A question for E-Sylum readers: who was "Zeleima Bruff Jackson"?

"I am researching the large gold medal presented to Joseph Francis on April 12, 1890. He later donated it to the Smithsonian. Museum and archive sites claim the medal was "designed by Zeleima Bruff Jackson and modeled by the famous American sculptor Louis St. Gaudens (sic.)." However, no reference to Ms. Jackson has been located and the Louis Saint-Gaudens attribution, while stylistic with Augustus' "Washington" medal is not mentioned in documents (per SG papers at Dartmouth College). Likewise the papers of Sen. Evarts and others involved are silent.

"All ideas would be appreciated."

Here's what readers had to say. -Editor

"Zeleimia Bruff Jackson was born in Washington, D.C. in 1843 and died in Washington D.C. in 1915."

Pete forwarded this FindaGrave listing. -Editor

"I suspect someone along the way got the name wrong."

Indeed. There are multiple name spellings out there, and even FindaGrave got it wrong, although it looks like the grave marker is correct. -Editor

"The "Zeleima Bruff Jackson" mystery has been solved -- mostly.

"The name is misspelled in Treasury documents and reports. The name is:

"Zuleima Bruff Jackson, daughter of Joseph Goldsborough Bruff who worked at the Treasury Dept. Zuleima was a painter of floral arrangements and a small number of landscapes. Native Washingtonian, etc. I'm filling in bits and pieces - presumably she made a drawing for the Francis medal reverse. This was based on an 1852 illustration on Francis' surf-boat catalog."

Thanks also to Steve Tompkins, Scott Miller, Bob Van Ryzin and another reader who forwarded links to various resources. Roger continued his search at the National Archives and discovered several new details, including a full copy of Barber's description of the Joseph Francis Congressional Life Saving Medal. It was presented to Joseph Francis on the late morning of April 12, 1890 in the Blue Room of the White House by President Benjamin Harrison. -Editor

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