A Century of Harleston Parker: Medals Reflect a Changing Boston
In 100 years of recognizing the "the most beautiful piece of architecture, building, monument, or structure built in the metropolitan Boston area in the past 10 years," the Harleston Parker Medal has captured the face of a changing Boston. March 31 is the deadline for nominations for the 2023 award. Submit your nomination today!
With its first award in 1923, the Harleston Parker Medal, according to the BSA Bulletin at the time, set a surprisingly broad mission, embracing "a great breadth of field in regard to the nature and importance of the structure for which the medal is awarded." Finalists over the years have been correspondingly broad, drawn from popular nominations—now open through March 31—from BSA members and the public.
Nothing better proves the award's breadth of scope than its 2022 winner: Janet Echelman's ethereal light sculpture "As If It Were Already Here," the first temporary installation to be awarded the medal. And nothing better showcases the dynamic change in metro Boston than the contrast of this installation with the many now-iconic winners from years past, ranging from the Hatch Shell to two John Hancock buildings to the MFA's Art of the Americas Wing.
Lend your voice with a nomination for the 2023 award!
Motor Mart Garage, 1927 Harleston Parker medalist. Photo: "Motor Mart Garage," by Keith Supko. March 2023.
Edward Hatch Memorial Music Shell, 1947 Harleston Parker medalist. Photo: The Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra performing at the Hatch Shell in Boston. July 4, 2005. By Garrett A. Wollman, from The Archives @ BostonRadio.org, with Creative Commons CC BY-SA 2.0 license.
John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company (foreground, 1950 Harleston Parker medalist) and John Hancock Tower (background, 1983 Harleston Parker medalist). Photo: "John Hancock Life and Tower," by Keith Supko. March 2023.
Boston City Hall, 1968 Harleston Parker medalist. Photo: Boston City Hall. Circa 1968. "Boston City Hall" by Boston City Archives is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Monroe C. Gutman Library, Harvard Graduate School of Education, 1973 Harleston Parker medalist. Photo: "Gutman Library, Harvard University," by Daderot. December 2016. Licensed under CC0 1.0.
Christian Science Center, Boston, 1975 Harleston Parker medalist. Photo: "Christian Science Center, Boston," by Gunnar Klack. March 2014. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Quincy Market Building, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, 1977 Harleston Parker medalist. Photo: "Quincy Market open for weekend shopping in Boston, Massachusetts," by Aschulkins. August 2014. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, 1981 Harleston Parker medalist. Photo: "Federal Reserve Bank Building in Boston," by Rhododendrites . November 2019. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
As If It Were Already Here, 2022 Harleston Parker medalist. Photo: "As If It Were Already Here from beneath," by Melissa Henry, Studio Echelman. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
