ROCHESTER MECHANICS LITERARY ASSOCIATION MEDALS
From "THE COMMON-GOOD of Civic and Social Rochester", Vol. 4, October 1910
The
Mechanics Literary Association was founded February 10, 1836. by sixteen
practical mechanics. Their object was "their own mutual advancement in
scientific and literary knowledge and the mental and moral culture of
apprentices and poor young men."
Their library
began with donations amounting to 500 volumes from citizens generally.
This was afterwards increased by the proceeds of several annual
fairs. Their association flourished for six or eight years, their
library expanded to 2000 volumes and some of their debates were
chronicled as great gladiatorial combats. Then they failed gradually
until the number of members was reduced to 20. In its declining days
the library developed a migratory character, moving four times in ten
years.
By 1877 the Association had become all but non-existent with the books becoming the property of
Mortimer F. Reynolds and George S. Riley; eventually becoming the Reynolds Library in 1884.
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Literary Association / Washington Temperance Society Mule
Greenslet GM- 67, GW-173, white metal, 41mm
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Greenslet GM-67, GW-173, copper, 41mm
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Greenslet GM-67, GW-173, bronze, 41mm
IMAGE NEEDED
Greenslet GM-67, GW-173, brass, 41mm
IMAGE NEEDED
Entrance to the Reynolds Reference library within
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Literary Association / House of Temperance Mule
Greenslet GM- 68, bronze, 41mm
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Postcard to George S. Riley announcing the
Trustees meeting for the Rochester Atheneum and Mechanics Institute, the
remnants of the Literary Association becoming part of this group.
Literary Association Award Medal
Greenslet GM-69, bronze, 41mm
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(on line image)
I suspect that the 'AWARDED TO' die was the original pairing with the
Franklin die, the other two combinations being later mulings. It is
almost certain that Robert Sr. produced these dies but he was not known
for producing mulings such as these. Of course his son George H. was and
he was working with his father around this time as well as probably
obtaining his father's dies after his death. It would be just like him
to combine two unlikely dies and produce medals in limited quantities
for the collector market.
Greenslet list the GM-67 in bronze, copper, and white metal, Musante
list a brass version. GM-68 is listed in bronze only. GM-69 is only
listed in bronze but the example below indicates some were struck in
silver.
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