Medals Related to Harvard

References:   Baxter 216

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

The medal's obverse bears portrait of Charles William Eliot, right. Around top, CHARLES WILLIAM ELIOT

The reverse bears wreath. At top, 1924; in center field, "THE INDIVIDUAL / FINDS THAT / BY SERVING / OTHERS HE BEST / SERVES HIMSELF"; signed above bottom of wreath, © W · CLARK - NOBLE · Sc·

Charles William Eliot (1834-1926) was one of Harvard University's long-serving presidents. The quote on the medal's reverse is from an essay he entitled "The Happy Life," in which he attempted to provide moral and philosophical guidance, particularly to young people.

The circular medal measures 76.3mm in diameter and was struck in bronze. No mintage is reported.

The medal's obverse bears portrait of bespectacled Charles W. Eliot, facing left. To his right, Charles W. / Eliot; signed around bottom left, KILENYI

The reverse bears two laurel branches crossed over Harvard's book. Across center field, REPLICA / OF / MEDALLION / EXECUTED BY / J.F. NEWMAN / INCORPORATED / NEW YORK

Charles William Eliot (1834-1926) was selected as Harvard's president in 1869. He transformed the provincial college into one of the most famous universities in the world. Eliot served until 1909, having the longest term as president in the university's history.

Harry Waterson, the Kilenyi specialist, records this medal as a variant of a medal that's part of the Storer reference, catalogued as Storer1910a.  That medal has the subject's name at the top and the artist's signature in the right field.

The circular medal measures 41.2mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by J.F. Newman, Inc. of New York. No mintage is reported.

This medal's obverse bears Harvard's coat of arms with VE - RI -TAS on open books surrounded by wreath. Around, ANNO · ACADEMIAE · HARVARDIANA · TRECENTESIMO · - · MDCCCCXXXVI ·

The reverse bears multiline inscription, 1636 · 1936 / OUT OF SMALL / BEGINNINGS GREAT / ER THINGS HAVE / BEEN PRODUSED BY HIS / HAND THAT MADE ALL / THINGS OF NOTHING / AND GIVES BEING / TO ALL THINGS / THAT ARE

Harvard University itself needs little introduction. Founded in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature and named after its first prominent benefactor, John Harvard, Harvard is the oldest and probably most prestigious U.S. university (though Yale University is in eternal contention for the latter.)

Harvard University celebrated the three-hundredth anniversary of the College's founding in 1936 with an elaborate Tercentenary Celebration. The festivities included exhibits, special lectures, summer school courses, and culminated with the Tercentenary Days on September 16-18, 1936. Delegates from other academic institutions and learned societies were invited for the celebration and to participate in symposia discussing their fields. This medal was given as a present to all of the delegates who attended the celebration. The inscription on the reverse is a quotation from William Bradford's History of Plimmoth Plantation.

The circular medal measures 81.9mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported. The medal was also struck in silver, attached to ribbons, and used as a badge by attendees of the Tercentenary Conference of Arts and Sciences. Smaller diameter coins were distributed as well during the conference.

References:   MACo 1936-012, Marqusee 103