Utah State Fair President's Badge
Dublin Core
Title
Utah State Fair President's Badge
Description
Utah State Fair President medal. Metal medal with a top bar, which reads "Utah State Fair." Middle bar is connected to top bar via chain links on both ends and reads "President" on a white background. Bottom medallion is connected to middle bar via two chain links and is circular with acanthus decoration around border. Center of medallion is blue and has image of a beehive, bees, a tree, and a cornicopia in center. Center of medallion also reads "Utah State Fair Association, Chartered Jan. 17, 1859." Back side of medallion has "The Whitehead & Hoag Co." trademark which includes a shield with "Brass Molders, Brass and Silver Workers Union" inscribed in shield.
This elaborately decorated badge was likely worn in the early 1900s by the president of the Utah State Fair Association, a board of twelve directors that served as the primary organizers of the state's annual fair. Originally organized in 1856 in Territorial Utah, the Utah State Fair has remained an integral part of highlighting local agricultural and industrial products, techniques, and craftsmanship for over 160 years. The event was originally called "The Deseret State Fair" and it was organized by the Deseret Agricultural and Manufacturing Society (D. A. & M. Society). Its purpose was to "promote the arts of domestic industry and to encourage the production of articles from the native elements in Utah Territory." Typically held over the course of several days, the fair consisted of contests and display booths showcasing products of agriculture, industry, animal husbandry, domestic craftsmanship, cooking, and even personal talents. In the early 1900s, the typical State Fair scene included displays of prize-winning livestock, fowl, fruits and vegetables, saddles and leatherwork, baskets, furniture, weaving and needlework, food items like native sugar, butter, cheese, and candies, silk specimens, metal work, sign painting, mastery of penmanship, and more. Overall, having been geographically isolated from manufacturing centers on the United States' east and west coasts through Utah's early settlement, many Utahns relied on the fair as a means for sharing ideas and learning new techniques to improve local and territorial-wide development. It wasn't until after receiving statehood in 1896 that the exposition was renamed the "State Fair."
Although it is unknown exactly who wore this Utah State Fair Association President's badge, it is possible to date it roughly between 1907 and 1919 judging from both the logo on the front and the trademark on the back: 1907 being the first year the D. A. & M. Society was reorganized and renamed the Utah State Fair Association, and 1919 representing the year the Whitehead & Hoag Company dissolved its identification as a union company (see the union trademark stamp on back of medallion). Between these years the Association's presidents were James G. McDonald (1904-1916), William S. Romney (1916-1918) and William C. Winder (1918-1937).
This elaborately decorated badge was likely worn in the early 1900s by the president of the Utah State Fair Association, a board of twelve directors that served as the primary organizers of the state's annual fair. Originally organized in 1856 in Territorial Utah, the Utah State Fair has remained an integral part of highlighting local agricultural and industrial products, techniques, and craftsmanship for over 160 years. The event was originally called "The Deseret State Fair" and it was organized by the Deseret Agricultural and Manufacturing Society (D. A. & M. Society). Its purpose was to "promote the arts of domestic industry and to encourage the production of articles from the native elements in Utah Territory." Typically held over the course of several days, the fair consisted of contests and display booths showcasing products of agriculture, industry, animal husbandry, domestic craftsmanship, cooking, and even personal talents. In the early 1900s, the typical State Fair scene included displays of prize-winning livestock, fowl, fruits and vegetables, saddles and leatherwork, baskets, furniture, weaving and needlework, food items like native sugar, butter, cheese, and candies, silk specimens, metal work, sign painting, mastery of penmanship, and more. Overall, having been geographically isolated from manufacturing centers on the United States' east and west coasts through Utah's early settlement, many Utahns relied on the fair as a means for sharing ideas and learning new techniques to improve local and territorial-wide development. It wasn't until after receiving statehood in 1896 that the exposition was renamed the "State Fair."
Although it is unknown exactly who wore this Utah State Fair Association President's badge, it is possible to date it roughly between 1907 and 1919 judging from both the logo on the front and the trademark on the back: 1907 being the first year the D. A. & M. Society was reorganized and renamed the Utah State Fair Association, and 1919 representing the year the Whitehead & Hoag Company dissolved its identification as a union company (see the union trademark stamp on back of medallion). Between these years the Association's presidents were James G. McDonald (1904-1916), William S. Romney (1916-1918) and William C. Winder (1918-1937).
Creator
Whitehead & Hoag Co.
Source
1988-027-001
Publisher
Utah State Archives
Date
Circa 1907-1919
Contributor
Utah Division of State History
Rights
Copyright All Years. Utah Division of State History. All Rights Reserved.
Collection
Citation
Whitehead & Hoag Co., “Utah State Fair President's Badge,” Utah Folk Arts, accessed May 3, 2024, https://utahfolkarts.omeka.net/items/show/82.