United States. A George Washington Memorial Association (GWMA) Membership Badge, c.1905

In Gold with blue and white enamels, weighing 9.7 grams, engraved ""Ellen Hall Crosman"" and maker marked ""CALDWELL"" on the reverse, measuring 32 mm (w) x 33.2 mm (h), ribbon has separated from the badge and houses five clasps, one clasp in Gold and blue enamels and inscribed ""MARY CROSURE FISHER"", the other four clasps in Gold and engraved ""Capt. Samuel Fisher / John Harris Jr. / William Maclay 1st U.S.S. / Col. Elihu Hall"" respectively, suspended from a hanger with pinback, the hanger inscribed ""MARY WASHINGTON COLONIAL CHAPTER"", intact enamels, near extremely fine.

Footnote: The George Washington Memorial Association (GWMA) was organized in 1898 for the purpose of establishing in Washington D.C. an educational institution for the ""promotion of science and literature"" as described by George Washington in his messages to Congress and in his will. Early attempts to establish a National University were unsuccessful and by early 1904 the GWMA entered into an agreement with Columbian University to build a marble monument to George Washington in the form of an administration building and cultural center for its new site at Constitution Avenue and 17th St., NW (now the site of the Pan American Union). Plans for building on the site fell through (though Columbian did rename itself George Washington University), and the association then joined with the Smithsonian Institution to build a multipurpose structure on the mall that would serve as a memorial to George Washington. In 1914 a competition was held and New York architects Evarts Tracy and Edgerton Swartwout were chosen. By the time the cornerstone was laid in 1921, the building was called the George Washington Victory Memorial Building to additionally honor First World War veterans. The structure included a military museum and archives. The concrete foundation and stairway were completed by 1924, and a fence was constructed around the site. For more than ten years the GWMA, with the help of Secretary Charles D. Walcott and then Charles Greeley Abbot, attempted to raise funds to complete the building but failed. The foundation and monumental stairway were razed in 1937 for the construction of the National Gallery of Art. Mary Cecil Hall Crosman was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She was a member of the Mary Washington Colonial Chapter of the George Washington Memorial Association (GWMA), as well as being a member of the National Mary Washington Memorial Association, issued the number ""239"", a founding member of the National Society of Patriotic Women of America, issued the Number ""1"" designation and a member of the Daughters of the Founders and Patriots of America, Pennsylvania Branch, later transferring to the New York Branch. She was also a member of the Society of the Colonial Dames of America, Pennsylvania Branch as of 1901, along with the National Society of United States Daughters of 1812, Pennsylvania Branch, later transferring to the New York Branch. Her lineage is traced to Robert Crosman, through Robert Crosman (1707-1799), The former Robert Crosman was born in England and died in 1692, one of the original proprietors of Dedham, Massachusetts in 1636. He was admitted townsman in 1642 and granted land in 1642, 1644, 1645 and 1652. He was one of the early ""twelve shilling"" purchasers of Taunton, Massachusetts and settled in that town about 1653. He was a skilled mechanic, largely employed in making and repairing arms, and was called the ""drum maker of New England."" In 1644 he became a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts. Robert Crosman (1707-1799) was a patriot of Taunton, Massachusetts, where he was born and died. Mary Cecil Hall Crosman lineage is also traced as Great Granddaughter of Dr. George Crosman, Great Great Granddaughter of Captain George Crosman and Great Granddaughter of Captain James Gordon Heron. She died in 1905. 

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.