HISTORY OF ISSUED 

UNITED STATES MARSHALS BADGES

        In the late 1800's and the early 1900's when the United States Marshals were under the Justice Department, some badges were ordered by the Justice Department.  As far as it can be determined, these badges were circle and cut out stars.  Some said "UNITED STATES MARSHAL" and some said "DEPUTY UNITED STATES MARSHAL" on them.  They were hallmarked 'LAMB STAMP & STAT. WASH. D.C." or "LAMB & TILDEN BADGE CO. WASH. D.C.".  These badges were sent to the Territories and Districts when the Justice Department received a request from a particular U.S. Marshal in writing or by telegraph. These badges were not accountable at the time.

        In 1972, when I interviewed  T. P. McNamara, Deputy U.S. Marshal, Waco, Texas.  He stated that when he helped the United States Marshal Service Headquarters move in Washington D.C. to the Safeway Building,  there were two bushel baskets of circle and cutout stars.  All that he had seen were made by the two above companies.  He was given a couple hundred of them and he has given most of them away over the years.

  DISCLAIMER: These badges are not being displayed for sale or trade purposes. They are a representation of U.S. Marshals Service 

     A.    United States Marshal (small size), control number and credential warning on back.

            1. Total of 95 issued (more than 100 were bought)

            2. District number was on the back, example #08 was assigned to Arizona.

    B.    Deputy United States Marshal (large size), control number and credential warning on back.

            1. Approximately 3000 issued.

            2. The number on the back can be a low number such as #13 which I have seen. There is also         

                 numbers in the 6000 range.

            3. In 1969 there were only 500 deputies;  in late 1970 early 1971 more deputies were added until there were about  1800.

    DISCLAIMER: These badges are not being displayed for sale or trade purposes. They are a representation of U.S. Marshals Service

    A.    Chief Deputy United States Marshal control number and credential warning on the back.  Approximately 95 issued.   These badges were manufactured by ROBINS COMPANY of Attleboro, Mass.  This company was bought out be V. H. BLACKINGTON & CO., INC. of Attleboro, Mass.  A check with this company shows that they do not have the records from ROBINS COMPANY and they do not know who has them. 

    B.    The cost of these badges was $10.80 each.

   DISCLAIMER: These badges are not being displayed for sale or trade purposes. They are a representation of U.S. Marshals Service

     A.  Director

        1.    issued - 1

            a.  number ordered - 1

                (1) number on back - #1

    B.  DEPUTY DIRECTOR

        1.  issued -1

            a.  number ordered - 1

                (1)  number on back - #2

    C.  ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

        1. issued - 1

            a.  number ordered - 1

                (1) number on back #3

    D.  OPERATIONS

        1.  issued - 11

            a.  number ordered - 11

                (1) number on back -  # 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

    E.  INSPECTOR

        1.  issued - 6

            a.  number ordered - 6

                (1) number on back - # 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

    F.  CHIEF INSPECTOR

        1.   issued - 1

            a.  number ordered - 1

                (1) number on back - unknown

    G. MARSHAL

        1.  issued - 95

            a.  number ordered - 100

                (1)  number on back # 101 thru 200

    H.  CHIEF DEPUTY

        1.  issued - 95

            a.  number ordered - 100

                (1) number on back # 201 thru 300

    I.  DEPUTY

        1.  issued - 900

            a.  numbered ordered - 900

                (1) number on back # 301 thru 1200

        2.  this rank includes regular deputies, WAE's, Special Deputies, TOE's Terms, VRA's

    J.  DEPUTY

        1.  issued - 1

            a.  number ordered - 1

                (1)  number on back - # AG

    K.  DEPUTY

        1.  issued - 1

            a.  number ordered - 1

                (1)  number on back - # DAG

    L.  DEPUTY

        1.  issued - 1

            a.  number ordered - 1

                (1)  number on back - # AAG

     On July 14, 1970 the dies were ordered to be cut by V. H. BLACKINTON & CO, INC of Attleboro, Mass. for the large silver shield that was used from 1971 to 1980.

     The above badges were from the original order that was placed in late 1970.  The cost of the badges were about $9.80 each.

     Sometime in  early 1971, another order was placed for additional Deputy badges that had numbers up to 2000 on them.  There is no record at either U.S. Marshal Service Headquarters or Blackinton for the date or numbers on the badges.

     Then sometime after that, a number of Deputy badges were ordered with the number range in the 5000's.  Also a number of Deputy badges were ordered with a letter "A" in front of the number.  These badges were issued to Main Justice and the Congressmen who had need.

After 1972, badges were ordered with the following titles on them and were issued.

    A.  REGIONAL DIRECTOR

        1.  ordered - 5

            a.  issued - 5

                (1)  number on back - # 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

    B.  ASSISTANT REGIONAL DIRECTOR*

        1.  ordered - 5

            a.  issued - 5

                (1) number on back - # 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

In 1976, an order was placed for the following badges:

    A.  SUPERVISOR DEPUTY

        1.  ordered - 100

            a.  issued - unknown

                (1)  number on back # 2319 thru 2418

In 1978 an order was placed for the following badges:

    A.  INSPECTOR

        1.  ordered - 100

            a.  issued - unknown

                (1)  number on back # 2500 thru 2599

*  The above information on ASSISTANT REGIONAL DIRECTOR was received in an interview from a retired United States Marshal Service employee.  He was not sure if the badges were issued.

DISCLAIMER: These badges are not being displayed for sale or trade purposes. They are a representation of U.S. Marshals Service

     In 1980, the following badges were ordered with the words "UNITED STATES MARSHAL" on the face of them.  They came in two colors.  Gold issued to the U.S.  Marshal; silver  was issued to everyone else.

*  In 1983 one silver badge was ordered and received.  It was issued to the Director.

**  In 1984 two gold badges were ordered and received.  It's not known at present who has them.  They are not in inventory and not shown to have been issued.

A badge was given to President Ronald Reagan.  Number - 1, color - gold.

A badge was given to James Arness.  Number unknown.

The silver badges numbered 7000 through 7199 were ordered with the wording "SPECIAL DEPUTY UNITED STATES MARSHAL".  These badges are just a little smaller than the above issue.

Five gold circle and cutout stars were ordered with pins on the back.  They were issued in 1989 to the following marshals:

N/D Texas, W/D Texas, 2 Marshals in Oklahoma and number 5 was for the Director.  They were used in parades.

Five silver circle and cutout stars were ordered with pins and 4 were issued to the "Ft. Worth Marshals Honor Guard" and number 5 was kept by Peyton Baer, head of the Posses.

In 1984, the following pocket badges were ordered.

In 1986, the following pocket badges were ordered:

In 1986, the following badges were ordered:

In 1988, the following pocket badges were ordered:

In 1988 the following badges were ordered:

DISCLAIMER: These badges are not being displayed for sale or trade purposes. They are a representation of U.S. Marshals Service

These badges were issued to Special Deputy's and Court Security Officers.

    DISCLAIMER: These badges are not being displayed for sale or trade purposes. They are a representation of U.S. Marshals Service

    In 1989 a Bicentennial gold badge was made and issued on April 3, 1989.  There were 3000 ordered with the numbers to match the current issued badge number of each operational employee.  These badges were manufactured by "WILLIAMS & ANDERSON" of Providence, RI.  This badge is to replace the pocket badge and is to be worn until October 31, 1989, and then it was given to the employee.  On  October 25, 1989, a memo was sent that the badge will be worn until further notice, then it would be replaced by another badge.

    On November 19, 1990 all districts received the new belt badge that replaced the Bicentennial badge.  The new badge is the same as the one in the ID case and with the same number on the back.  The U.S. Marshal's badge is gold and the deputies have silver.  These badges were also manufactured by "WILLIAMS & ANDERSON of Providence, RI.  There were 3000 ordered.

DISCLAIMER: These badges are not being displayed for sale or trade purposes. They are a representation of U.S. Marshals Service

The Millennium badge was issued July, 2000 to be worn  until December 31, 2001.  This badge was optional for Operational Personnel (Marshals, Chiefs, Supervisors, Inspectors  and Deputies) to buy and wear for 18 months.  This is an official issue badge made by V. H. Blackinton & Co., Attleboro, Mass.  It is unknown how many have been ordered and worn at present.

The following numbers and titles of badges were destroyed on December 7, 1983 at Headquarters, Washington, DC.