Signature Honor of the National Museum of American History Recognizes Extraordinary Achievement and Philanthropy in July 15 Ceremony
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History will present its 11th Great Americans Medal to Melinda French Gates Wednesday, July 15, for her bold leadership as a philanthropist and global advocate committed to unlocking a healthier, more prosperous and more equal future for women and girls in the United States and around the world.
This year’s award ceremony will feature a conversation between French Gates and philanthropist David M. Rubenstein, a Smithsonian Institution Regent Emeritus. Rubenstein and the Elizabeth MacMillan Director Anthea M. Hartig will present the Great Americans Medal to French Gates for her lifetime contributions embodying American ideas and ideals. Since its inception in 2016, the Great Americans Medal has honored trailblazers who have made a lasting impact in their fields and whose philanthropic and humanitarian endeavors have set them apart. The medal presentation will be webcast live at 6:30 p.m. ET, and the link will be provided to those who preregister.
“I am thrilled to present this year’s medal to Melinda French Gates, someone who exemplifies the highest ideals of advocacy,” Hartig said. “Her service and achievements embody the true meaning of a great American.”
French Gates grew up in Dallas and attended Duke University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in computer science and economics and a Master of Business Administration. She spent the first decade of her career developing multimedia products at Microsoft before leaving the company to focus on her family and philanthropic work. Today, she heads Pivotal, a group of organizations she founded in 2015 to accelerate the pace of social progress for women and young people in the U.S. and around the world. Previously, she founded and co-chaired the Gates Foundation, where she set the direction and priorities of the world’s largest philanthropic organization for more than two decades. French Gates is also the author of the bestselling books The Next Day and The Moment of Lift.
About the Great Americans Medal
The museum will present French Gates with a specially minted medal struck in Wisconsin in 14-karat gold. It features an American eagle with rays of the sun on the obverse or “head’s side,” and the words “Great Americans” and “National Museum of American History” engraved around the edge. The reverse side honors one of the museum’s most important treasures, the Star-Spangled Banner, and states the Smithsonian mission: “For the increase and diffusion of knowledge.” It measures approximately 1 1/2 inches in diameter and was inspired by the museum’s rare Double Eagle coins designed by famed sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens for the $20 gold piece in 1903 at the request of President Theodore Roosevelt. The medal was made possible by museum alumni board member Jeff Garrett and designed by Michael Guilfoyle, an international designer of coins and medals.
The Great Americans Medal presentation traditionally includes a conversation with the awardee and Rubenstein; his interviews trace the arc of honorees’ personal lives and careers, often probing their broader thoughts on the nation’s shared values. Previous honorees include Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, Gen. Colin L. Powell, Thomas J. Brokaw, Cal Ripken Jr., Billie Jean King, Paul Simon, Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (posthumously), Yo-Yo Ma and Ava DuVernay. Videos of previous recipients along with more information can be found on the Great Americans Medal website and on the Great Americans Medal YouTube playlist.
About the National Museum of American History
Through incomparable collections, rigorous research and dynamic public outreach, the National Museum of American History seeks to empower people to create a more just and compassionate future by examining, preserving and sharing the complexity of our past. The museum, located on Constitution Avenue N.W., between 12th and 14th streets, is open daily except Dec. 25, between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Admission is free. The doors of the museum are always open online, and the virtual museum continues to expand its offerings, including online exhibitions, PK–12 educational materials and programs. The public can follow the museum on social media on Instagram and Facebook. For more information, go to https://americanhistory.si.edu. For Smithsonian information, the public may call (202) 633-1000.