not this member of the set.

References:   MACo 1957-046

This medal's obverse bears Pegasus in flight above buildings representing historical landmarks in architecture; from left to right, the Sphinx, the Parthenon, the Coliseum, and skyscrapers with two eagles perched on top. The buildings rest on overlapping branches growing from architects' and sculptors' tools in exergue. Around top, NATIONAL - SCULPTURE - SOCIETY; over Sphinx, 3500 B.C.; over Parthenon, 438 B.C., over Coliseum, 80 A.D.; on sky scraper, 20 / CENTURY; above exergue, HENRY HERING / MEMORIAL MEDAL

The reverse bears conjoined eagles, one with wings spread, both perching on plinth; oak branches on both sides. At top, LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE MEN / MATT 5:16; across, AWARDED AS A MARK OF DISTINCTION / FOR OUTSTANDING COOPERATION / BETWEEN ARCHITECT AND SCULPTOR; signed in exergue to left and right of plinth, ALBINO - MANCA

The National Sculpture Society's Henry Hering Memorial Award (or Henry Hering Art and Architecture Award as it is now called) was created in 1959 and is awarded for excellence in an architectural project in which the architect collaborated with the sculptor and owner of a site. The medal is not given annually; it is awarded when the circumstance arises. Originally, there were three categories: regligious, monumental, and commercial. The jury is composed of three sculptors and two architects.

The award is named for Henry Hering (1874-1949), a brilliant architectural sculptor who had a studio in New York but whose most famous works are mainly located in the mid-west.

One interesting anecdote about Hering involves a plane crash in 1945. A military B-25 had crashed into the Empire State Building. While most of the wreckage had either embedded itself in the building or fallen to the ground, one engine continued on its way for several blocks and finally ended its voyage in Henry Hering's penthouse, destroying approximately $75,000 worth of work.

This particular medal was awarded for work in the religious category in 1961. The project was the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. The recipients were Eugene F. Kennedy, Jr. of Maginnis Walsh & Kennedy (the Boston architect) and Francis Cardinal Spellman representing the Catholic Church (the owner). The same year, Paul Manship won the award in the monumental category, along with Eric Gugler of Gugler, Kimball & Husted for the American war memorial at Anzio-Nettuno in Italy.

The circular medal measures 76.6mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. Many thanks to Lorraine Burns for the beautiful pictures and the sleuthing involved in tracking down this particular medal's detailed history.

References:   MACo 1959-031

The medal's obverse bears woman standing in gate leading into formal garden. In exergue, AMERICAN DAHLIA SOCIETY

The reverse bears American Eagle bearing arrows, olive branch, and streamer reading ORGANIZED - MAY 10 1915. Underneath, AWARDED TO / (cartouche for inscription)

The American Dahlia Society (ADS) was founded in 1915 and is composed of over 70 independent local societies in the US and Canada. Today it is a non-profit organization for the purpose of stimulating interest in, disseminating information about, and promoting the culture and development of, the dahlia.

The medal measures 73.4mm x 47.1mm  and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York.  No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1961-019

References:   MACo 1972-021

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Powell facing slight left. Over left shoulder, LEWIS F. / POWELL JR.

The reverse bears legend only. Around, ADVOCAT - PRSIDENT ACTL AND ABA - ASSOCIATE JUSTIVE SUPREME COURT; across, AMERICAN COLLEGE OF / TRIAL LAWYERS / MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE / IN ADVOCACY / NATIONAL MOOT COURT / COMPETITION; signed at bottom, E.P.

Lewis F. Powell Jr. (1907-1998) served as an Associate Justive of the Supreme Court for 15 years from 1972 to 1987. He was known as a judicial moderate and a master of compromise and consensus building.

The Moot Court Medal is awarded by the New York City Bar Association College of Trial Lawyersas an award in the National Moot Court Competition which started in 1950 and continues to today. The award is presented to Law School students for the best oral advocacy and the best brief.

The circular medal measures 89.4mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1973-190

The medal's obverse bears bust of Robert Fletcher, facing. Around top, ROBERT FLETCHER AWARD; below bust, DIRECTOR / THAYER SCHOOL OF / ENGINEERING / 1871 - 1918; around bottom, DARTMOUTH COLLEGE; signed under truncation, JOHN CALABRO / SC.

The medal's reverse bears wreath with inscribed FOR / DISTINGUISHED / ACHIEVEMENT / AND / SERVICE

Robert Fletcher (1847-1936) was a larger than life figure at Dartmouth College's Thayer School of Engineering.  He was the engineering school's first professor and, by the time he retired in 1918, had taught at Dartmouth for 65 years and led the Engineering School as Dean for 47 years.

References:   MACo 1975-032

The medal's obverse bears abstract shapes, possibly resembling a person.

The reverse bears lengthy legend, MANAGING PEOPLE / · To provide the climate / and resources that will enable all staff / members to advance on merit as far as their / talents and skills will take them, / without regard to age, / handicap, marital status, national origin, / race, religion, or sex · To offer / pay and benefits that are / fair and competitive · To make certain that / ideas, concerns, and problems are / identified and that two way com- / munication is effectively maintained / · To provide and environment that identifies, / encourages, and rewards excellence / and innovation · To remember / always that respect for human dignity is / fundamental to our success / (cross in circle)

I would venture the guess that the aspirational message on this medal was written by a committee.  I can't help but compare and contrast it with the Lincoln medals' "malice towards none" quotes. While I like the abstract motif on the obverse, the whole medal leaves a bit of a bland taste. A medal just should not be a powerpoint presentation.

The medal measures 63.4mm x 63.5mm and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1976-182