This is an amazing book. Perhaps the only one of its kind. In 320 pages with 640 high resolution black & white photos, the authors cover the medals of over 200 societies.

Colonial descendant societies, Revolutionary War societies such as the Daughters/Sons of the American Revolution, Civil War societies like the Grand Army of the Republic and the Daughters of the Confederacy, are all well represented in these pages.

Medals from more obscure groups such as the Order of the White Crane and the Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York are also represented.

The emphasis of the book is definitely on military and lineage societies rather than on Masonic or other fraternal organizations such as the Odd Fellows or Knights of Columbus.

Information about each pictured medal is included along with a potted history about the issuing society. Why the medal was issued, who it was presented to, and changes or variations if known are described.

If you have an old society medal saved as a keepsake in your family or if you have a photograph of an ancestor wearing a medal , this book may help you identify the organization to which they belonged.