Laetare Medal
Year Laetare Medalist Position Year Laetare Medalist Position
1883 John Gilmary Shea Historian 1952 Thomas E. Murray Member of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
1884 Patrick Charles Keely Architect 1953 I.A . O'Shaughnessy Philanthropist
1885 Eliza Allen Starr Art Critic 1954 Jefferson Caffery Diplomat
1886 General John Newton Engineer 1955 George Meany Labor Leader
1887 Edwin Preuss Publicist 1956 General Alfred M. Gruenther Soldier
1888 Patrick V. Hickey Founder and Editor of The Catholic Review 1957 Clare Boothe Luce Diplomat
1889 Anna Hanson Dorsey Novelist 1958 Frank M. Folsom Industrialist
1890 William J. Onahan Organizer of the American Catholic Congress 1959 Robert Daniel Murphy Diplomat
1891 Daniel Dougherty Orator 1960 George N. Shuster Educator
1892 Henry F. Brownson Philosopher and Author 1961 John F. Kennedy President of the United States
1893 Patrick Donahoe Founder of the Boston Pilot 1962 Francis J. Braceland Psychiatrist
1894 Augustin Daly Theatrical Producer 1963 Admiral George Whelan Anderson , Jr Chief of Naval Operations
1895 Mary Anne Sadlier Novelist 1964 Phyllis McGinley Poet
1896 General William Starke Rosencrans Soldier 1965 Frederick D. Rossini Scientist
1897 Thomas Addis Emmet Physician 1966 Patrick F. & Patricia Caron Crowley Founders of The Christian Movement
1898 Timothy Edward Howard Jurist 1967 J. Peter Grace Industrialist
1899 Mary Gwendolin Caldwell Philanthropist 1968 Robert Sargent Shriver Diplomat
1900 John A. Creighton Philanthropist 1969 William J. Brennan Jr Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
1901 William Bourke Cockran Orator 1970 Dr. William B. Walsh Physician
1902 John Benjamin Murphy Surgeon 1971 Walter Kerr & Jean Kerr Drama Critic and Author
Recipients
John Gilmary Shea , a historian of the Catholic Church in the United States , was the first person to be awarded the Laetare Medal in 1883 . The recipients of the Laetare Medal come from varied fields . Recipients include jazz musicians , Cardinals , philanthropists , ambassadors , authors , opera singers , Senators , doctors , generals , and a U.S. President .
The Laetare Medal is an annual award given by the University of Notre Dame in recognition of outstanding service to the Catholic Church and society. The award is given to an American Catholic or group of Catholics whose genius has ennobled the arts and sciences, illustrated the ideals of the church and enriched the heritage of humanity. First awarded in 1883, it is the oldest and most prestigious award for American Catholics.