The E-Sylum:  Volume 6, Number 4, January 26, 2003, Article 14

SPINGARN MEDAL REFERENCES

  Dick Johnson writes:  "I sold the NAACP's Spingarn Medal
  twice. Once in my Johnson & Jensen auction number 11 on
  August 17, 1981 lot 277 where it realized $95 (against a
  $50-60 estimate) and again in a double auction 15-16 on
  March 28, 1982 lot 1309 where it sold for $71.50 against
  the same estimate.  It was illustrated in both auction catalogs.

  Obverse bore a blind Justice holding aloft scales in her right
  hand with left hand holding the hilt of a sword point down;
  with sun and rays behind.  Reverse is the medal name
  superimposed on a wreath with four lines of lettering divided
  by a fairly large reserve (the blank area on a medal intended
  for inscribing recipient's name and award details), with wings
  below.  In both instances the medal was unsigned, unawarded
  and the maker was unknown to me then (and now!).  I would
  be delighted to learn who, indeed, was the artist and who
  struck it (and would gladly add this data to my upcoming
  directory of American Artists, Diesinkers, Engravers,
  Medalists and Sculptors).

  The design is quite good and the striking exhibits an
  experienced maker.   If I had to guess (and I shouldn't) it is in
  the style of Julio Kilenyi (and possibly struck by Whitehead &
  Hoag). Both are gone with no records surviving, so any
  documented data will have to come from the NAACP itself.

  The fact the highest award for black Americans was probably
  modeled by a white person is evidence of the scarcity of black
  medalists. In my databank of 3,350 American artists I have
  listed only eight black Americans that I can identify. The most
  famous of all was Richmond Barthe (1901-1989). Medallic
  Art Company struck three of his medals before World War II.
  (I remember our art department contacting him in the 1960s to
  do additional medals but to no avail.)

  My list also includes Selma Hortense Burke (1907-1995)
  who claimed John R. Sinnock stole her relief of Franklin D.
  Roosevelt for the design of the Roosevelt Dime. I have
  examined a photograph of her Roosevelt relief and it no
  way aligns with Sinnock's dime model. His work is entirely
  original. Walter Breen mentions Selma Burke in his
  Encyclopedia, and she must have repeated this story often,
  because it is mentioned in every one of her biographies.
  Robert Van Ryzin wrote an article on her and her relief in
  Numismatic News 30 November 1973."

  Joe Levine of Presidential Coin & Antique Company writes:
  "This appeared in our Auction #70, #711.  I believe the correct
  spelling in Spingarn, nor Springard."

  "NAACP SPINGARN AWARD MEDAL, (1914)  62.8mm.
  Gilt Bronze. Unsigned. XF/AU, with a suspension loop applied
  at top. There is a bit of darkening on the medal immediately
  below where the loop was applied.  The obverse features a
  standing figure of Justice holding balance scales aloft with her
  right hand and a sword in her left. A radiant sun is in the
  background. Inscribed at lower left is, FOR/ MERIT. On the
  reverse, a cartouche inscribed SPINGARN MEDAL is
  superimposed over a wreath enclosing the lamp of learning.
  Below: AWARDED TO with an empty space for engraving
  the name of the awardee.  At bottom is a three line inscription:
  BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION/ FOR THE
  ADVANCEMENT/ OF COLORED PEOPLE above a pair
  of wings to either side of a flame.

  The National Association for the Advancement of Colored
  People (NAACP) awards the Spingarn Medal annually to a
  black American who has achieved career excellence.  This
  award was established in 1914 by Joel Elias Spingarn
  (1875-1939), who was then chairman of the NAACP board
  of directors. He was a literary critic who was one of the first
  white members of the NAACP. Spingarn taught literature at
  Columbia University and encouraged the development of
  black writers during the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s.

  As the medal is awarded in gold, we presume that this is a
  specimen strike. This is one of the more important medals
  relating to African-American history.  The winners of the
  award read like a Who's Who of twentieth century black
  America. A rare medal - it is the first we have seen. (G)

   7001.  #711. Gilt Bronze. XF/AU looped.   $219.00"

  Gar Travis located several web references for us, including
  some background on Spingarn from the online Worldbook
  Encyclopedia (http://www2.worldbook.com/)

  Gar provided links to some pictures of the medal.
  Unfortunately, none is a close-up of the medal itself.

  "Marian Anderson with Springarn Medal and Eleanor Roosevelt"
  http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/odyssey/archive/08/0812001r.jpg

  "A later image of Marian Anderson with the medal"
  http://home.wanadoo.nl/gregquast/imwebsite.jpg/NAACP.jpg

  "Bad image, but an image nevertheless and an unmentioned recipient."
  http://www.blackvoices.com/feature/bhm_00/science.htm

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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