Medal, Commemorative
Object number2019.98.5
Date1893
OriginPhiladelphia, PA
MediumGold; Silk; Brass; Applied decoration
Credit LineGift of Charlotte O'Neil Oliver
DescriptionGold commemorative medal with a yellow and baby blue silk ribbon. Center of medal is circular with gold text around the outside and a white background; middle has a blue background and the gold image of a woman in a Colonial era dress. Baby blue and gold stars shooting out from sides, and gold eagle sitting on a branch at the top. Back of eagle has engraved manufacturing text, and back of medal has engraved text about the former owner; back of medal also has raised text in Latin. Gold loop on the back of the eagle that has a yellow and baby blue silk ribbon threaded through the middle. Ribbon-shaped brass piece with raised text attached to top of ribbon; back has a safety pin fastener. Thin, brass chain attached to back of brass piece that has a circular piece of brass with engraved text about former owner.DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth: 2.438 x 1.688 x 0.563 in. (6.2 x 4.3 x 1.4 cm)InscriptionsEngraved, cursive text on back of medal: "Mrs Flora / Warner / Sherburne / Harper / No 172 / 1893".
Raised, Latin text on back of medal: "VIRTUTES MAJORUM FILLAE CONSERVANT". (Translated: They preserve the virtues of their elder daughters.)
Raised text across ribbon-shaped brass piece: "PENNSYLVANIA".
Engraved, cursive text on circular brass piece: "Alberta / Harper / Irish / No 1852 / 1925".
MarksEngraved manufacturing text on back of eagle: "[illegible]LEY [illegible] / PHILA. / PAT."
Historical NotesThis National Society of the Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA) pin belonged to Alberta Harper Irish, who was the oldest daughter of John Arunah Harper and Flora Warner Sherburne Harper. She was the granddaughter of John Harper, president of the Bank of Pittsburgh. She had one daughter, Lydia, with Franklin Cadwallader Irish. Irish was a member of the NSCDA and maintained voluminous research files and notes regarding her family’s history. She died in 1963 and is buried in Homewood Cemetery. The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA) was started in 1891 in Philadelphia with the hopes that other states would form their own groups and together form a national coalition of societies. The NSCDA now has 44 societies (43 states and Washington D.C.), and their goal is to serve as stewards of historic properties and artifacts while honoring the women that helped form the country.
Previous owner
Alberta Harper Irish
(died 1963)
Related person
Franklin Cadwallader Irish
(1877 - 1951)
Related institution
National Society of the Colonial Dames of America
Related person
Flora Warner Sherburne Harper
Related person
John Arunah Harper
On View
Not on view
