World War I Gold Star Mothers Pilgrimage Medal issued to Mrs. Margaret A. Neal

Object Details

Manufactured by

Bailey Banks & Biddle, American, founded 1832

Owned by

Margaret A. Neal, American

Subject of

Second Lieutenant Ralph T. Neal, American, 1890 - 1918

Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial, French, founded 1918

Description

2019.16a: A World War I Gold Star Mothers Pilgrimage medal issued to Mrs. Margaret A. Neal of Massachusetts, in commemoration of her pilgrimage to her stepson's, Second Lieutenant Ralph T. Neal's, gravesite at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial in France. This medal is a composite object: a gold toned, nameplate bar pin with a safety catch, holding a red, white, and blue ribbon, attached to a gold medal. The front of the bar pin has a small relief frame with relief text that reads [Mrs. Margaret A. Neal / Massachusetts]. The ribbon is looped over a pin at the bottom of the bar pin and held in place with thread. The medal is attached to the bottom of the ribbon. It is gold toned and roughly teardrop shaped. The obverse is dominated by a five-pointed star at the center of the medal. The star is set inside a circular frame with relief text that reads [PILGRIMAGE OF MOTHERS AND WIDOWS]. Wrapped around the bottom of the circular frame is a wreath. At the top of the medal is the Great Seal of the United States: a bald eagle with its wings displayed, holding a bundle of thirteen (13) arrows in its left talon and an olive branch in its right talon. In its beak the eagle clutches a scroll with the motto [E PLURIBUS] and [UNUM]. Over the eagle’s head there is ring of circular clouds with a starburst at the center. Within the cloud ring is a cluster of thirteen (13) five-pointed stars. A striped shield covers the eagle's breast. Below the seal are two partial American flags. On the reverse of the medal at the top is a stamped maker’s mark for Bailey Banks & Biddle that reads [B.B.B.CO. / ©]. Along the bottom edge are stamped numbers that read [6479].

2019.16b: A royal blue medal presentation box for World War I Gold Star Mothers Pilgrimage Medal issued to Mrs. Margaret A. Neal (2019.16a). The box is royal blue with a faux leather finish and a white satin padded insert. At the center of the box is a white, outlined five-pointed star set inside a circular frame with relief text that reads [PILGRIMAGE OF MOTHERS AND WIDOWS]. Below is white text that reads [GUEST OF THE UNITED STATES]. The lid interior has small, centered white text that reads [THE / ·BAILEY·BANKS&·BIDDLE· / ·COMPANY· / Philadelphia]. Below and to the left is additional text that reads [DEPARTMENT OF INSIGNIA]. The lid is hinged to the base with glued black fabric. The box contains a folded piece of yellow tissue paper.

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

1930

Object number

2019.16ab

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

Type

commemorative medals

Medium

2019.16a (medal): copper and copper alloy and silk (textile)

2019.16b (box): ink on cardboard with paper (fiber product) and satin

Dimensions

H x W x D (2019.16a): 3 3/16 × 1 5/8 × 1/4 in. (8.1 × 4.2 × 0.6 cm)

H x W x D (2019.16b): 11/16 × 2 1/2 × 4 1/4 in. (1.8 × 6.3 × 10.8 cm)

Place made

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America

Place used

Meuse, France, Europe

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Awards, Medals, and Insignia

Exhibition

Double Victory: The African American Military Experience

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Community/Third Floor, 3 053

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Topic

African American

Families

Military

Motherhood

World War I

Record ID

nmaahc_2019.16ab

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd585b23128-43c3-4645-9b08-d4b1d2ffb651