Competition, fraternal bonds and honorable service were the hallmarks of 19th century fire companies, and ornate trophies served as recognition of these values. Trophies were often presented to veteran officers in appreciation of their service. One fire company might give a commemorative trophy to another as a goodwill offering or in gratitude for their hospitality. Trophies and other awards could also be won in competitions between fire companies to demonstrate their professional skills, or even in sporting contests like baseball.
This coin silver pitcher was made by Peter L. Krider of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1851. The pitcher was presented the same year as a trophy to Robert Tempest, the President of the Hibernia Fire Engine Company. The inscription on the front reads, “Presented to ROBERT TEMPEST, President of the HIBERNIA FIRE ENGINE COMPANY, No. 1, by his fellow-members, as a token of their high regard for him as a Fireman and Presiding Officer, February 20th, 1851.” The back of the trophy is inscribed, “Reward of merit.” Robert Tempest was a successful Philadelphia jeweler with the firm of Marshall and Tempest. He joined Hibernia in 1814, having originally served as a volunteer with the Sun Engine Company.
Competition, fraternal bonds and honorable service were the hallmarks of 19th century fire companies, and ornate trophies served as recognition of these values. Trophies were often presented to veteran officers in appreciation of their service. One fire company might give a commemorative trophy to another as a goodwill offering or in gratitude for their hospitality. Trophies and other awards could also be won in competitions between fire companies to demonstrate their professional skills, or even in sporting contests like baseball.
This silver plated trophy was created by the Pairpoint Manufacturing Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts, in 1899. The trophy has a plaque on its ebony base with the inscription “Presented to the Association of Exempt Firemen of Paterson, New Jersey, by the Liberty Fire Co. No. 5 of Reading, Pennsylvania.” The word "Victory" is incorporated into the design of the lid beneath a spread-winged eagle. The Association of Exempt Firemen was a group formed to foster camaraderie between volunteer firemen after they had ceased participating in active duty. The cup was presented to the Paterson Exempts by a small delegation of the Liberty Fire Company on September 2, 1899. It was given to commemorate a visit to Paterson by the entire Reading company in March of that year, when the Exempts served as hosts. Such fraternal visits between fire companies and veterans groups were a common practice in 19th century fire service.
Competition, fraternal bonds and honorable service were the hallmarks of 19th century fire companies, and ornate trophies served as recognition of these values. Trophies were often presented to veteran officers in appreciation of their service. One fire company might give a commemorative trophy to another as a goodwill offering or in gratitude for their hospitality. Trophies and other awards could also be won in competitions between fire companies to demonstrate their professional skills, or even in sporting contests like baseball.
This coin silver ewer was made in 1858 by R&W Wilson Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The pitcher was presented by the Hibernia Fire Engine Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as a trophy to Colonel James Page in recognition for his service and leadership. The engraving reads, “Hibernia Fire Engine Company, No. 1 Instituted February 20, 1752. To Col. James Page, their President, In testimony of their esteem for him as a faithful member and efficient officer.” Page was elected a member of Hibernia in 1821 and served three times as the company's President. A lawyer by training, James Page was a veteran of the war of 1812, and an illustrious figure in Philadelphia. In addition to his service as President of Hibernia Fire Company, Colonel Page held many other public positions throughout his life including the Postmaster of Philadelphia, President of the Democratic State Association, Commissioner for the erection of new public buildings, Collector of the Port of Philadelphia, and Commissioner of Bankruptcy.
Competition, fraternal bonds and honorable service were the hallmarks of 19th century fire companies, and ornate trophies served as recognition of these values. Trophies were often presented to veteran officers in appreciation of their service. One fire company might give a commemorative trophy to another as a goodwill offering or in gratitude for their hospitality. Trophies and other awards could also be won in competitions between fire companies to demonstrate their professional skills, or even in sporting contests like baseball.
This silver trophy was made by the R&W Wilson Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1846. The inscription reads “Presented to Jesse Ogden by his fellow Members of the United States Fire Co. for the faithfulness and ability with which he has discharged the duties of Treasurer of the Company 10, Mo. 29. 1846.” On the opposite side there is a version of the Great Seal of the United States, with an eagle clutching a shield, olive branch and bundle of arrows. Below this is a banner engraved with the motto "E Pluribus Unum.” Jesse Ogden was a Quaker and well-known literary figure in Philadelphia. He belonged to the Philosophical Society and was the managing librarian for the Apprentice's Library Company in the city.
Swimmer Gertrude Ederle won this ornate silver trophy in recognition of the glorious qualities of womanhood she has so nobly demonstrated. after placing first in a newspaper poll as America's most popular athlete.
The former Olympic medalist had gained worldwide acclaim becoming the first woman to successfully swim across the English Channel on August 6, 1926. The dangerous crossing had been completed by only five men prior, and Ederle shattered the best of their times by nearly two hours. For her achievement, Trudybecame the first woman honored with a tickertape parade in New York City.
This medal was awarded to Coach John Wooden by the Helms Athletic Foundation in recognition of All-Time Achievement as a coach of the All-American Basketball Team. The Helms Athletic Foundation was founded in 1936 by Paul H. Helms for the purpose of promoting the interest of wholesome athletics while contributing monetarily to these programs. The Foundation selected National Champion teams and All-American teams in college sports through 1982.
Coach John Wooden (1910-2010) was the basketball coach at UCLA from 1948 to 1975. In that time, he won ten NCAA basketball championships, seven of which were consecutive (1967-1973). Wooden holds the record for the most consecutive games won in men’s college basketball with 88 consecutive victories. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2003 and selected as ESPN’s “Coach of the 20th Century.” As a player at Purdue University he was named an All-American three times. He was the first person ever to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player (1961) and a coach (1973). In addition to his coaching career, he is known for his “Pyramid of Success,” which is a guide to being successful in life in addition to basketball.
Trophy, given to golfer Arnold Palmer by the Augusta National Country Club to commemorate his 1958 and 1960 Masters victories.
Arnold Palmer (1929-2016) revolutionized the sport of professional golf. Beloved for his aggressive style and everyday origins, the charismatic son of a former Pennsylvania country club greenskeeper began his assault on golf's record books just as televised sports were emerging as a national sensation.
A state champion in high school, Palmer played collegiately at Wake Forest University (1947-1951) and served in the U.S. Coast Guard (1951-1954,) winning two NCAA individual championships and the US Amateur Championship before joining the Professional Golf Association (PGA) in 1955.
Over the following decades, Palmer won 62 PGA events, 92 in total. Highlights included a 1960 U.S. Open victory and the 1961 and 1962 (British) Opens, where he was considered a groundbreaker for playing as an American. Palmer is perhaps best remembered for winning The Masters four times, 1958, 1960, 1962 and 1964.
With a following of devoted fans known as Arnie's Army Palmer was one of the most marketable athletes of his generation. Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004 and a Congressional Gold Medal in 2009. Widely credited with popularizing the sport of golf in the United States, Palmer is seen as one of America's most influential sportsmen.
Metal urn shaped trophy with a women bowler on the top and seated on a metal column on a wooden base. This trophy was won in 1953 by Elizabeth "Toots" Barger, considered one of America's greatest duckpin bowlers. Toots was the top-ranked woman in her sport 13 times between 1947 and 1958. Named for the small, light pins that scatter like ducks in flight when hit, duckpin bowling originated in Baltimore, Maryland in the early 1900s. Although duckpin leagues formed all along the East Coast, the Baltimore-Washington area is still the center of the sport. This five-inch diameter ball weighs less than four pounds; the more common tenpin ball can measure up to 27 inches and weigh as much 16 pounds. Because duckpins are harder to split than tenpins, bowlers get three deliveries per frame.
In 1978, the USO of Philadelphia, Inc. presented Phyllis Diller with the USO Liberty Bell Award “for demonstrating concern for the welfare and morale of America’s armed forces.” Diller joined Bob Hope’s USO Christmas tour in 1966 and toured around Vietnam, Thailand, Guam, Wake Island, and the Philippines entertaining troops. She also joined Hope’s USO tour of the Persian Gulf in 1987. Costumes from both of these USO tours are included in NMAH’s collection (Catalog Numbers 2003.0289.05 and 2003.0289.09).
Silver plated trophy consisting of a silver bowl with lid sitting on a black wooden base. The lid is topped with a woman billiard player. This trophy was won in 1969 by the donor, Dorothy Wise, at the U.S. Open from the Billiard Congress of America. Dorothy Wise began playing pool when women were not entering tournaments. It wasn't until 1967 that the first national tournament for women was held and for the next five years she won five consecutive U.S. Open titles.
Evelyn Hecht Kramer won this fencing trophy while a member of the George Washington University Women’s Fencing Club in the early 1940’s. While the NCAA held the first fencing championships at Northwestern University in 1941, women’s fencing didn’t come into play until 1982. Women who wanted to compete in sporting competitions were often forced to join clubs in college since the sporting arena was still a man’s venue.
Small silver trophy with a flared base, thin stem, and flared cup with a handle on each side. Sparrowhawk Championship, September 1926. The Sparrowhawk's were one of two polo clubs in the1920s and 1930s in the Westbury, Long Island, New York area. These clubs served the younger generation of players with instructions in riding and the strategies of polo. According to the donor, the players on this cup were J. Peter Grace, the head of W. R. Grace & Co; Barbara Stoddard, daughter of Louis Stoddard, polo internationalist and Chairman of the USPA for many years; Philip Iglehart, the donor and who achieved a seven goal handicap and is well known in the polo circles; Stewart Iglehart, the donor's brothers and famous internationalist and 10 goal player; and Joseph Davis an enthusiastic player who lost his life during WWII.
Oklahoma native Jim Thorpe (1888-1953) was awarded this trophy in 1914 for winning the 5 Mile Handicap Road Run held by the Bronxdale Athletic Club.
Thorpe, of mixed European and Native American descent, is considered one of the greatest-overall athletes in United States history. He was a star for the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, where he attained All-American honors in football. He went on to represent the United States at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, winning gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon. Thorpe went on to play professional football, baseball and basketball.
Thorpe's Olympic victories were revoked when it was discovered that he had made money playing semi-pro baseball, forfeiting his status as an amateur. The medals were reinstated to his family in 1983.