The National Oratorical Contest

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 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