Memorial Honor

Scholarships/Prizes

Lost Cause

Ryan, Abram Joseph

The Ryan Medal; an academic achievement medal named for Abram Joseph Ryan

The Ryan Gold Medal was first established by Loyola College as an award for achievement in poetry during the 1880-1881 school year. The award would be given for various other accomplishments in subsequent years, such as achievements in grammar from 1890-1891, and analytic and organic chemistry from 1922-1925. The award was also given to the member of the freshman class with the highest standing from 1910-1911, then again from 1925-1970. After 1970, Loyola no longer listed awards in its annual college catalog, and the Ryan Medal does not appear in awards ceremony programs. When awards began to be listed in the catalog again in the 1990s, the Ryan Medal was not among them.

The Ryan Medal was first funded by Abram Joseph Ryan, known as the "Poet-Priest of the South," and was named in his honor. Ryan was a popular poet during the late 19th century whose work was centered around pro-Confederate values and Lost Cause sentiments. His 1865 poem "The Conquered Banner" became one of the foundational texts of Lost Cause ideology. In 1880, Ryan traveled to Baltimore to work with a publisher on the second edition of his poetry volume. He stayed with the Jesuits of Loyola College. In a show of appreciation for their hospitality, Ryan donated to Loyola the $300 he was paid for a December 17 poetry reading. These funds were used to establish the Ryan Medal.

Loyola University Maryland Board of Trustees

1880

1968

1890-1945: Era of the Lost Cause, Jim Crow legal segregation and discrimination, and organized anti-Black racism

1945-1976: Era of Civil Rights Movement and resistance to Civil Rights Movement

1865-1890: Emancipation, Reconstruction and Resistance to Reconstruction

Ryan, Abram Joseph

Loyola University Maryland; Baltimore, Maryland

O'Connell, David, Furl That Banner: The Life of Abram J. Ryan, Poet-priest of the South. Mercer University Press, 2006.

Altered – Defunct