Cornplanter Medal

It was initiated by University of Chicago anthropologist Frederick Starr with seed money from nine associates in order to engrave and print sketches of Iroquois games and dances.

Starr had two main goals while he planned the medal: One, he wanted to recognize and award the people who were contributing to research and knowledge of the Iroquois.

Two, he intended to prove that the tribe, contrary to some academic opinion, had artisans that showed abilities of a "true artist", by presenting and preserving the art of the Iroquois youth Jesse Cornplanter.

The medal was endowed through sales of the publication of the sketches in the booklet Iroquois Indian Games and Dances (c. 1903).

[1][2] First presented in 1904 by the Cayuga County Historical Society in Auburn NY,[2] it was awarded every two years to people who fall into one or more of the following classes:[1]