The American Institute of The City of New York was chartered on 2 May 1829 and operated until 1930. The American Institute was an association of inventors and industry trend setters. It organized exhibitions, lecture series and radio broadcasts to inform the public about new technologies, and served as a platform for inventors’ professional activities. The American Institute is most famous for the grand fairs or exhibitions that were held every fall in New York City. The coveted awards presented by the Institute were the 20th century equivalent of the Good Housekeeping - Seal of Approval. Facsimile awards would be labeled on packaging and in advertisements of the winning companies. Gurney showcased his medals in his studios - touting his superiority as a photographer, but most important as an award winning "artist".
Jeremiah earned the praise of the Institute with 10 Gold Medals, 9 Silver Medals, 1 Bronze Medal, 1 Minor Medal, 1 First Place Medal, 1 Second Place Medal, 14 Diplomas, and 2 Honorable Mentions- (39 awards), more than any photographer in the United States, over 37 years.
Scroll Down to Click on Thumbnails BELOW
1846– J. Gurney, 189 Broadway, for daguerreotypes. Diploma
1848– J. Gurney, 189 Broadway, for the best daguerreotype likenesses. Silver Medal
1850– J. Gurney, 189 Broadway. For excellent daguerreotypes, no difference being perceptible to the Judges (amongst other entries). Silver Medal to each.
1851 – Judges – Napoleon Sarony, George H. Hite, F. DAvignon J. Gurney, 159 (sic) 189 Broadway, for the second best daguerreotypes, Silver Medal
1852 – Judges – H.C. Shumway, Charles W Jarvis, J.N. Gimbrede J. Gurney, 189 and 349 Broadway, for the best daguerreotypes, Gold Medal
1853 – Judges – Augustus Morand, John Roach, A H Ritchie J. Gurney, 349 Broadway, for the best whole plate single-picture, a Gold Medal having been before awarded, Diploma.
1855 – Judges – W.J. Stillman, R.B. Brown, J.A. Besson J. Gurney, 349 Broadway, for the best daguerreotypes. A Gold Medal having been before awarded, Diploma. Gurney & Fredericks, 349 Broadway, for the best plain photographs, and best photograph in oil. Gold Medal
1856 – Judges – R.R. Brown, J. Johnson, John G. Wellstood J. Gurney, 349 Broadway, for the best photographic portraits, (untouched). Gold Medal J. Gurney, 349 Broadway, for the third best photographic in watercolors. Diploma J. Gurney, 349 Broadway, for the best photographic oil colors, (life size.) A Gold Medal having been awarded.) Diploma J. Gurney, 349 Broadway, for the best photographic pastel colors. Diploma
1857 – J. Gurney, 349 Broadway, N.Y., for plain and retouched photographs. (a Gold Medalbeen before awarded.) Diploma J. Gurney, 349 Broadway, N.Y., for the best life-size photographs in oil. (A Gold Medal having been before awarded.) Diploma J. Gurney, 349 Broadway, N.Y. for crayon photographs and Hallotypes. Bronze Medal. J. Gurney, 349 Broadway, N.Y., for the best photographs in aquareil. Silver Medal
1858 - No Awards due to the Crystal Palace Fire. All entries were lost to the catastrophe.
1859-1860 – Judges – Henry Draper, C.M. Hall, P.H. VanDer Weyde J. Gurney, 707 Broadway, for the best photographs in oil. (a Gold Medal having been before awarded.) Diploma J. Gurney, 707 Broadway, for the best ivorytypes. Large Silver Medal. J. Gurney, 707 Broadway, N.Y. for the second best photographs retouched in India ink. Diploma J. Gurney, 707 Broadway, for photographs in watercolors and pastel, (a Silver Medalhaving been before awarded.) Diploma
1863-1864 – Judges for Fine Arts Category J. Gurney & Son, 707 Broadway, for the best photograph in oil color. (a Gold Medal having been before awarded). Diploma J. Gurney & Son, 707 Broadway, for a photograph in watercolor. (a Silver Medal having been before awarded.) Diploma - Judges for Photograph Category – Samuel H. Maynard, Lewis M. Rutherford J. Gurney & Son, 707 Broadway, for the best Cartes de Visites and retouched photographs in India Ink. Silver Medal
1865-1866 – Judges for Photograph Category – Leopold Eidlitz, William Main Smilie, Maurice Hudtfelt J. Gurney & Sons (sic) No. 707 Broadway, for the best colored photographs, Silver Medal
1867-1868 – Judges Messrs. D. Huntington, H.C. Shumway, John M. Masterton, A. Wetmore Jr. and Edward L. Wilson J. Gurney & Son, 707 Broadway, for plain photographs (cartes imperial). First Medal and a Diploma The exhibition of Messrs. Gurney & Son, of imperial card pictures, is a very fine one, showing careful manipulation, skillful lighting and artistic posing.
1870-1871 Best photographs produced in oil - First Premium. For plain photographs: for photographs finished in India ink: for photographs finished in pastel - Second Premium. For photographs finished in crayon - Honorable Mention.
1871-1872 Photographs plain and colored, Daguerreotypes, Ambrotypes. All other impressions by the action of light. J. Gurney & Son, 108 Fifth Avenue, Honorable Mention
1883 – A Minor Medal for excellence and merit in photography.
CLICK ON THE THUMBNAILS BELOW TO OPEN BOOK CONTENTS