Name/Title
National McKinley Birthplace Memorial Centennial 1917-2017Entry/Object ID
2015.4.181Description
This commemorative ornament is a remembrance of the centennial celebration of the National McKinley Birthplace Memorial. the ornament is gold plated. It consists of a relief rendering of the National McKinley Birthplace Memorial under an arch reading "National McKinley Birthplace Memorial Niles, OH" above an inlay of red carnations an scroll work. The sides of the arch consist of a stripe of red with gold crosses overlaid on gold. The bottom of the ornament has a red banner with the text "National McKinley Birrthplace Memorial Celebrating 100 Years 1917-2017" in black. The Ohio State flag is in the left corner, and the United States flag is in the right corner. The back of the ornament is plain gold. There is a small gold hanging loop at the top of the ornament, with a blue satin ribbon through the gold hanging loop.
There is a navy velveteen insert in the box. The box is of gold color, with a large viewing "window" on the lid. The back of the box is solid.
the National McKinley Birthplace Memorial was founded by Joseph G. Butler, Jr. He suggested the idea for a memorial to his lifelong friend, William McKinley in the place of McKinley's birth, Niles, Ohio on February 4, 1910, during a speech he made to the Niles Board of Trade. Butler then dsicussed fundraising with his friend, Judge Elbert Gary, who suggested he go to his friend, then-President William Howard Tft. Taft asked Butler to go to his congressman, W. Aubrey Thomas also of Niles, and have him introduce a bill chartering the National McKinley Birthplace Memorial Association. This bill, signed into law by President Taft March 4, 1911, also stated that no government funding was to be used in the building. At that time, Joseph Butler went to his friends, all entrepreneurs and men of wealth, to seek funds. The men whose busts decorate the building each donated at least a thousand dollars to the construction fund. The City of Niles voted a $100,000 bond issue and donated the land on which thhe memorial sits. The building committee also chose the architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White to design the Greek Revival building in the form of a Roamn temple. Additional funds for the endowment were secured through the sale of one dollar gold coins, minted by the United States mint in 1916 and 1917. These coins showed the image of McKinley on the front, and an image of the National McKinley Birthplace Memorial building on the back. Funds from this, as well as the sale of one dollar lifetime memberships in the National McKinley Birthplace Memorial Association established the endowment fund.
On September 9, 1915, without ceremony, ground was broken for the Memorial. Buildings that were on the site of the Memorial were removed, and the John H. Parker Co., of New York commenced construction. The cornerstone, in which a time capsule was entombed, was laid on November 20, 1915. The building is constructed of Georgia marble. It consists of two wings on either side of an equally sized court of honor. The colossal statue of McKinley in the center of the court of honor, as well as the majority of the busts of those contributing to the construction fund, were sculpted by noted American sculptor John Massey-Rhind. The court of honor is surrounded by twenty-eight monolithic columns, constructed as one piece. Oroginally a fountain flowed in front of the statue of McKinley, however this was replaced in later years and now contains a flower bed.
The north wing consists of the auditorium, complete with a stage. The museum, which is actually the first presidential museum, was relocated from its original two rooms in the library, sometime in the 1960s to the balcony of the auditorium.
The McKinley Memorial Library, housed in the south wing of the building, also houses some of the busts of prominent men who contributed to the construction fund, including Henry Clay Frick, Andrew Carnegie, and Joseph Butler. The flooring of the book stak area is unique in that it is glass.Collection
ScarmuzziAcquisition
Accession
2015.4.0Source or Donor
Patricia A. ScarmuzziAcquisition Method
Gift