Richard Feynman's 1962 Ernest Orlando Lawrence Memorial Award

Feynman, Richard P. 

1962 ERNEST ORLANDO LAWRENCE MEMORIAL AWARD, PRESENTED TO RICHARD FEYNMAN FOR "IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO QUANTUM FIELD THEORY AND PARTICLE PHYSICS, FOR INVENTIONS OF FEYNMAN DIAGRAMS, AND FOR BROAD SCIENTIFIC INTERESTES AND KNOWLEDGE."

Ernest Orlando Lawrence Memorial Award medal, struck in gold, 2 1/2 in. Obverse with bust of Ernesto Orlando Lawrence, in field left MCMI; in field right MCMLVIII; circling edge ·ERNEST · ORLANDO  · LAWRENCE  · MEMORIAL  · AWARD · Reverse with torch of knowledge surrounded by electrons, in field left SPECTEMUR, in field right, AGENDO, above PRESENTED TO/ RICHARD P. FEYNMAN/ APRIL 23, 1962, below FOR A MERITORIOUS/ CONTRIBUTION IN/ PHYSICS,  circling edge   ·ATOMIC  · ENERGY  · COMMISSION · UNITED  · STATES · OF · AMERICA ·. Housed in the original navy blue pebbled morocco case, fitted interior lined with suede and satin. 

WITH: Richard Feynman's Ernest Orlando Lawrence Memorial Award Diploma: 2 vellum leaves (14 x 11 in) laid down in a navy-blue pebbled morocco binding, covers with a border of gilt filets with logo of the Atomic Energy Commission at corners, with large gilt Great Seal of the United States to center, inner gilt dentelles. Both leaves with calligraphic inscriptions in English, dated April 23, 1962 and signed by the 6 members of the AEC. Housed in a crushed velour-lined wooden case. 

WITH: Typed letter signed, 1 p., from Glenn Seaborg to Richard Feynman, April 10, 1962, on White House letterhead, in original cover (cancelled April 11, 1962), informing Feynman that he would be a recipient of the award; 6 pp press release announcing that years' award recipients; 4 pp ceremony guest list; and 1 page ceremony seating chart.

The Ernest Orlando Lawrence Award is bestowed by the Secretary of the US Department of Energy, and is awarded to scientists and engineers for significant achievements related to the missions of the US Department of Energy, which include the national economic and energy security of the United States. The award was founded when John McCone, then-Chairman of the United States Atomic Energy Commission, wrote to President Eisenhower suggesting they establish a memorial award in 1939 Nobel Prize laureate Lawrence's name. Feynman's close colleague, fellow Nobel laureate Murray Gell-Mann (see lot 82) was amongst the other distinguished recipients of this award.