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Chancellor Charles P. Norton Medal records

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 5-3-431

Scope and Contents

Speeches, photographs, and correspondence relating to the Chancellor Charles P. Norton medalists (commonly referred to as the Chancellor's Medal). Also includes two copies of Great Citizens of Buffalo: Chancellors Medal Awards, 1925-1944. Note: files are not comprehensive for each medalist.

Dates

  • 1922-1984

Creator

Terms of Access and Use

Chancellor Charles P. Norton Medal records are open to researchers.

Copyright

Copyright is held by The State University of New York at Buffalo. Copyright in other papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors' heirs or assigns. Researchers must obtain the written permission of the holder(s) of copyright and the University Archives before publishing quotations from materials in the collection. Most papers may be copied in accordance with the library's usual procedures unless otherwise specified.

Historical Note

The Chancellor's Medal is awarded to individuals whose accomplishments have greatly added to the prestige of the city of Buffalo and often to the University as well. Recipients of the Chancellor's Medal, the highest award given by the University, exemplify what it means to be a "great citizen of Buffalo."

On February 9, 1922, former Chancellor Charles P. Norton added a clause to his will establishing the Chancellor's Medal. In the clause he wrote:

The purpose of the clause in my will relating to the Chancellor's Medal is to personify civic patriotism and vilify public service in the eyes of the citizen of Buffalo. I ask the Council of the University to award it each year on Washington's birthday at the University exercises to some citizen who performed some great thing which is identified with Buffalo. It may be a great civic or political act, a great book, a great work of art, a great scientific achievement, or any other thing which in itself is truly great and ennobling and which dignifies the performer and Buffalo in the eyes of the world. By Buffalo, I mean not only the City of Buffalo as it is circumscribed by its city limits, but also the greater Buffalo of its environing neighborhood to which the City's moral, intellectual, educational and business influence extends. The deed for which the medal is given need not have been performed within the year immediately preceding the time of warding the decoration. The medal may be awarded to a man, woman, or child.

The first recipient of the medal was Charles Henry Brent in 1925.

Extent

1 Linear Feet (2 manuscript boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Speeches, photographs, and correspondence relating to the Chancellor Charles P. Norton medalists (commonly referred to as the Chancellor's Medal). Also includes two copies of Great Citizens of Buffalo: Chancellors Medal Awards, 1925-1944.

Arrangement

Chronological.

Acquisition Information

Chancellor Charles P. Norton Medal records were transferred to University Archives in two accessions: by the Office of the President in July 1977; and by the Office of Public Affairs in March 1986 as accession 86-014 (materials dated 1976-1984).

Accruals and Additions

Additions may be added to this collection.

Processing Information

Processed by Amy Vilz, October 2019; finding aid encoded by Amy Vilz, October 2019.

  • Awards Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
  • Medals Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus

Source

Title
Finding Aid for the Chancellor Charles P. Norton Medals records
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid prepared by Amy Vilz
Date
23 October 2019
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the University Archives Repository

Contact:
420 Capen Hall
Buffalo New York 14260-1674 US
716-645-2916
716-645-3714 (Fax)