NEWMAN PORTAL ADDS WIENER CORRESPONDENCE

Gerta Ries Wiener (1898-2000) was an American medalist known for her series of medals commissioned by the Jewish-American Hall of Fame. These portrayed a number of Jewish figures including Louis Brandeis, Gertrude Stein, Golda Meir, and others. For many years (1970-1996), Wiener maintained an active correspondence with Mel Wacks, Director of the Jewish-American Hall of Fame Division of the American Jewish Historical Society. This correspondence discusses the creative process behind the medals and includes many sketches and illustrations. Wacks contributed his copy of this file (the originals are in the Smithsonian), and this material is now available on the Newman Portal.

Shown here are the artist’s conception and final engraving of the Rebecca Gratz medal, issued in 1981. Gratz was a Philadelphia philanthropist, and one with numismatic connections – she was a sister of Simon Gratz, likely the same whose collection was sold by Philadelphia dealer Edward Cogan in May 1859.

Link to Wiener/Wacks correspondence on Newman Portal:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/archivedetail/520609

Link to Cogan/Gratz catalog on Newman Portal:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/auctionlots?AucCoId=19&AuctionId=510461

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