A Congressional Gold Medal, a miniature house crafted in 24-karat gold, and a solid gold intricately engraved cigar case were given to Cornelius Vanderbilt, the Commodore and founder of Vanderbilt University by the United States government, his wife Sophia, and a grateful stockholder.

Other artifacts that have come to the libraries from the Vanderbilt family are historic and hallmarked sterling silver serving pieces made by silversmiths of the 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries.

Memorabilia artifacts that are distinctly Vanderbilt are the 23-karat gold Nobel Prize won by Dr. Earl Sutherland, Jr., in 1971; the silver charm bracelet worn by Ladies of the Bracelet; and an 1861 silver half-dollar discovered in the cornerstone of Kirkland Hall when the contents were removed as part of the sesquicentennial celebration of 2023.

It is not often that these rare items are exhibited, but in a year of sesquicentennial celebrations, we are delighted to put on display unique and historic artifacts of silver and gold that have been entrusted to the Vanderbilt libraries.