Robert Lovett Jr Gallery: Baltimore Female College Medals

Baltimore Female College Medals

The Baltimore Female College opened it's doors in 1849, having been chartered by the State of Maryland in 1848. Originally a Methodist Episcopal Institution, and the pioneer institute in the State for the higher education of women, it became non-denominational in 1868 by an act of the legislature. The school began on property on Paul Street moving to new buildings on Park Place in 1874. Its curriculum was Liberal Arts but the primary mission was training teachers. Dr. Nathan Covington Brooks presided as its President from it's opening until 1890 when it was forced to close due to the withdrawal of the grant from the State of Maryland.

There are three varieties of medals. The larger Premium Medal appears to have been given to graduates and others the college chose to honor. The smaller Undergraduate Medal was given for excellence in various areas of study. Robert Lovett Jr. engraved the dies and probably struck the medals until the mint took over production in 1865. Although Julian states that the Premium Medals were only struck in silver he must have been referring to those struck by the mint and not earlier by Robert Jr..

Baltimore Female College Premium Medal

Awarded to Edward Everett, June 24, 1859
Julian SC-5 with modified reverse, silver, 50.69 mm

From "Godey's Lady's Book", Vol. 60, 1860

If Julian is correct in his statement that the mint struck these beginning in 1865 this piece dated 1859 may have been struck by Robert Jr. himself. Notice the reverse does not have the normal inscription but a hand engraved inscription, including the scroll.

Edward Everett was a lifelong politician beginning with his election to the House of Representatives in 1824 and ending with his 1860 Vice Presidential candidacy with John Bell. He served as Governor of Massachusetts from 1835 to 1839 then served as minister to great Britain under President Harrison. He was Secretary of State during the last 4 months of Millard Fillmore's administation and then served 15 months in the Senate, resigning because of public outcry over his failure to vote against the Kansas-Nebraska Bill.

A staunch defender of the Union during the Civil War one of his most admired speeches was the address he gave at the dedication of the Gettysburg Cemetery; unfortunately it has been mostly forgotten because of president Lincoln's now famous Gettysburg Address.

Edward Everett's address to the 1831 Annual Fair of

The American Institute

Julian SC-5, silver, 50.6mm
Awarded to Adelaidae E Simmont

Julian SC-5, bronze, 50 mm

R.W. Julian, in "Medals Of The United States Mint" only list these medals as having been struck by the mint from 1865 to 1887 in silver. I would assume the bronze versions were struck before the Mint took over production.

Envelope addressed to a professor at the College

Awarded to George P. Morris
Julian SC-5, bronze, 50 mm

(image compliments of a Virginia collector)

George P. Morris was also awarded a medal engraved by Robert Lovett Sr, the Croton Aqueduct Completion Medal, for his poem "A Croton Ode".

From "The Thirtieth Annual Catalogue of The Baltimore Female
College, Academical Year ending May 1st, 1877"

Baltimore Female College Brooks Medal

Julian SC-6, silver, 34mm

Julian SC-6, bronze, 32.6mm

The note in "Medals of the United States Mint" says that only a few of the bronze examples were struck in 1868. As is the case with the other varieties were more struck outside the mint?