Atlantic Indians 1953 Douglas Gilpin Trophy

I picked up this Atlantic Indians 1953 Douglas Gilpin Trophy at an auction about a decade ago. At the time I was able to contact a member of the club who was their historian, and he told me the trophy was won in 1953 by publishing magnate Roger K. Fawcett. He also said (I believe) that Douglas Gilpin was a founder of the club, who also worked for/with Pierre Dupont creating Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA.

That was at least ten years and three computers ago. As we are packing up in preparation to move, the trophy came down from the back of a shelf this afternoon. I was wondering if anyone in here has any Atlantic Indians club history or knows where I could re-verify the info I got years ago. I'm considering selling the trophy, or consigning it to a sporting auction, and want to make sure I have my facts straight.

Thanks in advance, and glad to be here!

 

Citydweller,

Are there any additional writings on the reverse side of this trophy? I assume that is the date 1953 just below the word Trophy.

As a member of this organization and past historian, I can affirm that Douglas Gilpin, of Kennett Square, PA, was a member and donated a trophy for an event during the 35th Annual Pow-Wow, September 25-27, 1953. At that time, Roger Fawcett was reportedly living in Greenwich, Conn. According to US Census reports, he was earlier, a farmer at Kennett Square, in the employment of P. F. Du Pont.

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In 1946 he was the Handicap Champion, winning the coveted "Signal of Peace" trophy.

He was High Chief (president) of the Atlantic Indians in 1953-1954. According to published reports, he captured the Atlantic Indians 16-Yard Championship on Sunday, September 27th.

The 1952 shoot report included a list of trophies and it appears pitchers resembling yours were also offered then.

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According to my list, Mr. Douglas Gilpin was not among the names of Charter Members.

He and several others did donate trophies in the 1953 16-Yard Class Championship. Roger Fawcett won the championship, breaking 99x100 and 25-straight in the shoot-off with Mrs. Rhoda Wolf, John Price and Paul Holloway. Mr. Fawcett won the President's Trophy identified as the Beyer Trophy since it was donated by Past High Chief Harvey Beyer. Mr. Holloway was runner-up and was awarded the Joe Mercadante Trophy. John Price took the Ex High Chief John L. Flagg Veteran Trophy and Mrs. Wolf won the Tom Lawrence Squaw Championship Trophy. If the named trophy donors for this Championship event are listed in the order of those who won each class and runner-up, I believe the trophy you have was like won by Dr. Nones the Class C winner.

If money is not an issue, you may wish to consider donating the trophy back or loaning it to the Atlantic Indians who display vintage written material, trophies, pictures and other antiques each year during their Spring and Fall tournaments.

I thank you on the behalf of our organization in advance for your consideration.

HistoryBuff

 

HB once again comes up with information we all wish we had.

Great to have HB on board here !!!

Thanks HB for all the work you put into the research for us folks who love history.

 

Thanks for the comprehensive response! But in the above quote I think you meant to say that Douglas Gilpin was employed by P.F. Du Pont. Roger Fawcett never worked for Du Pont, and was in 1953 the president and ceo of Fawcett Publications, the largest magazine publisher in the country.

I found some of my notes, although not the email from the other Atlantic Indians historian. Anyway, after the Indians member told me the trophy was won by Roger Fawcett, I back-tracked through the auction house where I bought it. Turned out that most of the sale was items from the estate of the widow of Roger Fawcett's brother Roscoe, which would seem to confirm the trophy's provenance.

There is no other engraving on the back of the trophy, although on the bottom it's marked "Made exclusively for John Wanamaker in Sheffield, England".

Today is pretty busy, but when I have a chance I'll take some better photos to share. The Indians logo is pretty neat.

 

You are correct, that is what I meant. I should have made that more clear because it looks like I'm still talking about Mr. Fawcett.

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Doug Gilpin was my grandfather and I grew up living on his farm behind Longwood near Lenape, PA. Graddad worked for Pierre S. (not F.) Dupont managing the dairy production back when Longwood had a herd of cows for cream production. Granddad was quite active at the West Chester (Turks Head) Gun Club as well as the Atlantic Indians at their shoots at Shawnee (near the Pocanos) and around the De-Mar-Va region. He was not a founding member of the Atlantic Indians as i think they were formed about 1906. Granddad did not begin shooting trap until after WWI. He was very close friends with several more well know shooters such as 'Cap' Greer and Charlie Mason. Granddad was a good mentor and I followed him to various shoots until he died in 1975. I still have and use his trap vest, pouches and trapgun. I'd be interested in the trophy you mentioned if you still have it. Note:

 

that picture of the gentlemen in the headdress is NOT Doug Gilpin

 

Correct. The picture is of High Chief Roger Fawcett, the winner of the above Gilpin Trophy. I had no information on Mr. Gilpin until you so kindly provided the information about him. Your grandfather chose good friends. Both Captain J. B. Grier and Charles Mason were both fine men, good sportsmen and great shots.

 

Charles Mason was my uncle, my Mother's brother. Both Charles and my Grandfather rose to High Chief standing in the Atlantic Indians. I am posting some info from my cousin Skutch Mason, Charles' son.

The Indians were founded in 1918. Pop Mason joined immediately following his return from WW I.

He was responsible for reorganizing the initiation ceremony into the current grand pageant. Dad took his role as Historian of the Indians very seriously. He authored an extensive history. You'll likely find a copy at your Mom's.

In addition, Dad, with Larry Ortt's very dedicated assistance, compiled a video from Pop Mason's, far from amateur, home movies of the transformation of the ceremony. Again. I'm fairly certain your Mom has a copy of the VHF.

The video includes fabulous vignettes from an expedition to visit the California Indian's Fall Pow Wow organized and filmed by Pop Mason at the Del Monte Lodge in Monterrey, CA. An Amazing period view of early commercial air travel, too boot. He was a very professional 'amateur' camera man. He must have had a connection with Eastman Kodak as he filmed in color long before color appeared in commercial films. He even employed Aunt Ann, at a young age, to design and construct classy title sequences a la Hollywood of the era, very cool!!!

Pop Mason was High Chief during the mid-30's and Pop oversaw the move from Shawnee to Pocono Manor as High Chief in the '80's.

 

Here are a couple pages from the 75th Anniversary 1918-1993...

Trap3