Congressional Gold Medal, 1864
Scope and Contents
Awarded to Cornelius Vanderbilt by Congress in 1864 the Congressional Medal, given in appreciation of the gift of the steamship Vanderbilt to the Union Navy during the Civil War, is the highest expression of national appreciation to an individual or institution. The medal is commissioned by Congress and then minted by the U.S. Government to specifically commemorate the person honored. In this case, the medal designed by Salathiel Ellis and Emmanuel Leutze features a profile portrait of Cornelius Vanderbilt on one side with the words “A Grateful Country to her Generous Son” and the reverse of the medal depicts a kneeling and a standing figure, an eagle and ship and the Latin words “Bis Dat Qui Tempori Dat” translating to “He Gave Twice Who Gave in Time.”
Dates
- Creation: 1864
Conditions Governing Access
The physical materials from this collection may be viewed only in the reading room of Vanderbilt’s Special Collections and University Archives. Materials should be requested two to three days in advance to facilitate easier access. Contact specialcollections@vanderbilt.edu to schedule an appointment.
Full Extent
From the Collection: 0.42 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Repository Details
Part of the Vanderbilt University Special Collections and University Archives Repository
Special Collections Library
1101 19th Ave. S.
Nashville TN 37212 United States
specialcollections@vanderbilt.edu
About this Site
This site contains collection guides, or finding aids, to the archival collections held by Vanderbilt University Special Collections and University Archives, the History of Medicine Collection, and the Scarritt Bennett Center. Finding aids describe the context, arrangement, and structure of archival materials, allowing users to identify and request materials relevant to their research.
Requesting Materials
Each finding aid contains a link to request materials from the collections. Collections can also be requested by emailing the repository directly through the library website. Each repository has its own location, hours, and contact information. Please consult the repository with questions about using the materials. Collections are non-circulating and must be used in the repository’s reading room. In many cases, the collections are stored off-site and require advance notice for retrieval.