Frederick Samuel Tallmadge Medal

1904

Place madeUnited States, North America

Bronze; cardboard, paper, cotton

Overall (medal): 2 9/16 in. (6.5 cm)
Container (box): 3 1/2 × 3 1/2 × 7/16 in. (8.9 × 8.9 × 1.1 cm)

Gift of Alice Frank Merriam, 1966

INV.3524

The Sons of the Revolution was formed at Fraunces Tavern, site of Washington's Farewell Address, in 1883. The group initially limited membership to sixty men - all who could fit comfortably in their meeting room at the Tavern. This exclusivity led to the formation of the rival Sons of the American Revolution in 1889.

DescriptionBronze struck medal with obverse depicting shoulder-length portrait of Frederick Tallmadge facing three-quarters to the right; legend around border: "FREDERICK SAMVEL TALLMADGE/1824 - 1904"; inscriptions flanking portrait: "PRESIDENT/NEW YORK SOCIETY/SONS OF THE/REVOLUTION/1884-1904", at left; "THE PVRCHASE/OF FRAVNCES TAVERN/HIS LAST OFFICIAL ACT/HIS WILL GENEROVSLY/PROVIDED MEANS/FOR PAYMENT", at right. Reverse contains image of three-storey building at center, with inscription in exergue: "FRAVNCES TAVERN/NEW.YORK"; legend: "HERE WASHINGTON BADE FAREWELL TO HIS OFFICERS 4 DECEMBER 1783/HERE SONS OF THE REVOLUTION ORGANIZED 4 DECEMBER 1883 [within band running above central image]/BECAME THE OWNER 29 JVLY 1904." Medal is inset into dark beige square fitted cardboard box with cotton flannel interior.

MarkingsInscription: box cover, imprinted in black: "NEW YORK./FEB. 22, 1905." Inscription: box, inside cover, inscribed in black pen: "GIFT OF/ALICE FRANK MERRIAM/1966"

ClassificationsMEDALS