This item is part of The Dr. Albert Goodwin Collection. Click Here to view all items in this collection.
Instituted in 1883. In red bronze, obverse illustrating the Goddess Liberty in the background, a soldier symbolizing fraternity to her left, a boy emblematic of the youth and strength of the future life of the Nation to her right, a kneeling woman with a standing child in front of Liberty, the woman representing motherhood, the child emblematic of the hope of the world, with American flags at either end, the one at the left fronted by an eagle, the one at the right fronted by a fasces, all are enclosed within a circle of stars, inscribed ""WOMANS / RELIEF / CORPS / 1883"" on the arms, reverse inscribed ""PATENTED MAY 4. AND SEPT. 28. 1886."", measuring 29.7 mm (w) x 30.8 mm (h), original ribbon suspended from a bronze hanger with pinback, the hanger inscribed with the interlocking initials ""FCL"" (Fraternity, Charity, Loyalty), extremely fine.
Footnote: The Woman's Relief Corps (WRC) is the official women's auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), recognized in 1883. The National Woman's Relief Corps, Auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic, Inc., is a patriotic organization whose express purpose is to perpetuate the memory of the Grand Army of the Republic, as their auxiliary organized at their request on July 25 and 26, 1883 in Denver, Colorado, and incorporated by Public Act of the 87th Congress on September 7, 1962. It is one of the many women's organizations that were founded after the American Civil War. In 1879, a group of Massachusetts women started a ""secret"" organization and its members were to be women who were loyal to the North during the American Civil War. From 1879, the WRC held as the primary means to identify women who were eligible to become members was remaining loyal to the Union. It didn't matter where the applicants lived during the Civil War as long as they could prove loyal to the Union. While it might be easy to assume that this organization was only for white women, there were many Posts across the country that had African-American women as members. The only challenge identifying these women is that the WRC records do not specify the races of its members very often. The organization was designed to assist the GAR, promote and help run Memorial Day (alongside the GAR), petition the federal government for nurses pensions, and promote patriotic education.
This offering is a part of the "Dr. Albert Goodwin Collection", a preeminent assemblage of world Orders, Medals, and Decorations composed solely by Dr.Goodwin between 1946-1967. Dr. Goodwin had a successful career as an educator and prominent physician in New York as well as actively serving in both World Wars with the United States Medical Corps. He acted as both President and Vice-President of the Orders and Medals Society of America (OMSA) and is responsible for organizing their first convention in 1960. He maintained further membership with the American Society of Military Collectors, the International Orders Research Society, and the American Numismatic Society. His knowledge and passion for history and awards is evident in this meticulously compiled collection that is now available in its entirety for the first time exclusively on eMedals.com.