Metalwork

NOTES: The RIBA Donaldson Medal is awarded by the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College, London, to the student who graduates top of the class at the end of Part 1. This medal was first struck as a commemorative medal in honour of T. L. Donaldson "To commemorate long & zealous services in promoting the study of architecture" (see RIBA97289).

NOTES: This medal was first struck as a commemorative medal in honour of T. L. Donaldson "To commemorate long & zealous services in promoting the study of architecture" on the occasion of his retirement as first Professor of Construction and Architecture at University College, London. It has been reproduced as the RIBA Donaldson Medal, awarded by the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College, London, to the student who graduates top of the class at the end of Part 1 (see RIBA97288).

NOTES: The Honorary Medal was designed by Thomas Donaldson, at the time Honorary Secretary of the RIBA, and sculpted by Benjamin Wyon. The obverse shows the Temple of Theseus with the motto of the Institute (Usui Civium, Decori Urbium), also invented by Donaldson. The medal was awarded over the years for essays and for measured drawings. The first award was made in 1836 to George Godwin for an essay on concrete.

NOTES: The idea for the RIBA Street Architecture Medal began before World War I with the idea of giving awards to encourage excellence in design and an increase of public interest in street architecture in London. In 1923 the first award for the best public building in London completed during the previous year was presented to W. Curtis Green for Wolseley House, 157-160 Piccadilly.

NOTES: The Council of the RIBA had been given -ú1000 as a Memorial to Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin. A Pugin Memorial Trust Committee was established to decide how to use the money and the proposal was for an annual travelling studentship to study the medieval architecture of Great Britain and Ireland. The competition was open to members of the profession from any country between the ages of 18 and 25. The successful candidate had to undertake a study tour in the United Kingdom lasting at least 8 weeks producing a report and sketches at the end. The candidate only received the money and the medal when he presented these to Council. This medal is the one awarded to John James Joass in 1893 for his study tour of north-east Scotland.

NOTES: The Commissioners for the Exhibition of 1851 ran a competition for a Rome Scholarship in Architecture for three years study at the British School in Rome. In 1913 the RIBA joined with the Commissioners to run the Henry Jarvis Travelling Studentship, worth -ú200 and two years at the British School in Rome. The same conditions applied for both awards and was judged by the Faculty of Architecture of the British School in Rome. The first prize winner would be awarded the Rome Scholarship in Architecture and the runner-up the Henry Jarvis Travelling Studentship. Although a medal was proposed as early as 1934, a list of recipients was not compiled until 1936. It was to be rewarded retrospectively and the RIBA had determined that the medal would be given to recipients of the Henry Jarvis Travelling Studentship as well as recipients of the Rome Scholarship in Architecture. Marshall Arnott Sisson, to whom the medal pictured here was presented, was awarded the Henry Jarvis Travelling Scholarship in 1924.

NOTES: George Godwin, past Vice President of the RIBA and a former editor of ÔÇÿThe BuilderÔÇÖ magazine, founded a bursary at the RIBA in his name in 1881. The successful British entrant, selected on the quality of his working drawings, was to undertake a study trip of not less than 5 weeks on the Continent or in the United States to investigate and report to Council on the best of modern planning and construction. In 1884 RIBA Council decided that they would like to award a medal with the bursary so Godwin, having given permission, gave Council a further amount towards the dies for the medal. Hugh McLachlan was the winner of the 1883 Godwin Bursary.

NOTES: The Medal of Merit first appears to have been awarded in 1838. It seems to have been awarded for essays or drawings when the judges did not feel any submissions were of first quality so the prize medal intended was not awarded and a Medal of Merit given instead. The Medal of Merit also appears to have been awarded as a runner-up prize. Andrew Thomas Taylor (later Sir Andrew Thomas Taylor) was awarded an RIBA Silver Medal in 1874 for an essay on the architecture of London in the 16th century, but a year later this Medal of Merit for a design for a London residence.

NOTES: In late April 1879 the Institute held its annual dinner in the FreemasonsÔÇÖ Tavern, Great Queen Street, London, with the then President, Charles Barry Jnr, in the chair and the Patron, HRH the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII), in attendance. In the final toast, proposed by the Prince of Wales, Professor Donaldson was singled out by the Prince as a veteran and loved member of the Institute. Following this dinner Donaldson proposed to the President and Council that he be allowed to present to the Institute a badge and chain of office for the President. He had intended to leave money in his will for this, but following the dinner felt that presenting the badge and chain in commemoration of the Prince of WalesÔÇÖs attendance at the InstituteÔÇÖs annual dinner would be more appropriate. Council agreed and the badge and chain, made by Hunt & Roskell (silversmiths and jewellers to Queen Victoria), was first presented by the outgoing President, Mr Barry, to the incoming President, John Whichcord, at the opening meeting of the new session of the Royal Institute of British Architects on 1 December 1879. The designer of the badge is not known ÔÇô possibly it was designed by Donaldson himself. [Builder, vol. 37, 1879, p. 477-479, 1334]