Title:
Dames of Auxiliary badge
Description:
Shield-shaped pinback badge, brass, attached to a ribbon. Ribbon has three vertical lines of red, white, and blue (faded and fraying). Inscribed on the pinback bar: Dames of 1846 Auxiliary Mexican War Veterans. Obverse: Tobasco; Vera Cruz; Palo Alto; Buena Vista; Cerro Gordo; Churubusco; Chepultepec; San Pascual. Image of a ship on the top left corner, weapons in the middle and a cannon on the top right. The center depicts a wreath around cactus and shrubs, and a palace. Etched: 1846, Scott, Perry, Taylor. A row of stars outline the sides of the medal. Etched on the reverse of the shield: 01.
Description:
Historical Note: The Dames of 1846 was founded in Fort Worth, Texas in 1901 by Mrs. M. Moore Murdock. Mrs. Murdock was the secretary of the active Texas Mexican War Veterans. The membership of the Dames of 1846 was made up of the wives and daughters of Mexican War veterans. The Dames of 1846 continued in existence until Mrs. Murdock's death in 1932. The auxiliary badge is similar to the veteran's badge, although slightly smaller. Each badge, made by the Baltimore firm of J. Arthur Limerick, was numbered on the reverse. Less than 400 of these badges were made for the organization that at no time exceeded 350 members. This badge is number 01, as evidenced by the number etched on the reverse of the badge. The conflict between the United States and Mexico in 1846-1848 had its roots in the annexation of Texas and the westward thrust of American settlers. On assuming the American presidency in 1845, James K. Polk attempted to secure Mexican agreement to setting the boundary at the Rio Grande and to the sale of northern California. Frustrated by the Mexican refusal to negotiate, Polk, on January 13, 1846, directed Gen. Zachary Taylor's army at Corpus Christi to advance to the Rio Grande. The Mexican government viewed that as an act of war. Eventually, after a series of confrontations and battles, on February 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, through which the United States gained California, Arizona, New Mexico, and the Rio Grande boundary for Texas, as well as portions of Utah, Nevada, and Colorado.
Identifier:
ATF0309
Item identifier:
ATF0309
Collection:
Artifacts collection
Date of creation:
1846
Container information:
Artifact Box 0062
Subject:
Mexican War, 1846-1848
Type:
Image
Type:
Memorabilia
Type:
Medal, Commemorative
Medium:
Metal
Medium:
Cloth
Citation information:
ATF0309, Artifacts collection. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Copyright information:
This image is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States. The Item and its design depicted in this image may be protected by copyright, patents, trademarks, or other related rights. You are free to use this image in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. Unless expressly stated otherwise, Texas State Library and Archives Commission makes no warranties about the Item and cannot guarantee the accuracy of this Rights Statement. You are responsible for your own use. Please contact the Texas State Library and Archives Commission for more information. You may need to obtain other permissions for your intended use. For example, other rights such as publicity, privacy or moral rights may limit how you may use the material.
Size or duration:
3.5 in x 1.75 in x 0.01 in
Language:
English