Elliott Cresson Medal
The Elliott Cresson Medal, also known as the Elliott Cresson Gold Medal, was the highest award given by the Franklin Institute. The award was established by Elliott Cresson, life member of the Franklin Institute, with $1,000 granted in 1848. The endowed award was to be "for some discovery in the Arts and Sciences, or for the invention or improvement of some useful machine, or for some new process or combination of materials in manufactures, or for ingenuity skill or perfection in workmanship." The medal was first awarded in 1875, 21 years after Cresson's death.
The Franklin Institute continued awarding the medal on an occasional basis until 1998 when they reorganized their endowed awards under one umbrella, The Benjamin Franklin Awards. A total of 268 Elliott Cresson Medals were given out during the award's lifetime.
| Year | Awardee | Category | Citation |
| 1875 | Life Science | Electro Magnetic Dental Mallet | |
| 1875 | Engineering | Worsted Yarns | |
| 1875 | Engineering | Drug Manufacturing | |
| 1875 | Invention | Printing press | |
| 1875 | Engineering | Sand Blast | |
| 1875 | Engineering | Microscopes and Objectives | |
| 1877 | Engineering | Shaft Coupling | |
| 1877 | Engineering | Dynomagraph | |
| 1878 | Chemistry | Inodorous Glycerin | |
| 1878 | Engineering | Bolt and rivet clipper | |
| 1878 | Engineering | Competitive test of mowing machines | |
| 1879 | Invention | Machine for Testing Flax | |
| 1880 | Invention | Time Telegraph | |
| 1881 | Engineering | Electric Induction Motor and Battery | |
| 1885 | Engineering | Shoe Sewing Machine | |
| 1885 | Engineering | Regenerative Gas Burner | |
| 1886 | Engineering | Synchronous Telegraphy | |
| 1886 | Engineering | Water Gas Process and Apparatus | |
| 1886 | Engineering | China and Porcelain Wares | |
| 1886 | Engineering | System of Interchangeable Cut Gears | |
| 1886 | Engineering | Railway Car Transfer Apparatus | |
| 1886 | Invention | Airbrush | |
| 1887 | Engineering | Violins and Bows | |
| 1887 | Engineering | Bevel Gear Cutter | |
| 1887 | Engineering | Electric Smelting Furnace | |
| 1887 | Engineering | Electric Smelting Furnace | |
| 1887 | Engineering | Testing for Mine Gases and system of Mine Signaling | |
| 1889 | Invention | Writing Telegraph | |
| 1889 | Engineering | Linotype machine | |
| 1889 | Invention | Writing Telegraph | |
| 1889 | Engineering | Universal Rolling Machine | |
| 1890 | Engineering | Typewriter Improvements | |
| 1890 | Computer and Cognitive Science | Electric Tabulating Device | |
| 1890 | Engineering | Manufacture of files | |
| 1891 | Engineering | Spindle Support | |
| 1891 | Engineering | Welding Metal and Spinning and Shaping Tube | |
| 1891 | Engineering | Rangefinder | |
| 1891 | Engineering | Testing Machine | |
| 1891 | Engineering | Spindle Support | |
| 1891 | Engineering | Compound Locomotive | |
| 1891 | Engineering | Spindle Support | |
| 1892 | Engineering | Composition for Journal Bearings | |
| 1892 | Engineering | Metallurgy of Steel | |
| 1893 | Engineering | Compound Locomotive | |
| 1893 | Engineering | Color photography | |
| 1893 | Life Science | Improvements in Artificial Limbs | |
| 1893 | Engineering | Jankó piano keyboard | |
| 1894 | Engineering | Alternating Electric Currents of High Frequency | |
| 1895 | Engineering | Experimental Researches on Steel | |
| 1895 | Invention | Stone Sawing Machine | |
| 1895 | Engineering | Water Wheel | |
| 1896 | Engineering | Telegraphy, High speed system | |
| 1896 | Invention | Monotype Machine | |
| 1897 | Engineering | Process of electrolytic decomposing of alkaline chlorides | |
| 1897 | Engineering | Telautograph | |
| 1897 | Invention | Phantoscope projector | |
| 1897 | Physics | Discovery of X-rays | |
| 1897 | Invention | Econometer | |
| 1898 | Engineering | Respiration Calorimeter | |
| 1898 | Engineering | All-Wrought Steel Belt Pulley | |
| 1898 | Invention | Venturi Meter | |
| 1898 | Engineering | Investigations with his electric furnace | |
| 1898 | Engineering | Respiration Calorimeter | |
| 1900 | Engineering | Round Lap Bale System | |
| 1900 | Engineering | Method and apparatus for acid blast etching of metal plates | |
| 1900 | Engineering | Bridge construction | |
| 1900 | Earth Science | Exhibit of the USGS | |
| 1900 | Chemistry | Discoveries regarding metallic oxides | |
| 1901 | Engineering | Diesel engine | |
| 1901 | Chemistry | Process of automatically heating and sterilizing fluids | |
| 1901 | Engineering | Reaction Breakwater | |
| 1901 | Engineering | Liszt Pipe Organ | |
| 1901 | Engineering | Process of automatically heating and sterilizing fluids | |
| 1902 | Engineering | Manufacturing Caustic Alkali and Halogen Gas | |
| 1902 | Engineering | Process of Treating Tool Steel | |
| 1902 | Engineering | Process of Treating Tool Steel | |
| 1903 | Engineering | Method of eliminating metals from mixtures of metals | |
| 1903 | Engineering | Process of fireproofing wood | |
| 1903 | Engineering; Computer and Cognitive Science | School City Educational Plan | |
| 1903 | Engineering | Theory of Musical Harmony | |
| 1903 | Engineering | System of Electric Traction | |
| 1904 | Engineering | System of Storing Coal | |
| 1904 | Engineering; Computer and Cognitive Science | School City | |
| 1904 | Physics | Alumino-Thermics | |
| 1904 | Engineering | Machine for preparation of plates for etching | |
| 1904 | Engineering | Expanding and Flanging Machinery for Tubes | |
| 1904 | Engineering | Molecular Structure of Cast Iron | |
| 1904 | Engineering | Steam Generator | |
| 1905 | Engineering | Telautograph | |
| 1905 | Physics | Reducing Attenuation of Electrical Waves | |
| 1906 | Engineering | Paper Milk Bottles | |
| 1906 | Historic Collection of Incandescent Electric Lamps | ||
| 1907 | Engineering | Contributions to Evolution of American Locomotive | |
| 1907 | Physics | A new Bi-Focal Lens | |
| 1907 | Engineering | Fireproof Insulated Wire | |
| 1907 | Engineering | Pressed Steel Pulley for Power Transmission | |
| 1907 | Chemistry | Electric Furnace Manufacture of Carbon bisulfide | |
| 1908 | Engineering | Uses of American Woods | |
| 1908 | Engineering | Improved Articulated Compound Locomotive | |
| 1909 | Chemistry | The discovery of radium | |
| 1909 | Chemistry | The discovery of radium | |
| 1909 | Engineering | Molecular Air Pump | |
| 1909 | Engineering | Dry air blast in blast furnace operation | |
| 1909 | Engineering | Color photography | |
| 1909 | Engineering | Multiplex Telephony | |
| 1909 | Engineering | Open Hearth Steel Process | |
| 1909 | Engineering | Air Brake Design and Application | |
| 1909 | Engineering | Underwood Typewriter | |
| 1909 | Engineering | Milling files | |
| 1909 | Engineering | The Autoplate Machine | |
| 1910 | Engineering | Automatic System of Telephony | |
| 1910 | Physics | Distinguished work in astronomical instruments | |
| 1910 | Invention | Mercury rectifier | |
| 1910 | Engineering | Distinguished work in iron and steel industries | |
| 1910 | Engineering | Distinguished work in metallurgical sciences | |
| 1910 | Engineering | Distinguished work in electrical theory | |
| 1910 | Physics | For distinguished work in physical sciences | |
| 1910 | Engineering | Distinguished work in electrical discovery | |
| 1910 | Life Science | Distinguished work in agricultural chemistry | |
| 1912 | Engineering | Electrical Transmission of Articulate Speech | |
| 1912 | Chemistry | Discoveries in Chemistry | |
| 1912 | Engineering | Distinguished work in civil engineering | |
| 1912 | Chemistry | Determination of fundamental magnitudes in chemistry | |
| 1912 | Physics | Investigations in physical optics | |
| 1912 | Chemistry | Important Research in Chemistry | |
| 1912 | Engineering | Distinguished work in metrology | |
| 1912 | Engineering | Industrial applications of electricity | |
| 1912 | Chemistry | Extended research in organic chemistry | |
| 1913 | Engineering | Contributions to telephony and science of sound reproduction | |
| 1913 | Life Science | Organic and biological chemistry | |
| 1913 | Chemistry | Discoveries in chemistry | |
| 1913 | Engineering | Distinguished work in civil engineering | |
| 1913 | Physics | Extended researches in physical science | |
| 1913 | Engineering | Metallography of Iron and Steel | |
| 1913 | Engineering | Analytical methods in electrical engineering | |
| 1914 | Chemistry | Original Researches in Photo-Chemistry | |
| 1914 | Engineering | Liquefaction of gases and refrigeration | |
| 1914 | Chemistry | Leading work in electro-chemistry | |
| 1914 | Engineering | The art and science of aviation | |
| 1915 | Engineering | Automatic Bottle Blowing Machine | |
| 1916 | Engineering | Development of the Art of telephony | |
| 1916 | Engineering | Low Expansion Wire for Incandescent Lamps | |
| 1916 | Engineering | Permutit water softening process | |
| 1917 | Engineering | Investigation of Electric Furnaces and High Temperature | |
| 1918 | Engineering | Lewis Machine Gun | |
| 1920 | Engineering | Electrical Propulsion of Ships | |
| 1923 | Engineering | Audion | |
| 1923 | Engineering | Hydraulic Valve | |
| 1923 | Engineering | Thrust bearing | |
| 1925 | Engineering | Turbo-Electric Appliances | |
| 1926 | Physics | Astronomical Researches of sun, solar atmosphere and solar physics | |
| 1926 | Engineering | Design of Optical Systems | |
| 1927 | Physics | Researches in Sound | |
| 1927 | Physics | Investigations in the Physical Sciences | |
| 1928 | Engineering | Permalloy | |
| 1928 | Engineering | Revolutionizing automobile industry, and industrial leadership | |
| 1928 | Computer and Cognitive Science | Kinematic Computing Devices | |
| 1928 | Engineering | Wright Whirlwind Air-Cooled Engine, Model J-5 | |
| 1929 | Life Science | Carbohydrate chemistry | |
| 1929 | Life Science | Instruments for Removal of Foreign Bodies from Respiratory and food Passages | |
| 1929 | Engineering | Navigational and Recording Instruments | |
| 1930 | Physics | Measurement of Liquid Flow in Closed Conduits | |
| 1930 | Engineering | High Pressure Steam Boilers in Electric Generating Stations | |
| 1931 | Physics | Scattering and diffraction of electrons by crystals | |
| 1931 | Physics | Scattering and Diffraction of Electrons by Crystals | |
| 1931 | Engineering | Contributions to magnetism and metallurgy | |
| 1931 | Physics | Work in Spectroscopy | |
| 1932 | Physics | Work in high pressure | |
| 1932 | Engineering | Symmetrical Coordinates in Polyphase Networks | |
| 1932 | Dielectric Behavior | ||
| 1933 | Physics | Optical Planetarium | |
| 1933 | Engineering | Autogiro-flying machine with freely rotating wings | |
| 1934 | Engineering | Vertical Antenna for Radio Transmission | |
| 1934 | Engineering | Continuous Cab Signal and Automatic Train Control Systems | |
| 1936 | Chemistry | Development of synthetic aliphatic chemistry | |
| 1936 | Engineering | High Voltage Electrostatic Generator | |
| 1937 | Chemistry | Discovery of the positron | |
| 1937 | Earth Science | Contributions to the Science of Geodesy | |
| 1937 | Engineering | Process for Manufacture of Cellophane | |
| 1937 | Physics | Low temperature research | |
| 1937 | Engineering | Development of the Cyclotron | |
| 1938 | Engineering | Polaroid camera | |
| 1939 | Physics | Creation of new methods for measuring gravitation, sound, heat, radiation and current and static electricity | |
| 1939 | Engineering | Theory of electric circuits for improvements in telephony | |
| 1939 | Engineering | Contributions to electric communications | |
| 1940 | Engineering | Low carbon ferro-alloys and electro-metallurgy | |
| 1940 | Life Science | Researches upon Vitamin B1 including its isolation in the pure state in quantities sufficient for further study | |
| 1941 | Engineering | Submarine rescue devices, U.S. lung and rescue chamber | |
| 1942 | Life Science | Investigation in Carbohydrate chemistry | |
| 1942 | Physics | Measurement of magnetic moments of atomic nuclei, and their radio frequency spectra | |
| 1943 | Engineering | Salt velocity method for measuring the flow of water in conduits | |
| 1944 | Chemistry | Contributions in organic chemistry | |
| 1945 | Engineering | Leadership in field of radio for U.S. Navy | |
| 1945 | Engineering | Hydraulic turbines | |
| 1946 | Engineering | Contributions to design and development of anti-aircraft guns, tanks, seacoast artillery and welded gun carriages | |
| 1948 | Engineering | Practical systems of long distance communications | |
| 1950 | Physics | Work in the field of atmospheric electricity and the mechanism of lightning discharge | |
| 1952 | Engineering | Contributions to improvement of telephonic communications by applying mathematical probability to the study of telephone traffic and by the invention of switching equipment | |
| 1952 | Engineering | Development of the single runner vertical reaction turbine | |
| 1953 | Physics | Scientific basis for the electro-deposition of metals | |
| 1953 | Physics | Precision measurement in Zeeman effect | |
| 1953 | Physics | Contributions to field of spectroscopy and to the knowledge of the electronic structure of many elements | |
| 1955 | Physics | For extensive investigations involving frictions between solid surfaces | |
| 1957 | Physics | Technique of radio carbon dating | |
| 1957 | Engineering | Engineering accomplishments, inventions and leadership | |
| 1957 | Engineering | Pulsed radar, and development of radar systems | |
| 1958 | Chemistry | Discoveries in polysulfide polymers and new processes of combining chemical compounds for the manufacture of synthetic rubber | |
| 1958 | Engineering | Theory of elasticity and elastic stability | |
| 1959 | Engineering | Developed remote radio control of moving vehicles | |
| 1959 | Engineering | Matched impedance principle in electro-mechanical devices | |
| 1959 | Engineering | Contributions to radio, radar and electronics | |
| 1960 | Engineering | Contributions to theory and application of aerodynamics which advanced the art of wind tunnel and aircraft design and for contributions to design and development of first automatic radar homing guided missile | |
| 1960 | Engineering | Pioneering work in elasticity of materials | |
| 1960 | Physics | Significant studies in the field of cosmic radiation | |
| 1961 | Physics | The bubble chamber for tracking and photographing tracks of high energy ionizing particles and the fragments of nuclear collisions | |
| 1961 | Physics | Discovery of recoilless emission | |
| 1961 | Engineering | Performance of electric power systems | |
| 1961 | Physics | Pioneering achievements in space science, Van Allen Radiation Belts | |
| 1962 | Physics | Innovations in the design of astronomical instruments and the mathematics of optical design | |
| 1962 | Engineering | Liquid rocket motors and rocket development | |
| 1963 | Physics | Contributions to applied electromagnetism and nuclear physics such as conception of strange-focusing principle in synchrotrons, the ARGUS experiment and principles in Astron development | |
| 1963 | Physics | Radio astronomy, early radio telescopes, and the identification of the first radio star | |
| 1964 | Engineering | Achievements in natural and synthetic rubber production | |
| 1964 | Physics | Solution of buckling problems in physics and engineering | |
| 1964 | Physics | Contributions to the control and direction of high-energy particle beams and as a designer of instrumentation for measurement of high-energy physical phenomena | |
| 1965 | Life Science | Clinical chemistry procedures and apparatus | |
| 1966 | Physics | Development of the theory of radiation shielding | |
| 1966 | Chemistry | Polymers | |
| 1968 | Chemistry | Fluorine Compounds of Xenon and Radon | |
| 1969 | Chemistry | Quantum mechanical calculations of activation energies | |
| 1969 | Engineering | Contributions in the fields of electronics | |
| 1970 | Engineering | Nuclear power reactors | |
| 1971 | Chemistry | Polymer science | |
| 1971 | Physics | Theories of magnetism and dielectrics | |
| 1972 | Physics | Josephson effect and theory of matter at low temperatures | |
| 1972 | Engineering | Development of full maneuvering automatic pilot and Lear jet | |
| 1973 | Physics | Astronomy | |
| 1973 | Life Science | Crash Injury Research | |
| 1974 | Chemistry | Percyano compounds, synthesis and exploration of chemical and physical properties | |
| 1974 | Physics | Role in gravitational experiment and theory | |
| 1974 | Earth Science | Plant hormones and air pollution chemistry | |
| 1974 | Physics | Cosmic rays, gamma-ray astronomy | |
| 1975 | Life Science | Nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of enzymatic complexes | |
| 1975 | Physics | Acoustic quadrupole theory of aerodynamic noise generation | |
| 1976 | Physics | Leadership in forefront of experimentation in study of high energy interactions, nuclear forces and particle physics | |
| 1978 | Chemistry | Development of methods for synthesis of diborane and alkali metal hydrides | |
| 1978 | Chemistry | Computer-generated model for water molecules | |
| 1979 | Physics | Unified theory of weak and electromagnetic interactions | |
| 1980 | Physics | Outstanding work in X-ray astronomy | |
| 1981 | Earth Science | Application of quantitative methods to geological problems | |
| 1982 | Physics | Plasma physics | |
| 1982 | Physics | Contributions to the understanding of molecular structure and dynamics | |
| 1984 | Life Science | For investigation of genetics of mucopolysaccharide storage disease | |
| 1985 | Engineering | For the application of mass spectrometry to geoscience research | |
| 1985 | Physics | For contributions to controlled thermonuclear reactions, baryon synthesis and proton decay, induced gravity and the quark model | |
| 1986 | Physics | For contributions to the current understanding of second order phase transition | |
| 1987 | Physics | For development of the scanning tunneling microscope | |
| 1987 | Physics | For the development of scanning tunneling microscope | |
| 1988 | Engineering | For clarification of the role of pressure in producing paramagnetic-ferromagnetic and conductor-insulator transitions | |
| 1989 | Physics | For interpretation of dynamical chaos in physical systems | |
| 1990 | Physics | For his discoveries in laser physics and quantum optics, atomic and statistical physics, and biological engineering | |
| 1991 | Physics | For observations of electromagnetic potentials and insights into quantum mechanics | |
| 1991 | Physics | For elevated electromagnetic potentials to status of physical observables | |
| 1992 | Life Science | For the discovery of the cystic fibrosis gene | |
| 1995 | Life Science | For his contributions in automating the synthesis of DNA oligonucleotides | |
| 1995 | Physics | For development and refinement of techniques of molecular beam epitaxy for use in quantum physics | |
| 1997 | Life Science | For discovering the biology of free radical reactions in living organisms | |
| 1997 | Life Science | For discovering the biology of free radical reactions in living organisms |