Armorial Ensigns of the Lesser Known

Arms of the Institutum Divini Thomae.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

As a follow up to my previous post showcasing emblazonments of several Ivy League schools and other prominent academic institutions, I felt it was only fitting to highlight arms from equally noble institutions likely unknown to some.

I am thrilled to present for the first time in digitized full-color, the arms of the Institutum Divi Thomae.  Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, the institute was a scholarly venture of the Roman Catholic Church focusing on scientific research.  Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941) designed the arms for the institute in 1936 with a few unique marks of identification.  The inscription on the open book reinforces this mission, while the sun in splendor in dexter canton references St. Thomas Aquinas.  

Blazon:  Or, on a cross Gules an open book edged with two clasps Or inscribed Religio Scientia between four bezants, in dexter canton a sun Gules.

It truly brings joy creating arms knowing its the first time the design joins the digital age.

Arms of Rice University.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024

Rice University was designed in 1912 by la Rose--his first design for a secular institution.  La Rose's blazon for the arms of Rice University:  Azure, two chevronels Argent between as many Athenian Owls Argent.

Groton School coat of arms.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The famous American architect and father of "collegiate gothic," Ralph Adams Cram (1863-1942) designed the arms for Groton School in 1904.  Located in Groton, Massachusetts, the school's coat of arms is blazoned:  Argent, on a cross Gules a sword in pale point to base with hilt ensigned of a coronet all of the field, on a chief Sable three open books of the field.

Arms of Bryn Mawr College.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The arms of Bryn Mawr College are quite striking to say the least.  Designed in 1904 by the College of Arms in London--designed, no grant as far as I know--the arms are blazoned:  Per pale, Or and Ermine three owls proper.

College of Arms you say working with a US college in 1904?  According to the College, yes.  I will definitely want to see if these arms were granted.  My hunch is that a herald did the design work and dispensed with all the legalities, etc.

Arms of the University of Washington St. Louis.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024

The University of Washington St. Louis bears arms layered with identification. Designed in 1897 by Professor Holmes Smith, the arms are blazoned: Argent, on two bars Gules an open book bearing the motto PER VERITATEM VIS, in chief three stars of five points and in base as many fleurs de lys Vert.

Banner of arms, University of Washington St. Louis.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024

The coat of arms of Washington & Lee University, located in Lexington, Virginia, may be unfamiliar to many.  Designed in 1901 by chemistry professor William George Brown, the quartered arms combine a lot of imagery for identification.

Arms of Washington & Lee University.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Blazon for the arms of Washington & Lee University:  Quarterly. 1st Azure open book Argent thereon inscribed OMNIA AUTEM PROBATE. 2nd Argent two bars in chief three mullets Gules (Washington). 3rd Gules a fess chequy Azure and Or between ten billets Argent, four in chief, three, two, and one in base (Lee). 4th Azure a cinquefoil pierced Argent, a bordure engrailed Ermine.

The coat of arms of Washington & Lee University, with crest and motto.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Banner of arms of Washington & Lee University.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

I will say, the university's arms are most attractive when rendered as an amorial banner.

Arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The arms la Rose designed for the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont are simple and clear.  Sadly, however, one cannot find a decent emblazonment anywhere until now.

If you guessed that the piles reference Vermont's Green Mountains then you're well on your way in learning la Rose's methods.  I'm glad to now have a good emblazonment of these lovely arms.   

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The following three arms below were designed by la Rose and perhaps represent his most controversial work in the 21st Century.  The arms of Grace Hopper College at Yale were not designed by la Rose, but I want to showcase these new arms.  All three of la Rose's designs have been retired and I wanted to ensure their conservation.  

As our collective social consciences woke to finally acknowledge the pain and struggles our sisters and brothers of color endure in the US every day, institutions nationwide took a deep internal look at names and symbols that no longer represent everyone in their constituencies.  Colleges and universities--especially--removed names from institutions and buildings and even retired logos and symbols too.

My efforts to preserve these designs stem purely from a heraldic perspective and scholarship.

Arms of Calhoun College at Yale (since been renamed).
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024

The arms of Calhoun College, the name of a former undergraduate residence at Yale, were designed by la Rose in 1931 and simply blazoned:  Argent, a saltire engrailed Sable; a chief of the arms of Yale.  The namesake of the residence had ties to slavery and thus Yale retired the name as well as the arms.  

The new arms of Grace Hopper College at Yale.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Calhoun was replaced with Grace Hopper for the residential college.  The new arms of Grace Hopper College became official in 2017 and blazoned:  Azure semé of Plates and Billets Argent a Dolphin embowed Or; on a Chief Argent a Fess engrailed Sable.

Former arms of Kirkland House at Harvard.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

La Rose designed the arms for Kirkland House at Harvard in 1931.  The design in recent years caused a stir, as many at Harvard believed Kirkland's arms too closely resembled the Confederate flag.  Thus, these arms were effectively retired and new design ushered in.

Former arms of Harvard Law.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

As part of his heraldic program for Harvard's Tercentenary celebrations in 1936, la Rose devised arms for all the schools of university.  The arms of Harvard Law, however, would become a lightening rod for controversy and effectively retired in 2016.  The issue:  the three gold garbs of wheat representing Isaac Royall, Jr., whose family had owned slaves.  In 2021, the law school unveiled new arms.