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Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
University of Louisville Award of Merit
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

University of Louisville Award of Merit

Object numberMO 1950.101.18
Name Award
Artist (American sculptor, 1891-1954)
Gifter
Date1950
Mediummetal (bronze)
Dimensionsoverall H 13 1/2 in x W 2 1/2 in x D 2 5/8 in (34.3 cm x 6.4 cm x 6.7 cm )
DescriptionA University of Louisville award issued to Eleanor Roosevelt. The award consists of a green patinated statuette of the Roman goddess, Minerva, holding a shield. The figure stands on an integrated, matching base.

An inscription engraved on the front side of the base reads: UNIVERSITY / of / LOUISVILLE / AWARD / for / MERIT. Engraved in bronze-colored lettering on the reverse of the base: ELEANOR / ROOSEVELT / March 15, 1950. The artist's name is engraved on the left-facing side of the base: Romuald Kraus.
Label TextEleanor Roosevelt wrote about receiving this Award of Merit from the University of Louisville in the March 18, 1950 edition of her popular "My Day" newspaper column, sharing: "From Cleveland I flew early Wednesday morning to Louisville. Fortunately the weather treated me kindly and I was on time. At eleven o'clock there was a convocation of students and faculty of the University of Louisville. Mr. H. F. Willkie, vice president of Joseph E. Seagram & Sons, Inc., was given a degree and I was given an award of merit, a charming little statue of Minerva done by one of their art department sculptors. The Memorial Auditorium in which I spoke is a building in which segregation is not permitted; so students from both colored and white colleges attended."

The award's sculptor, Romuald Kraus, began teaching at the University of Louisville in 1947. His design for the award was based on the University of Louisville's university seal which features an image of Minerva.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteDonated to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum by Eleanor Roosevelt.
Credit LineGift of Eleanor Roosevelt
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesGift Items and Commemorative Artifacts (National Archives Identifier 782690)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedCopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
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