Order of the Quetzal from Guatemala. (Courtesy of the Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library)
In celebration of the 200th anniversary of Latin America’s wars of independence, Princeton University Library is set to display an exhibition of medals called From a Thankful Nation.
The exhibition features hundreds of Latin American decorations, ranging from a plain silver medal awarded to an officer of the Buenos Aires armed forces that freed Montevideo from Spanish colonial rule in 1814, to Guatemala’s highest award given to foreign presidents, the Collar of the Order of the Quetzal.
From a Thankful Nation is based on the collection assembled by Robert L. Ross, a retired investment banker who worked throughout his career to improve living standards in Latin America. Ross donated his medals to the university Numismatic Collection for study, research, and teaching purposes in support of the Program in Latin American Studies. .
The exhibition traces the development of Latin American medals from their origins in the emblems of medieval crusading knights and the Spanish, Portuguese and French royal and imperial orders through the revolutionary battles and the building of republics throughout the region.
The use of medals as part of the governing strategies of dictatorial caudillos and adventuring “filibusters” is illustrated by such pieces as the pearl-adorned example of the Grand Cross badge of the Juan Pablo Duarte Order of the Dominican Republic that the dictator Rafael Trujillo, as grand master of the order, awarded to himself.
While tracing the awards to common soldiers and laborers, the exhibition is most eye-catching with the display of no fewer than 10 examples of collars, the highest grade of an order (usually reserved for heads of state), as well as 70 Grand Cross sets, most replete with brightly colored silk sashes enameled gilt badges, and breast stars.
Miguel Angel Centeno, Chair of Princeton’s Department of Sociology, is set to give a public lecture on the ideals exemplified by the pieces in the exhibition 3 p.m. April 13 in McCormick Hall 101. The lecture will be preceded by a curatorial tour of the exhibition at 1:30 p.m. Additional curatorial tours are scheduled for 3 p.m. Feb. 28 and May 29.
“From a Thankful Nation” runs from Feb. 25 through Aug. 3 and is open to the public without charge on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 to 5 p.m. 7.
More information is online at rbsc.princeton.edu/thankful-nation.
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