A never-released recording of the 131st presentation of the Royal Gold Medal to the office of Charles & Ray Eames has been unveiled for the first time by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). Converted from its original analog format into digital by RIBA's former Chief Archivist, architectural historian Kurt Helrich, the recording presents the historical day Ray Eames became the first woman to receive the Royal Gold Medal.

"During the last 150 years, the Royal Gold Medal has crossed the Atlantic on ten occasions and tonight will be the eleventh. This is only the second occasion, however, that the medal has been conferred upon a corporate group of people. […] But this is the first and only occasion so far when the President of the day had the pleasure of investing a lady," said then RIBA President Gordon Graham in his presentation of the award to Eames.

Yet, while rising as the first woman to receive this high honor, the day marks the recognition of a formidable artist and designer who influentially shaped the state of design and architectural discourse. Charles Eames, Ray's partner and husband had passed away just about a year before the medal was bestowed to the pair, but the duo made a stamp on the design world that will never be forgotten.