1900 Miner’s Record United Mine Workers Chromolithograph Vickroy Terre Haute UMW
Date: 1900
Artist: Vickroy, James Monroe
Size (in): 27" x 21"
Size (cm): 68.5 x 53.5
Condition: B+
Linen backed: No
This striking and elaborate United Mine Workers of America chromolithographic membership certificate was produced by the J.M. Vickroy Company of Terre Haute, Indiana and shows a 1900 copyright printed in the lower margin.
James Monroe Vickroy was born in Pennsylvania in 1847 and established a fine art chromolithograph business in downtown Terre Haute, Indiana in 1885 after working as an agent for the fraternal society supply house M.C. Lilley Company. Vickroy’s first color membership lithograph for the Odd Fellows fraternal organization proved to be a good seller so he rapidly grew the business producing the artwork himself for new and different certificates and cultivating a network of agents to sell his products throughout the United States and Canada. In addition to producing color lithograph membership certificates for fraternal societies and trade unions Vickroy also produced pictorial war record certificates for Civil War and Spanish-American War veterans and a variety of genealogical and family record certificates.
This particular certificate for the United Mine Workers of America is a truly wonderful example of his work elaborately illustrated with vignettes showing different aspects of mining such as pick and machine mining, hauling coal with mule and machine and more. Other vignettes show miners leaving their homes for work and returning home from work with an injured comrade as well as payday for the miners, doctors and agents. A large vignette at the across the top shows a union leader addressing a group of miners outside a coal mine with the title Mass Meeting, In Union There is Strength. A total of 11 vignettes are featured.
The center of the certificate features jugate portraits of Vickroy and UMW President John Mitchell and has space on which the name of the miner, the date he joined the union and the date he “was called from Labor to rest” (aka died) could be recorded. Also on the center field is an image of the UMW pinback button celebrating the Eight Hour Day secured by the union for their members on April 1st, 1898 along with the United Mine Workers of American printed seal and two union made emblems for the Indianapolis printing trades union that produced these certificates.
This antique original certificate is unused and hasn’t had a miner’s name inscribed. The certificate shows a small puncture in the lower margin not affecting the image area along with light handling wear and some light foxing and minor staining on the margins. The back of the certificate shows some darkening from age not affecting the front side which retains the original brilliant color. Overall condition is very good for this scarce antique original. A Worldcat search locates only two copies one of which features the jugate portrait of W.C. Pearce, UWM National Secretary and Treasurer, rather than Vickroy. We trace none at auction.
