Gary Brown| gary.brown.rep@gmail.com
Having “a sense of urgency” — only three months to raise $43,000 — may have helped fundraisers at Wm. McKinley Presidential Library & Museum bring first lady Ida McKinley’s diamond tiara back to Canton.
The tiara will go on display Wednesday in the museum’s McKinley Gallery, along with a list of the donors who helped buy the tiara from Rick Harrison, host of the television show “Pawn Stars.”
Harrison, co-owner of the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas, had given the museum from March 24 until June 24 to raise the amount he paid for the tiara, which was featured in a segment on the show.
“It was better that way. It gave us a sense of urgency,” said Kimberly Kenney, McKinley Museum curator, who had talked to Harrison and worked out the purchase. “If it was open-ended it might not have been as easy.”
The show also gave the fundraising a national profile, Kenney said. Contributions came from Ohio and 21 other states, as well as the District of Columbia.
The contributions that put the museum over the top by $18.95 were made by the final four guests attending the June 5 fundraiser “An Evening of Civil War Music with Steve Ball.”
When contacted about the fundraising success, Harrison paid to ship the tiara to Canton. Harrison is also a spokesman for the National Epilepsy Foundation, and Kenney said Harrison told her he felt a connection to Ida McKinley because she also suffered from the disease.
When the tiara goes on display — in a double-case with security precautions taken — it will be shown with one wing on the gold headband and one wing beside it, showing how that piece could be worn as a broach.
“And we’ll have a picture of Ida wearing the tiara,” said Kenney.
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Here is Ida McKinley’s tiara by the numbers:
2
The number of times Ida McKinley’s tiara previously “visited” the McKinley museum.
“It was here once for an exhibit a few years ago,” said Kenney. “And we borrowed it in 2010 for the ‘Treasures of Stark County,’ when we opened the conservation building.”
Passed down through the family of Ida’s sister, Mary “Pina” Saxton Barber, the tiara did make one other appearance at a museum-sponsored event. A woman in the family wore it to one of McKinley museum’s inaugural balls, which was held at a banquet location.
“The tiara was in Canton,” said Kenney. “It was bought from here (by “Pawn Stars”) and now it has been brought back here.”
3
The different ways in which the detachable jeweled wings of the tiara could be worn.
The wings could be worn on the tiara, either one on each side or both on the same side.
They could be worn as matching broaches, pinned to a collar or lapel.
Or, they could be worn at the waist, attached to a fabric belt.
“There is a small screw mechanism on the back of each wing,” said Kenney, “which allows it to be attached to the pin base or the plain gold tiara.”
200
The number of diamonds on the tiara’s two wings.
“We took it to Fred Craig Personal Jeweler and he looked at it through a microscope,” said Kenney. “He authenticated it was from the proper period and estimated that there are about 100 diamonds on each of the two wings.
“What’s interesting is that it’s got a gold base and there is a thin sheet of platinum over it because diamonds show off better against a white metal.”
Kenney said Craig was impressed by the quality of the tiara, which was made by J. Dreicer & Son in New York City and was once appraised at $75,000.
“He told us that it would have been one of Ida’s finest pieces, something that she would have worn at the most special of occasions. Even for people who had jewels of this quality, it was high end.”
319
The number of individuals and groups donating to the Ida McKinley Tiara Fund.
The highest individual donation was $5,000. Two donors gave $2,000 and nine donors gave $1,000.
“Most donations were between $25 and $100 each, and some donated $200 to $500,” said Kimberly Kenney, curator at Wm. McKinley Presidential Library & Museum.
Organizations included Scout units, historical societies, senior clubs, Grange organizations, school groups and chapters of archeological and genealogical societies.
A $300 contribution from a school came in after the needed amount was raised. That money is being used top help pay for the secure display case for the tiara.
