The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 41, October 14, 2007, Article 14

FAKE IT: FRASER'S 1929 AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION MEDAL PARODY PLASTER

Regarding the use of the term "fecit" among artists, Harry 
Waterson writes: "Here is a bit of corroboration of the 
cocktail talk between Dick Johnson and Joseph Noble. I was 
doing some research at the National Cowboy Museum in Oklahoma 
City last Spring. The James Earle Fraser & Laura Gardin Fraser 
Studio Papers are located there in the Dickinson Research 
Center. Among those papers, in box 6, folder 20 entitled 
'Peanuts', I found a picture of a plaster model. This model 
was a slightly altered version of the reverse of the 1929 
American Bar Association Medal by Laura Fraser. 

"This reverse depicts a seated nude hooded figure of Justice 
holding a sword and a set of scales. This model contained a 
few changes to the ABA reverse: The legend JUSTITIA at the 
top of the medal was replaced with the word PEANUTS. The 
empty scale pans of the Scales of Justice were now occupied 
by an elephant and a squirrel.

"At the bottom of the medal the full Laura Gardin Fraser 
signature had been added along with the words 'FAKE IT' 
right below the signature. I doubt if this bit of medallist 
foolery was ever produced. The ABA is not an organization 
known for its sense of humor, but I bet it amused James Fraser 
greatly. As Dick Johnson noted, this was the use of a homonym 
limited to one's peers."

REMEMBRANCES OF JOSEPH NOBLE
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  Wayne Homren, Editor

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