Within two weeks of the sinking of the Titanic in the North Atlantic onApril 15, 1912 - one hundred years ago next month - the president ofthe Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, Charles L. Taylor, appointed a committeeof three to explore what action the Commission might take to recognize acts ofheroism performed in the rescue of the tragedy's survivors.

Providing recognition for individual heroes was not within the scopeof the eight-year-old Hero Fund, whose awarding requirements limitedconsideration to acts of heroism occurring "in the United States ofAmerica, the Dominion of Canada, the Colony of Newfoundland,or the waters thereof." Four hundred miles off the Great Banks ofNewfoundland could not be considered "the waters thereof."

The special committee reported on their thinking to the Hero Fund'sstanding Executive Committee on April 30. From the minutes of thatmeeting: "A general discussion followed as to whether any action shouldbe taken...and many views were expressed on both sides of the question.Finally, a motion was offered that the Executive Committee, having beenauthorized to act for the Commission in this matter, decide torecognize the acts of heroism performed by members of the ship'scompany of the S.S. Titanic. Motion carried." The motion, whichwas later adopted by the full Commission, is as follows:

"WHEREAS, the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, under the termsof its foundation, being unable adequately to recognize the sublimeself-sacrifice displayed by passengers, officers, and crew of theSteamship Titanic, lost off the Banks of Newfoundland, April 15,1912, nevertheless desires to record its admiration for their acts ofheroism, and to commemorate these great and inspiring examplesof exalted womanhood and manhood; therefore be it

"RESOLVED, that a gold medal be issued by this Commission,appropriately inscribed to the heroines and heroes of the SteamshipTitanic and deposited in the United States National Museum atWashington, and that a record thereof be placed on the Roll of Honorof the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, as a lasting memorial ofthose whose chivalrous conduct and self-sacrifice have profoundlymoved the civilized world."

The gold medal was inscribed, "In memory of the heroines and heroesof the Steamship Titanic, lost off the Banks of Newfoundland, April 15,1912." It was mounted on a bronze plaque that was designed andmade by J.E. Caldwell & Co. of Philadelphia, which a few years earlierdesigned the Carnegie Medal and was awarded the contract to produceit. According to the Hero Fund's records, the cost of the memorialwas $575, including the $275 cost of the gold medal.With gold pricestoday ($1,663 as of this writing) about 80 times the price in 1912($20.67 at year-end), a replacement medal weighing nine troy ounceswould cost $15,000.

The memorial's design was endorsed by Charles D. Walcott of theSmithsonian Institution's U.S. National Museum, Washington, D.C., ina visit to the Hero Fund's offices in 1912. He acknowledged receipt ofthe memorial in a letter dated Dec. 19: "The medal, with the tablet andan appropriate label, will be placed on exhibition at once in the Hall ofHistory of the National Museum where it will constitute a permanentmonument to the self-sacrificing chivalry exhibited by those whovoluntarily yielded up their lives for others."

Dr. Paul F. Johnston, present curator of maritime history for theNational Museum of American History, recently informed that althoughthe museum has Titanic material on permanent display in its maritimehall, it is not planning anything special to mark the centennial of theTitanic's sinking and that the Hero Fund's memorial is not available forpublic viewing.

For more information on the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, see:http://carnegiehero.org/