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Farr Medal: CM.31-2005

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Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Artist: Wyon, Allan Gairdner
Issuer: London School of Economics and Political Science
Issuer: Whittall, W. J. H.

Entities

Categories

Description

William Farr was a British epidemiologist who died in 1883, being by then known as one of the foremost contributors to the field of medical statistics due to his work on infection in cholera epidemics that helped to lead to the public health measures over standing water that eventually quelled the disease in Britain. The Farr Medal was established, with its associated prize, in 1923
by Mr W. J. H. Whittall and the London School of Economics and Political Science, to be awarded annually to one student, being the most successful student in "The Theory and Practice of Statistics". In 1961 the LSE, as it had become, approved inclusion of Computational Methods and between 1977 and 1979 this was again reviewed and an additional School prize in Mathematics was established. In 2004 the award of the medal was finally dropped, but the prize is still given annually. The Museum must thank Mr Thomas Hewlett at the LSE for the information here presented. The medal was designed by Allan Gairdner Wyon, and this piece is a specimen of the design in white-metal; the Museum also has one in bronze.

Notes

History note: From the estate of the late Mrs Venetia M. Watson, daughter of the artist

Place(s) associated

  • London

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (2005-01-31) by Watson, Philip Charles

Dating

After 1923-11-15 CE - Uncertain 1924 CE

Note

Potin test-piece

Components of the work

Object composed of potin Diameter 43.0 mm Die Axis 0 degrees Weight 44.52 g

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: Bust of Wiliam Farr half right with legend in border around

  • Text: WILLIAM · FARR · M·D · F·R·S · C·B / · 1807-1883 ·
  • Location: Obverse
  • Type: Design

Inscription present: London School of Economics coat of arms on laurel wreath with "University of London" around above and motto "RERUM COGNOSCERE CAUSAS" on banner around below, border around with legend outside

  • Text: ·THE·LONDON·SCHOOL·OF·ECONOMICS·AND·POLITICAL·SCIENCE·+
  • Location: Reverse
  • Type: Design

Identification numbers

Accession number: CM.31-2005
Primary reference Number: 156550
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Thursday 30 June 2016 Last processed: Tuesday 13 June 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Coins and Medals

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Farr Medal" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/156550 Accessed: 2024-11-06 01:47:38

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/156550 |title=Farr Medal |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-06 01:47:38|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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