Difference: InfoMedalKnowlton (r38 vs. r37)

Knowlton Medal

The highest award given by the American Iris Society strictly to Border Bearded Irises.

History by Clarence Mahan ..........................................................related links: Awards; 2015 Knowlton Medal Candidates.

This medal is restricted to border bearded (BB) irises. It is named in honor of Harold W. Knowlton (1888-1968).

Harold Knowlton of Auburndale, Massachusetts, was a tireless promoter of the border bearded class of irises. Bennett Jones wrote in The World of Irises: "Harold Knowlton was among the first to make deliberate selections of smaller plants. Two of his 1950 introductions, 'Pearl Cup' ... and 'Crickett'... display the desirable features we still seek in modern border irises."

Knowlton was the seventh president of the AIS (1953-55) and served the society in several important positions. He was highly regarded as a leader, planner and organizer and reorganized the AIS awards system and instituted the first Handbook for Judges and the handbook for new members; What Every Iris Grower Should Know. He also compiled and edited the 1959 Check List. The AIS awarded him the Distinguished Service Medal in 1955.

List of Knowlton Medal winners - Border Bearded (BB) Irises:

The Median Iris Society sponsors the annual awarding of four medals by AIS to medians in each of the recognized classifications: SDB, IB, MTB, and BB. Note that most classifications within the AIS Awards System began with Award of Merit (AM) equivalent Awards, later elevated to Medal status. At this transition, previous Award winners from a specified period of time re-competed for the higher Medal honors. Thus there are some duplicate entries. They are designated with an (A) beside the date on which they won the AM-equivalent, and an (M) on Medal status.

'My Cher Of Happiness'   2019 - Paul Black	'Sheer Excitement'   2018 - Rick Tasco	'Ballerina Pink' 'Banded Rose' 2017 2021 - Paul Black Terry Aitken	'Meerkat 'Grapenut' Manor' 2016 2021 - Brad Kasperek Michael Sutton
'Niche' 'My Cher Of Happiness' 2015 2019 - Joseph Ghio Paul Black	‘Lady Of 'Sheer Excitement' The Night’ 2014 –- Paul Black 2018 - Rick Tasco	'Bundle Of 'Ballerina Pink' Love' 2013 2017 - Paul Black	'Crow's Feet' 'Meerkat Manor' 2012 2016 - Paul Black Brad Kasperek
'Fleece 'Niche' As White' 2011 2015 - Paul Black Joseph Ghio	'Eye Candy' ‘Lady Of The Night’ 2010 - Keith Keppel 2014 –- Paul Black	'Border Control' 'Bundle Of Love' 2009 2013 - Thomas Johnson Paul Black	'Teapot Tempest' 'Crow's Feet' 2008 2012 - Lynn Markham Paul Black
'Go For Bold' 'Fleece As White' 2007 2011 - Paul Black	'Anaconda Love' 'Eye Candy' 2006 2010 - Brad Kasperek Keith Keppel	'Christiana Baker' 'Border Control' 2005 2009 - Frederic Kerr Thomas Johnson	'Orange Pop' 'Teapot Tempest' 2004 2008 - Larry Lauer Lynn Markham
'Lemon Up' 'Go For Bold' 2003 2007 - Tom Magee Paul Black	'Baboon Bottom' 'Anaconda Love' 2002 2006 - Brad Kasperek	'Cranapple' 'Christiana Baker' 2001 2005 - Terry Aitken Frederic Kerr	'Apricot Frosty' 'Orange Pop' 2000 2004 - David Niswonger Larry Lauer
'Petite Ballet' 'Lemon Up' 1999 2003 - Keith Keppel Tom Magee	'Red Rooster' 'Baboon Bottom' 1998 2002 - John Durrance Brad Kasperek	'Sonja's 'Cranapple' Selah' 1997 2001 - Allan Ensminger Terry Aitken	'Lenora Pearl' 'Apricot Frosty' 1996 2000 - Hooker Nichols David Niswonger
1995 - 'Petite Ballet''Calico Cat' 1999 - C. Lankow Keith Keppel	1994 - 'Red Rooster''Zinger' 1998 - S. Stevens John Durrance	1993 - 'Sonja's Selah''Zinc Pink' 1997 - A. Allan Ensminger		'Lenora Pearl' 1996 - Hooker Nichols
1992 1995 - 'Batik' 'Calico Cat' - A. Ensminger C. Lankow	1991 1994 - 'Shenanigan' 'Zinger' - K. Keppel S. Stevens	1990 1993 - 'Miss Nellie' 'Zinc Pink' - J. Burch A. Ensminger
1989 1992 - 'Peccadillo' 'Batik' - K. Keppel A. Ensminger	1988 1991 - 'Soft 'Shenanigan' Spoken' - P. Dyer K. Keppel	1987 1990 - 'Drum Solo' 'Miss Nellie' - H. Stahly J. Burch
1986 1989 - 'Pink 'Peccadillo' Bubbles' - B. Hager K. Keppel	1985 1988 - 'Gypsy Wings' 'Soft Spoken' - Melba Hamblen P. Dyer	1984 1987 - 'Marmalade Skies' 'Drum Solo' - D. Niswonger H. Stahly
1983 1986 - 'Am I 'Pink Bubbles' Blue' - D. Denney B. Hager	1982 1985 - 'Picayune' 'Gypsy Wings' - K. Keppel Melba Hamblen	1981 1984 - 'Whoop 'em 'Marmalade Skies' Up' - D. Brady Niswonger
1980 1983 - 'Brown Lasso' 'Am I Blue' - E. Buckles D. Denney	1979 1982 - 'Stepping 'Picayune' Little' - H. Kuesel K. Keppel	1978 1981 - 'Raspberry Sundae' 'Whoop 'em Up' - D. Niswonger Brady
1977 1980 - 'Embroidery' 'Brown Lasso' - K. Keppel E. Buckles	1976 1979 - 'Molten Glass' 'Stepping Little' - J. Marsh H. Kuesel	1975 1978 - 'Dresden Frills' 'Raspberry Sundae' - N. Rudolph D. Niswonger
1974 1977 - 'Junior 'Embroidery' Prom' J. Ghio - K. Keppel	1973 1976 - 'Bride's Pearls' 'Molten Glass' - A. Brown J. Marsh	1972 1975 - 'Lace Valentine' 'Dresden Frills' - Warburton N. Rudolph
1971 1974 - 'Crystal Bay' 'Junior Prom' - B. J. Ghio Jones	1970 1973 - 'Pebbles' 'Bride's Pearls' - J. Tucker A. Brown	1969 1972 - 'Blue Miller' 'Lace Valentine' - T. Warburton Brown
1968 1971 - (M) 'Frenchi' 'Crystal Bay' - B. Jones	1967 1970 - (M) 'Jungle 'Pebbles' Shadows' - Sass-Graham J. Tucker	1966 1969 - (M) 'Tulare' 'Blue Miller' - M. Hamblen T. Brown
1965 1968 - (M) 'Bayadere' 'Frenchi' - O. Brown B. Jones	1964 1967 - (A) (M) 'Tulare' 'Jungle Shadows' - M. Sass-Graham Hamblen	1963 1966 - (M) 'Fairy 'Tulare' Jewels' - M. Hamblen
1962 1965 - (A) 'Jungle 'Bayadere' Shadows' - Sass-Graham O. Brown	1961 1964 - (A) 'Frenchi' 'Tulare' - B. Jones M. Hamblen	1960 1963 - 'Yellow Dresden' 'Fairy Jewels' - M. Albright Hamblen
1962 - (A) 'Jungle Shadows' - Sass-Graham	1961 - (A) 'Frenchi' - B. Jones	1960 - 'Yellow Dresden' - M. Albright

AIS website:

-- Main.RPries - 2009-12-24

I	Attachment	Action	Size	Date	Who	Comment
jpg	Knowlton_Medal_resized.jpg	manage	34 K	11 Sep 2010 - 21:35	UnknownUser	AIS Slides
jpg	PP12-KnowltonHarold-Boston-cropped-lightenedBW_2X2edit.jpg	manage	31 K	26 Aug 2010 - 15:37	UnknownUser	AIS slides