January 12, 2009
By Nick Massella

Rare Gold, Silver, and Bronze Presidential and Vice Presidential Inaugural Medals on Display at GW's Gelman Library

The Darrell C. Crain Collection of Official Presidential and Vice Presidential Inaugural Medals, displayed in the Special Collections Department of GW's Gelman Library, is one of the rare complete sets of Presidential and Vice Presidential Inaugural medals. The collection begins with the McKinley medal of 1901 and continues through the second Clinton/Gore Inauguration in 1997. The collection was assembled by Crain in honor of his father, who designed medals for Presidents Wilson, Harding, and Coolidge. Crain, a 1932 alumnus of GW's School of Medicine, presented the medals to the University in 1976. At that time, it was the only complete set of inaugural medals in existence.

On the occasion of his second inauguration, William McKinley decided to have commemorative medals made as presentation gifts to the inaugural committee members and other officials. Generally, the medals are struck in gold, silver, or bronze, and range in size from 45mm to 70mm in diameter.

For more information on the Darrell C. Crain Collection of Official Presidential and Vice Presidential Inaugural Medals at The George Washington University, please contact Nick Massella at (202) 994-3087 or massella@gwu.edu. For more information on GW's Special Collection Department, visit http://www.gelman.gwu.edu/collections/SCRC.