Badge, Membership
Object number2018.8.4
Manufacturer
Whitehead & Hoag Company
Date1934
OriginNewark, NJ
MediumMetal; Paper; Ink; Silk; Paint
Credit LineGift of Edward Feinstein
DescriptionMetal and fabric event badge. Top of badge has gold-tone metal frame with off-white paper mounted at center featuring black typed text; pinback on reverse above maker text. Suspended from top frame is blue and yellow vertically striped silk ribbon with gold printed text at bottom. Silver metal ball chain threaded through ribbon's reverse top loop; ball chain has suspended heptagonal medallion. Front of medallion has shallow relief of a shoe at top center, the Veterans of Foreign Wars emblem at bottom right, and surrounding event text.DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth: 4.5 x 2 x 0.438 in. (11.4 x 5.1 x 1.1 cm)InscriptionsFramed paper at top has black typed text "ISADORE KALSON / District Commander".
Front of ribbon has gold text at bottom "DELEGATE".
Front of medallion has raised text "THE HOME OF / HANOVER SHOES / 15TH ANNUAL ENCAMPMENT / DEPT. OF / PENNA. / HANOVER / JUNE 1934"; emblem in the bottom right quadrant has text "VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS".
MarksFrame's reverse has text along bottom "WHITEHEAD-HOAG - NEWARK, N.J."
Medallion's reverse has text at center "THE WHITEHEAD & HOAG CO. / NEWARK, N.J."
Historical Notes15th Annual Encampment VFW badge. Part of a collection related to Isadore Kalson. Isadore Kalson (1896-1980) worked in his youth for Rauh Bros. & Co. He served in World War I with the 52nd Infantry, Sixth Division. He was a charter member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Corp. H. O. Diller Post No. 156, Mt. Washington and was elected VFW Allegheny County Commander in 1934, becoming the first Jewish person to hold the post. He later worked in city government and ran successfully in a close race against Richard Mellon Scaife for Republican Party Chair. He lived in Oakland and Squirrel Hill in his later years. Isadore's father, Harry Kalson, immigrated to Pittsburgh in 1891. He was later joined by brothers Nathan Kalson, David Kalson, Samuel Kalson, Mrs. L. Moll, Mrs. Ida Becker and Mrs. Anna Brinn. He worked as a plumbing and building contractor and later ran the Profit Sharing Laundry Co. with his sons. He was the proprietor of Kalson’s Natatorium, a popular bath house in the Hill District. Kalson was active in Republican politics and served a term on the Common Council in 1905. He was president of Tifrerth Israel Congregation for nine years under the tenure of Rabbi Eliyahu Kochin. He was a founder of the United Hebrew Orthodox Congregations of Western Pennsylvania and its president in 1923 and 1924. He was also a founder of the Hebrew Religious Academy at 81-83 Tannehill Street. He was active in many Jewish philanthropies, including the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies, Keren Hayesod and Montefiore Hospital, as well as many fraternal lodges. Harry Kalson and his wife Hinda Libbe Horwitz Kalson had at least eight children: Dr. Abraham Maurice Kalson, Samuel H. Kalson, Isadore Kalson, Robert Kalson, Ralph Kalson, William Kalson, Jacob E. Kalson and Ruth Kalson. Jacob E. Kalson was the assistant district attorney
Previous owner
Isadore Kalson
(1896 - 1980)
Related institution
Rauh Brothers and Company
Related institution
52nd Infantry Regiment
Related institution
Veterans of Foreign Wars
Related institution
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 156
Related institution
Hanover Shoe
On View
Not on view
1968
