More Bars 'n Stars in Virginia

More stars 'n bars from the Washington arms in Virginia
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

George Washington:  first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countymen.  Also, first to have his coat of arms changed up in virtually every way possible.  However, the two coats of arms that I found online today are truly quite tasteful and fitting.

The coat of arms of Washington County in Virginia
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The County of Washington is located in the southwest area of Virginia with its seat being the City of Abingdon.  According to the Washington County Historical Society, the county's board of supervisors officially adopted these arms--within a seal--on January 4, 1978. 

The coat of arms of Washington County Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The Washington County Virginia Chamber of Commerce clearly followed in the Board of Supervisors' footsteps by adopting its differenced coat of arms and replacing red with blue.  Simple.  Is the color change sufficient enough to avoid infringing on the established Washington arms?  I'll leave that answer to the reader.

I do appreciate, however, the intention to show unification of the county's chamber with the county itself.  After all, it's good for business!

Recent Finds Part VI

Arms recently found on the web and digitally emblazoned, legend below
by Chad Krouse, 2025

For part six of recent finds, I am sharing a few scholastic coats of arms recently found online.  While I was familiar with the arms of Gilman School and Indiana University, the others were new.  I know I've written before about this point, however, it is a universal truth that the artistic rendering of a given coat can only serve to enhance the beauty and effectiveness where blazonry ends.  The ensigns of the two aforementioned academic institutions never stirred much within me;  I saw those arms as interpreted by the artists who rendered them.  Well, today my mind has changed.  I love the arms of Indiana University (as I interpreted them ha!).  

First Diagonal Row (Top-down):  The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, a coat of arms presently unknown, and Middlesex School;

Second Diagonal Row (Top-down):  The Masters School, University of Indiana, and Gilman School 

The coat of arms of Indiana University
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

In 1962, Indiana University officially adopted a coat of arms designed by Ade Bethune (1914-2002) who immigrated to the US from Belgium and became a highly skilled liturgical artist in the Catholic Church.  The blazon for the arms of Indiana University:  Gules, on a sun in splendor Argent an open book with four clasps edged of the field. 

Coat of Arms unknown at present
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Loved this design immediately but could not identify it!  One source suggests that these arms are from the US Hospital Auxiliary and used as an award of sorts.  Another source points to the military--the three white stars on a blue field would support that theory.

Blazon:  Argent, on a cross throughout Gules an open booked edged with two clasps Or inscribed Pro Patria et Ecclesia on a chief Azure three mullets of the field.

The coat of arms of Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, NY
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Rendering the arms of Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, NY was a fun break from some of the more traditional divisions in the field.  A simple and clean coat of arms.  My blazon for the arms of Masters School:  Or, on a triangle throughout void of the field Purpure an open book edged with three clasps Argent thereon inscribed Do It With Thy Might.

The ribbons hanging from the pages are bookmarks and a first for me in rendering them.

The coat of arms of Gilman School in Baltimore, MD
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Founded in 1897, Gilman School in Baltimore would adopt its coat of arms in 1907, representing an early adopted among US academic institutions before the arms race of the 20th century took off.  Gilman School's coat of arms were designed by faculty member Hamlet S. Philpot who taught Greek, Latin, and history.  The arms are incorporated in the school's seal which has seen a few revisions during its lifetime.  The school's archives present this timeline better that I could, so please click here to see how Gilman School's arms and seal has evolved. 

Recent Finds Part V

US civic coats of arms discovered on the Internet (legend below)
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025
Click image to enlarge

In the ongoing "recent finds series," I've decidedly gone in a new direction in search of US civic coats of arms to render and share.  I was rather surprised by the number of arms used by cities in Rhode Island, and I may need to devote a whole post to those designs.

Top Row (L-R):  City of Austin (TX), City of Saco (ME), and Warwick (RI)

Middle Row (L-R):  Crozet Civic Association (VA), Smithfield (RI), and Warren (RI)

Bottom Row (L-R):  Lincoln, North Providence, and Tiverton (all RI)

Arms of the City of Austin, TX
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

I had no idea that the City of Austin used arms, and rather simple ones too.  While the overall design incorporates colors/elements from the state flag of Texas, I believe the gold lamp is a reference to the city being a seat of learning with UT Austin located there.  

Arms of Crozet Civic Association (Crozet, VA)
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Quite literally in my backyard, the Crozet Civic Association adopted the arms of Crozet for which the town near Charlottesville is named for in 1996.  The arms are simple and lovely.  Read more about these arms by clicking here.

Arms of the City of Saco, ME
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The arms of Saco, Maine are also simple and lovely, incorporating the chevron from the state's namesake Sir Fernado Gorges, and pinecones from the evergreen tree emblazoned on the state's arms.

Arms of Lincoln, RI
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Lastly, I want to highlight the arms from Lincoln, Rhode Island which incorporate in base the cross of St. George and fleur-de-lis from its namesake Lincoln in England.  I've been there!  The chief provides the differencing by incorporating an axe to play on Abraham Lincoln.

In Recognition of 'Good' Heraldry

Past recipients of the AHS Design Award
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025
Click to enlarge

Of course good heraldry can be a rather subjective judgement.  I can hear a certain former mother-in-law exclaiming, "there's no accounting for taste!"  My philosophy of corporate heraldry falls into a transcendentalism world view rooted in the power we humans ascribe symbols for not just identification, but for representation.  More on all this later.  As such, I'm cautious to tear apart or degrade a coat of arms--regardless if I believe the design is efficacious or not--because someone somewhere believes to be represented by those arms.  So, I settle on whether or not a given design is clear and perspicuous, nothing more.  

In a sense, the American Heraldry Society believes something similar, accomplished through its Pierre de Chaignon la Rose Design Award.  Here's my write up for the award that I use for the election.

"Established in 2006, the Society's annual award is named in honor of Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941), the great American heraldic designer who led a revival in American heraldry during the early twentieth century.  The purpose of the award is to encourage and support excellence in American heraldry by recognizing coat of arms that provide the bearer with a strong public identity embodying the best heraldic design of the highest form, function, and aesthetic.

"Nominees for the award represent corporate bodies from academic, military, civic, religious, or social organizations whose coat of arms exemplifies the best in heraldic design. The arms must have been designed in the United States. The designs are nominated by the Society’s membership; finalists are selected by the Board of Governors."

Fairly straightforward.  To the point, I really like how we recognize those organizations proudly using their arms--most are rather surprised when they hear from us regarding such an award.  I think its important to provide education regarding sound heraldry by recognizing those designs selected by the Society.  Click here to see the AHS webpage for the design award.  

Recently, I was asked to render all the past recipients so that we could add all the arms to our new website and maintain a consistent design--see above!  Both la Rose and Col. Harry D. Temple have designs recognized by the award over the years.  One of my alma maters, The School of Theology at The University of the South received the award in 2024.  Click here to read about the 2024 recipient.  

Arms of the Gov. John R. Rogers High School ROTC
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The first recipient of the design award was Gov. Rogers HS ROTC, located in Pullyup, WA and whose arms were designed by the US Army's Institute of Heraldry in 1999.

Check out their blazon:  Celeste a pile reversed dancette of three the pale enhanced Argent below and between two demi-rams salient combatant armed and unguled Gold Brown

Arms of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The arms of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe received the award in 2009 , and were designed by Professor Brian Abel Ragen of Southern Illinois University.  The arms are blazoned:  Tierced in chapé Vert and Argent a bunch of roses Gules leaved and slipped Vert.

Arms of the San Francisco Fog Rugby Club
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Finally, a rather cool design, the arms of the San Francisco Fog Rugby Club received the Society's award in 2007.  I like how the nebuly sort of resembles the famous fog in the Bay area.  Designed by Pete Arden and blazoned:  Barry nebuly of six Argent and Azure, on a bend Sable three mullets of the first.

More Designs by Temple

My variation for a seal with the arms of the City of Fredericksburg
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

In 1971, Temple's (1911-2004) armorial design for the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia was officially adopted by the city.  Packed with meaning and references for Fredericksburg, Temple's design is blazoned:  Argent, on a cross saltire Azure two ostrich feathers in saltire Or on an ineschuteon Gules the crown of Charlemagne Or.  

The arms of Tift College in Forsyth, Georgia.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The design of arms Temple devised for Tift College which was located in Forsyth, Georgia was adopted by the school in 1965 (Stone, 1969, p.173).  Tift College merged in 1986 with Mercer College and thus these arms are no longer extant. 

Earlier this year, I wrote about Tift College's arms as I had finally located an official blazon; click here to read about Temple's design of arms for Tift College.   

The blazon of arms for Tift College is: Argent, a cross Sable with a maltese cross of the first, on a chief Azure three roses Or barbed Vert (Tift, 1967, p.107).

The coat of arms of Augustine Parish
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024

The arms of St. Augustine's Parish in Maryland were covered in my previously article on Temple's design; without hard evidence its entirely likely that Temple created these arms.  I've sent correspondence to Augustine Parish inquiring about design information for their coat of arms which I rendered above and added the processional cross which he used in a few designs.

Blazon for the arms of Augustine Parish:  Per pale Argent and Vert, in base two arrows in saltire Argent with points to chief surmounted by a winged spur Or and a canton of Calvert (Paly of six Or and Sable a bend counterchanged).

The arms of St. Peter's Cathedral in Helena, Montana.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024. 

Dekay (1993) provides both the blazon and design rationale for the arms of St. Peter's Cathedral in Helena Montana; however no designer is named.  Based on the illustration in DeKay (1993) this coat is highly suspicious in that Temple most likely designed the cathedral's arms.  The line dancetty abstractly refers to the Rocky Mountains, the gold base comes from the arms of the first bishop of the Diocese of Montana, and the black cross patee honors the first vicar of St. Peter's.  I will send the cathedral a request for design information in the coming days.

Blazon for the arms of St. Peter's Cathedral in Helena, Montana:  Per fess dancetty Azure and Or in chief a civic crown Argent charged with two keys in saltire Gules in a base a cross patee Sable (DeKay, 1993, p.109).

The arms of the Cathedral of St. Luke in Orlando, Florida.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The arms of the Cathedral of St. Luke located in Orlando, Florida is another design likely created by Temple.  I happened upon these arms randomly and the canton immediately raised an eye brow towards Temple.  While I cannot locate a design rationale, the white canton and red cross saltire makes a clear reference to Florida's flag and the fleam is often attributed as a charge for St. Luke the "surgeon."  I rather like this simple design.

Blazon for the arms of the Cathedral of St. Luke in Orlando, Florida:  Pean, on a canton Argent a cross saltire Gules charged with a fleam Or.

The arms of the Cathedral Church of St. James in South Bend, Indiana.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Dekay (1993) credits Temple for designing the arms for the Cathedral Church of St. James in South Bend, Indiana blazoned:  Azure, three bendlets Or on a canton Gules an escallop Argent (p.112).  The escallop is an attributed charge for St. James the Greater while the three gold lines mimic the waters left in the wake of St. James' missionary travels by ship.  I also like this simple design.

One thing remains clear, Temple loved a canton and he utilized them well. 

Works Cited

Dekay, E. (1993).  Heraldry in the Episcopal Church.  Acorn Press.

Stone, E.W. (1969).  Yesterday at Tift.  Foote & Davies.

Tift College (1967).  Chiaroscuro [yearbook].  The Chiaroscuro Collections, Special Collections and University Archives, Mercer University, Macon, GA.  http://hdl.handle.net/10898/10928 

The Committee on Heraldry

Arms of the Committee on Heraldry, American Ancestors.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

It may come as a surprise to many readers to learn that the United States has the oldest non-governmental heraldic body in the world.  Formerly known to many as the New England Historic and Genealogical Society's (NEHGS) Committee on Heraldry, the Committee on Heraldry was established on 3 February 1863 and remains headquartered in Boston.  While NEHGS has since been renamed to American Ancestors, the Committee's work collecting and preserving American arms continues.  Two distinct functions of the Committee's work:  1) Registering historical arms of early Americans and immigrants, and 2) recording modern armorial ensigns used by Americans today.  Note the distinction between registration and recording!  Both functions require a detailed process for acceptance.  

Click here to go to the Committee on Heraldry's website.     

Recently, both American Ancestors and the Committee served as host for the 36th International Congress of Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences held this past September in Boston.  Congress brought together both genealogical and heraldic scholars from around the world for fellowship, research collaboration, and  presentations.  I was proud to have been among those selected to share a portion of my la Rose research at Congress.

I had every good intention to emblazon the Committee's arms before Congress, however, that didn't happen until this past week.

Banner of arms, the Committee on Heraldry.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

As far as I know the Committee's arms have been in use for quite some time and I wanted the challenge of recreating theses in my newly developing style of sorts.

My blazon for the arms of the Committee on Heraldry:  Argent, a ship under sail Azure, sail and flag Argent a cross throughout Gules, and in base barry wavy Azure and Argent.

Arms of the Committee on Heraldry.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Back in 2014, I had the good sense to have my own assumed arms recorded with the Committee, something that was meaningful for me to be counted among so many others bearing arms in our country.

Mission Digital: Preserving Arms From the Past II

Arms of the City of Kinston, NC designed by the College of Arms.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

I'm thrilled to share several more armorial ensigns that are seemingly impossible to find.  By recreating these coats of arms in vector format and sharing here, its my sincere hope that we can prevent their extinction.   

The arms of the City of Kinston in North Carolina is one such case and these arms will soon get a post of their own.  So for now, enjoy!

Coat of arms for the City of Williamsburg, Virginia.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

In October 1976, the City of Williamsburg, Virginia received a devisal of arms from the College of Arms in London.  These arms are extremely difficult to find anywhere on the web and I needed this coat for a proposal of new arms for a corporate body in Williamsburg as an example.

Blazon for the arms of the City of Williamsburg:  Vert, a sun in his spendor between four billets in chief and three billets in base a bordure Or.

Arms of the National Student Council of the Episcopal Church
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024

The arms of the National Student Council of the Episcopal Church have been covered previously.  These arms represent Pierre de Chaignon la Rose's first national design for the Episcopal Church.  Years later, la Rose would render the ultimate design creating the Episcopal Church's own coat of arms.  Please click here to read more about these arms.

Arms of the Catholic Church Extension Society
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024

Next up, we have the arms la Rose designed for the Catholic Church Extension Society, an early national design for the Roman Catholic Church in the US.  These arms have previously been covered (but not emblazoned!).  Please click here to read more about these arms.  

Arms of Lancaster Catholic High School.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The arms of Lancaster Catholic High School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania are among my favorites designed by la Rose.  Designed between 1928-1930, the school's arms are harmonious, simple, and layered with richness--incorporating the Lancaster rose is brilliant!  Again, rather difficult to find a good rendering out in the wilds of the Internet.

Freshly digitized in vector, several arms of Episcopal Preparatory Schools.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

I was never happy with my renderings for St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire as well as St. George's School in Middletown, Rhode Island.  Both arms were designed by la Rose and I felt I had not done justice to his brilliant design work.

Now in vector format, I can say that I'm pleased and ready to put these designs to aside!  Click here to read about la Rose's work with these three schools.

From L-R:  Arms of Kenyon College and its foundation, Bexley Hall Seminary.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio has a lot of terrible renderings of its arms, most completely ignore the one published blazon I was able to find.  Additionally, Kenyon College established Bexley Hall Seminary as a school to train future clergy in the Episcopal Church.  The seminary's arms are all but extinct, so I went ahead and rendered these in vector format.  

These two armorial ensigns hold immense historical importance as they represent the first known design in US scholastic heraldry using a unifying chief (showing allegiance with the corporate sole).  I've written about both arms and click here to learn more.

La Rose 1921 proposed design for national arms for the Episcopal Church.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024

Finally, I'm sharing my emblazonment of la Rose's proposed national arms for the Episcopal Church submitted in 1921.  I've covered these arms previously in retelling the complete story of how the Episcopal Church received her own coat of arms.  Please click here to read more.

Mission Digital: Preserving Arms From the Past

The arms of St. Edward Seminary (now closed) designed by
Pierre de Chaignon la Rose.
Rendered now in vector format by Chad Krouse, 2024.

As I continue to learn and grow in the new world of digital heraldry, I'm embracing a new purpose.  My mission:  to preserve coats of arms from various US corporate bodies that either no longer exist or extremely difficult to find.  This new idea isn't really new for me, most of my heraldic research on Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941) has uncovered numerous armorial ensigns that have seemingly been lost to history.  In many cases with la Rose's work, some of his designs have never seen color much less rendered in digital form.  To read one such example, please click here to learn about the arms of St. Edward Seminary.

My new purpose also helps as I continue to present various case studies on US corporate arms--having nicely rendered arms adds tremendous value in telling the stories behind the designs.

Arms of the Foreign Mission Sisters of St. Dominic,
designed by John Nainfa and Pierre de Chaignon la Rose.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The arms of the Catholic Students' Mission Crusade,
designed by Pierre de Chaignon la Rose.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The arms of the Catholic University of America,
designed by Pierre de Chaignon la Rose.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The arms of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine,
designed by Pierre de Chaignon la Rose.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

While I've previously covered the arms for the Foreign Mission Sisters of St. Dominic, Catholic Students' Mission Crusade, the Catholic University of America, and the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, I wanted another shot at reworking the designs in vector and truly give them justice.  Please click here to read my previous analysis on these arms.

The arms of Lenox School (now closed),
designed by Pierre de Chaignon la Rose.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024

I also wanted to rework the arms of Lenox School, mainly the open and inscribed book.  Click here to read more about the arms of Lenox School.

Arms of the Gallery of Living Catholic Authors,
designed by Pierre de Chaignon la Rose.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The arms of the Gallery of Living Catholic Authors is another coat I believe has never been digitally rendered before, as I discovered it buried deep in an archives.  I've written previously about this unique design created by la Rose, but now I've finally rendered these arms in vector format.  These arms are among my favorite designed by la Rose.  

And now some fresh emblazonments of old coats of arms.

The arms of Rich's Department Store (now closed),
devised by the College of Arms.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Perhaps one of the most unusual arms I've encountered coming from London, the arms devised in 1966 for Rich's Incorporated, formerly a major department store located in Atlanta, Georgia.  Based on my research, Rich's arms represent the only US-commercial body to have petitioned the College of Arms for a devisal of arms.  The retailer merged with what is now Macy's.   

The arms of Georgia State College (now university)
devised by the College of Arms.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Georgia State College (now a university), located in Atlanta, Georgia, was the first US academic institution to receive a devisal of arms from the College of London following the Earl Marshal's change in the early 1960s.  The university, as far as I can tell, still use their arms within a seal matrix for its legal mark.  I don't see any use of the arms for decoration, etc.  I wanted to digitally render these arms in vector format as part of my mission to preserve the design for future generations of scholars. 

The coat of arms of Winthrop College (now university)
devised by the College of Arms.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Next up, we have the rather lovely and simple arms of Winthrop College (now a university) located in Rock Hill, South Carolina.  Sadly, the university no longer uses these arms in favor of design and thus I wanted to ensure their preservation by digitally rendering them.  I've not encountered a digital version in the wilds of the Internet.

The coat of arms of Kent School,
devised by the College of Arms.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Finding a decent rendering of the Kent School's coat of arms has become virtually impossible, and I knew I wanted to help change that.  Located in Kent, Connecticut, the Kent School's arms were originally designed in late 1920s and used a black engrailed fess with a gold fretty.  To celebrate the school's centenary, it received a devisal of arms from the College of Arms as seen above.  Black became blue!   

The arms of Roxbury Latin School,
granted by the College of Arms.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

I encountered the same issue when trying to find a good emblazonment of the arms for Roxbury Latin School in Massachusetts.  The school, given its pre-Indepedence founding date, received an actual grant of arms from London.  Their lovely and simple.

Arms of the Mescalero Apache Tribe devised by the College of Arms.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

File these arms under "extremely rare."  The arms of the Mescalero Apache Tribe represent the only known design of arms for a first nations corporate body in the US.  The tribe received a devisal of arms from the College of Arms in 1986.  I may be wrong here and more research will be needed.  The arms are simple and likely represent important Apache symbols.  I'd love to get my hands on the official blazon.

Arms of the American Society of the Order of Saint John,
granted by the College of Arms.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Before the US Priory of the Order of St. John was elevated to a priory, the organization existed as the American Society of the Order of St. John.  Granted by the College of Arms and conveyed by letters patent dated 24 May 1988, the arms are blazoned:  Gules, a cross Argent in the first quarter the Royal Crest proper and on the cross a Bald Eagle displayed proper.

Following the Society's elevation to a priory, the organization would receive a new grant from the College in 1996. 

The arms of Tift College (now closed),
designed by Col. Harry D. Temple.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

And finally, for now, we have the first digitally rendered arms of Tift College in Georgia which has since closed.  The arms were designed by Col. Harry D. Temple (1911-2004) and I've written about these previously.  Please click here to learn more about Tift College's coat of arms.

The arms of Stanford University designed by
Stanford Professor Eric Hutchinson.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Stanford Chemistry Professor, Dr. Eric Hutchinson (1920-2005), created the "red frond" for Stanford University's heraldry in 1967 to serve as the unifying charge for the arms of Stanford's foundations.  Click here to view Doty's (1996) article on the heraldry of Stanford. 

More arms are in the works, but for now, please enjoy!