The Medieval Academy of America at 100

Pride on display at home: my armorial flag of the Medieval Academy of America
Flag and photograph by the Author.

It's honestly rather hard to believe it almost as it is saying it--I presented a research paper before The Medieval Academy of America's (MAA) centennial conference at Harvard.  Those previous words fail to adequately describe the emotions and sense of belonging I felt while attending MAA's conference last week at Harvard.

Some 500 medieval scholars from around the world gathered on the campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts for three day conference in celebration of the MAA's 100th year since its founding in 1925.

Branded conference swag proudly displaying
MAA's coat of arms in full color

My involvement with MAA began when I discovered that my research muse, Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941) designed the Academy's coat of arms in 1927.  As far as I knew, MAA did not have any updated digital assets of their arms, let alone any in full color.  Since heraldry is meant to be seen in full color, I commissioned a fellow digital heraldic artist in Europe to correct this injustice.  

Click here to read about how MAA got its arms in color.

Now that I'm somewhat competent with digital illustration, I've since rendered my own version of MAA's arms and sent to them for use.  MAA's armorial flag seen at the top is my version that I had made into a 3ft x 5ft flag in the style la Rose would have likely used if a flag had been commissioned from him.  Stretching the sun's rays to the edges really makes the whole image look stunning as flag.  

The arms seen above adorning conference merch were the commissioned version. 

Sever Hall at Harvard Yard served as one of several principal buildings hosting the 
Academy's conference

Sever Hall on Harvard's campus was one of the principal buildings hosting presentations during the conference.  My session was on Sever's third floor.  Much to my surprise and delight, Sever's classrooms have actual chalk boards hanging inside these hallowed laboratories of learning.  I don't know why, but observing this ancient pedagogical tool still alive and in use really impressed me.  While the space had fully updated audio/visual technology, the chalkboards harkened back to that age I remember in elementary and middle school.  

Chalkboards in Sever Hall's classrooms

My presentation, "From Battlefields to Beer Steins:  Devising Heraldic Identity for Select US Academic Institutions," focused on the 11 institutions in the US that either received a grant or devisal of arms from the College of Arms in London.

Title slide

I rendered each coat of arms in Adobe Illustrator so that I could help my audience visualize how the heralds in London created unique identification for these select academic institutions.  Now, to have all 11 arms in the same shape, full color, and done in my style is quite rare.  I'm holding back from posting all those arms for now, as I plan to submit a journal article for publication which will include those arms.

Coat of arms of The College of William & Mary
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Hands down, rendering the arms for the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia required a lot of time and patience.  It's a tad dark and bold, but I was under a pressing deadline.  

For fun, the impaled arms of Harvard and the Medieval Academy of America
to help celebrate the centennial in true heraldic fashion
Concept and rendering by Chad Krouse, 2025

The session and my presentation, I thought, went well especially when scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on a Friday.  During the Q&A, I was surprised to see a lot of interest in la Rose and his work.  I used la Rose's designs created for Calhoun College at Yale, Harvard Law, and Kirkland House at Harvard as examples of the power corporate heraldry holds in displaying institutional identity--all three coats of arms were retired in the 21st century.  

All in all, I had a great three days in Cambridge and simply over the moon about having participated in the conference.  I receive a lot of affirmation and motivation from opportunities such as this, to continue on with my journey exploring la Rose's work and US corporate heraldry.  

Spotted:  Harvard's arms on a university bus in Cambridge

For now, though, I need a break!

Recent Finds IX

Coats of arms for various US academic institutions
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Our Recent Finds series continues!  To view past articles, click on the label below the post.  Sharing some recently completed renderings of scholastic arms found online.  The key for the arms illustrated above is below and I've highlighted three with a few details as well.

Top Row (L-R):  St. Timothy's School, Stevenson, MD; Trinity Episcopal School, Richmond, VA; and Boston University, Boston, MA

Bottom Row (L-R):  Milton Academy, Milton, MA; St. Timothy's School, Raleigh, NC; and Berkeley Preparatory School, Tampa, FL 

Coat of arms of Milton Academy
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The Milton Academy's coat of arms was adopted by the school in 1898, one hundred years after its founding in Milton, Massachusetts.  Given this newfound coat of arms, my running top 10 list of US academic institutions bearing arms needed an update.  The list is an ever-evolving project cataloging coats of arms borne by any US school, academy, college, seminary, etc.  Now, with Milton's arms dated to 1898, the school sits at number 7 for having the oldest arms among US academic institutions.  Harvard, no surprise, is number 1 with the oldest having adopted theirs in 1643.  

Blazon for the arms of Milton Academy: Per fess Tenne and Azure on an open book edged with two clasps Or "Dare to be True."

Coat of arms of Trinity Episcopal School
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

For several years now, I've been conflicted regarding the "crest" for Trinity Episcopal School located right here in Richmond, VA.  While I still cannot put my hands on any hard evidence, I was able to locate some data.  It is also possible, perhaps, that Col. Harry D. Temple (1911-2004) designed these as he did live here for some time.

Coat of arms and armorial flag of Trinity Episcopal School, Richmond, VA
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Since the organizers for the school used St. Michael's Episcopal Church in town as their HQ and sponsoring parish, I felt using the "cross of St. Michael" was appropriate.  Otherwise, it's rather difficult to make out the exact cross from any contemporary rendering found online.  Either way, I thought as a flag Trinity Episcopal School's coat of arms translate well as an armorial flag.

Blazon for the arms of Trinity Episcopal School (Richmond, VA):  Vert, a straight tau cross throughout Argent and in chief three crosses pommy Or.

Coat of arms of Berkeley Preparatory School
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

While riffing on the traditional arms of Berkeley, the prep school in Tampa, FL managed to change tinctures as a mark of difference for their arms.  I think these arms are a great example of how even minor differencing can avoid infringing on established arms; however, the design could be improved to include unique identification indicating a school or its location.   

MAA Centennial Conference Presentation

Indulging in some fun: impaling the arms of Harvard with
the Medieval Academy of America
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Next week, some 500 scholars from across the globe will be converging on Harvard's campus for the Centennial conference of The Medieval Academy of America.  The Academy was established in Boston in 1925, and of course Ralph Adams Cram (1863-1942) was among the founders.  I've covered the arms of the Academy previously so please click here for background information regarding Pierre de Chaignon la Rose's (1872-1941) design produced in 1927.

If you're counting, the Academy took 2 years to study and consider what emblem(s) best represented the new scholarly enterprise.  Cram chaired the committee that commissioned la Rose for the design.  Thus, the Academy turns 100 this year, but its coat of arms must wait two more years.  Given the youthful history of heraldry in the United States when compared to those European countries of origin, celebrating a centennial milestone for the Academy's coat of arms becomes rather significant.

The carrying power, as la Rose stated, best describes those simple and clear designs which endure.  In other words, these cherished symbols somehow cement the human experience for those communities whose identities are branded in sound heraldry. 

Another artifact proving this theory can simply be found in the arms of Harvard, adopted through armorial assumption by the Corporation in 1643.  To have the brand, the essence, and the whole corporate identity wrapped in abstract symbols--onto a 13th century implement of war, no less--surviving and widely known throughout the world for 382 years reveals the true carrying power of heraldry in the modern era. 

Flyer for shameless promotion - click image to enlarge
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Frankly, it was one of my heraldic projects from February 2024 that began my interest in the Academy which led to a research proposal, "From Battlefields to Beer Steins: Devising Heraldic Identity for Select US Academic Institutions."  The paper will explore how 13th century designs painted onto shields for identification in the chaos of battle, evolved to serve as modern day branding for those US academic institutions receiving coats of arms from the College of Arms in London.

To date, there are 2 institutions holding actual grants of arms while 9 others received devisals of arms.  While this distinction between grants and devisals appear innocuous, in the subject area concerning the law of arms these terms matter.  So, we'll definitely dig into that area as well.

Hampden-Sydney College's iconic coat of arms will be front and center as an eminent example of how an institution successfully embraced arms creating its brand identity.  Of those 11 academic institutions in the US, I argue that HSC was one of the few that got it right.  

The creative genius of Richard McClintock played a significant role in figuring out ways to incorporate Hampden-Sydney's arms in publications, admissions materials, etc. ultimately leading creating the College brand which persists to this day.  His work provides the College community with an enduring symbol that has now cemented the Hampden-Sydney experience for several generations of students and faculty.  Click here to learn about Hampden-Sydney College's coat of arms.

Riffing on the classic American film capturing campus life,
Animal House
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

While brainstorming digital assets to create for my presentation, I had the idea of riffing on the ubiquitous "college" tee shirt worn in the film Animal House.  Since my doctorate was in the social sciences and I'll be wading through a sea of humanities scholars, I'm leaning on a few tricks to win acceptance!  Thus, I wanted to use Latin as my audience will be extremely well versed in the language par excellence, and may appreciate the playfulness while engaging more with this subject.  I'm planing to ask a lot of questions in hopes of sparking dialogue for the art and science of heraldry, as I want to understand its historic absence from such scholarly gatherings.  As far as I know, there will be no other papers on the subject of heraldry!  

Another fun doodle
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

All are welcome to the conference and program details can be found by clicking this link to go to Harvard's site.  I certainly plan to share a recap shortly thereafter with hopes of submitting the presentation as a journal article.

Recent Finds VII

I had this vision in my head for a lion bishop
Created and rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

A lion bishop?  Well, of course!  Anything is possible in the world of heraldry!  I had this vision in my head with the lion wearing a mitre and cope and bedazzled in all the episcopal finery possible.  Voila!

...and the finds keep coming!  Here's a quick post with some interesting US corporate heraldry found online recently and then rendered by me.  

The coat of arms of St. James Episcopal Church Prouts Neck, ME
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The coat of arms of St. James Episcopal Church Prouts Neck in Maine successfully avoided the old "2 and 1" with escallops.  In the absence of any known blazon, I'm guessing the escallop here would be proper.  Green is an entirely appropriate tincture for the State of Maine. 

The coat of arms of St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church Hollis, NY
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

"Hail Mary, full of grace the LORD is with you," proclaimed the angel Gabriel.  The coat of arms of St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church in Hollis, New York successfully ties together the herald's trumpet with the angel's wings.  I'm still trying to track down, however, if this coat is the attributed and undifferenced version for St. Gabriel.  Regardless, the design works.  My only question is why is there no geographic reference--which leads me to believe these are the attributed arms.  

The coat of arms of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Barre, Vermont
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025 

Vermont continues to keep things interesting and the coat of arms of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Barre, VT are quite lovely if not unique to say the least.  These arms were a fun puzzle to solve.

The coat of arms of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (left) and Anderson University (right)
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

In 2021, Anderson University in South Carolina officially adopted a coat of arms as seen above.  The university is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and I wonder if the bordure was intentional--matching Southern Baptist Theological Seminary's arms.  Either way, I appreciate this thematic approach by our Protestant sisters and brothers.

The coat of arms of St. Paul Seminary (Roman Catholic) in St. Paul, MN
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The coat of arms of St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota carries forward the barry wavy in base which is featured in the arms of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis along with its cathedral, the Basilica of the St. Mary.  Additionally, the seminary's arms avoid the undifferenced and attributed version of arms while providing unique geographic identification as well as unification.  Score!

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. 

Some Arms of Episcopal Seminaries

New poster of arms from Episcopal Seminaries (past and present)
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025
Click to Enlarge

I was recently inspired to tick off my list a few more coats of arms for seminaries of the Episcopal Church.  While there are a few others not represented here, my criteria was simply that armorial insignia needs to conform to established rules within heraldry.  So, no logos, no landscapes, etc.  Basically, when looking for the heraldry of Episcopal seminaries, this is pretty much it.  

Below are some of my renderings of a few emblazonments that can be difficult to find decent versions of on the web.

Arms of the General Theological Seminary
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

I was fortunate to spend some time at General in the Chelsea area of Manhattan--a lovely, beautiful campus.  These arms were designed by The Rev. Canon Edward N. West (1909-1990) who was a talented liturgist, artist, etc. on the staff at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City.  

Arms of Nashotah House 
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Nashotah House has a long tradition as an Anglo-Catholic seminary within the church and reflected in their coat of arms.  The lilies are for the Blessed Virgin Mary and the two fountains are geographical references as the seminary is located between two lakes in Wisconsin.  I don't know who designed these arms but they're simple and clear!

Blazon:  Gules, on a cross throughout Or a triple blossom lily between two fountains in chief. 

Arms of Bexley Hall 
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Lots to note here on arms of Bexley Hall designed in 1907-08 by The Rev. Canon Orville E. Watson (1857-1951), a professor at the seminary in Gambier, Ohio.  For a full analysis on the heraldry of Kenyon College and Bexley Hall, please click here.

Arms of the Episcopal Theological Seminary in Kentucky
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The Episcopal Theological Seminary in Kentucky operated from 1834-1990 as a diocesan seminary and used as the basis for their coat of arms those from the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington.  Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941) designed the arms for the diocese around 1908.  The differencing mark for the seminary's arms was the addition of the lamp above the clasped hands.

Arms of Philadelphia Divinity School
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The Philadelphia Divinity School (PDS) was established in 1857 and merged with Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1974 to create Episcopal Divinity School.  Simple and clear in design.  

Blazon:  Argent, a cross throughout Gules on a chief Azure three open books edged with four clasps Or. 

Arms of Episcopal Theological School
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Established in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1867, ETS was the predecessor school for Episcopal Divinity School (EDS).  In 1974, ETS merged with Philadelphia Divinity School to form EDS.  Another clear and simple coat of arms.

Blazon:  Argent, on a cross throughout Gules an open book edged Or inscribed Veritas et Vita.

Arms of Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, MA
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Created by a merger of two seminaries in 1974, Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge harmoniously reflects their foundation in the seminary's coat of arms.  The parted/frety cross ties together the two found in the arms of PDS and ETS.  Since books were incorporated as well in the arms of the two former institutions, four open books balance out the ordinary.  From a symbolic point of view, I'd say, the arms of EDS successfully visualize their foundation.

Blazon:  Gules, a cross parted fretty throughout Argent between four open books edged Or.

Of Bordures & Plates: Ecclesiastical Heraldry from Pennsylvania

A theme emerges from the Diocese of Pennsylvania!
Top: Diocese of PA, Washington Memorial Chapel
Bottom: St. Paul's Episcopal Church Chestnut Hill, St. George's Ardmore
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025
Click to enlarge

Once I began to see this bordure theme emerging from several coat of arms that I've discovered recently, I had to share.  Of course, it all began with Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941) and his commission for a seal and coat of arms for the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania.

In 1906, the Diocese of Pennsylvania officially adopted its coat of arms designed by la Rose and blazoned: Argent, on a cross Gules three open crowns in pale Or a bordure Sable charged with eight plates.  These were early days for the up-and-coming designer and quite a coup to land such a commission.  The preceding year helped forge a heraldic path forward in the Episcopal Church after designing arms for the Diocese of Quincy, its cathedral of St. John, and the Diocese of Massachusetts.  By now, la Rose was certainly making a name for himself in the world of American ecclesiastical heraldry.

From the 1906 convention journal we learn the following:

"It was deemed wise to represent (1) England, of whose national Church our own is the offspring, and especially as the Episcopate derived from the English Church was first found in America in the person of Bishop White, the first Diocesan of Pennsylvania. (2) Sweden, whose people founded a number of parishes that are now the monuments of the early history of the Anglican Church in this State.  (3) William Penn, the founder of this Commonwealth, who guaranteed its religious freedom, and from whose followers many of the most devoted of the Church's supporters of later generations were, and are, descended.

"The Committee, therefore, presents for your considera­tion what, in the terms of Heraldry, would be described as 'Argent, on a cross gules, three open crowns in pale or; a bordure sable charged with eight plates. The shield ensigned with a mitre, and resting upon a key and crosier in saltire.' This means, as may be seen by reference to the drawing, a white shield, bearing a red cross, upon which appear three golden crowns; the whole surrounded by a black border with eight white (or silver) discs upon it.  

"Its significance may be described thus: The white shield, with its red cross, is the shield of Saint George, and stands for England and her Church. It is also distinctly ecclesiastical, and symbolic of the Christian faith.  

"The three golden crowns are the principal charge on the Arms of Sweden, and so proclaim the existence of the Old Swedes' Parishes that are scattered throughout the Diocese.  Finally, the black border, with its white discs, is taken from the Arms of the Penn family. In this instance it has been used as a border. not only for the purpose of decoration, but to distinguish it from the coats recent]y adopted by the Dioceses of Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, where the Penn charge is used in its original form.  

"The whole Coat of Arms, as thus proposed, is heraldic­ally correct, and seems to be satisfactory from a decorative standpoint, while, at the same time. to a trained herald, it tells its story without confusion" (Diocese of Pennsylvania, 1906, 144).

Arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania 
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Through the see's arms, la Rose refined his ability to combine multiple meanings into one clear design--a skill he would master in time.

So, we now have bordures and plates galore!

Comparing the arms of Washington with Washington Memorial Chapel
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

In Valley Forge, we find a lovely coat of arms for the Washington Memorial Chapel which manages to really shake things up a bit with those old two bars and three stars.  Literally, just invert everything!  Blazon for the arms of the Washington Memorial Chapel:  Gules, two bars and in chief three mullets Argent a bordure Argent charged with eight pellets.

Arms of St. George Episcopal Church in Ardmore, PA
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Another excellent example of our bordure theme with fantastic differencing can be found in the arms of St. George's in Ardmore.  Blazon for the arms of St. George Episcopal Church in Ardmore, PA:  Argent, on a cross throughout Gules a dragon fess ways armed and langued Vert pierced in the breast with the spear of St. Michael Or on a bordure Sable eight torteau edged of the field charged with a cross saltire Argent.  I would love to know the designer of these arms!

Arms of St. Paul's Episcopal Church Chestnut Hill
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

One late comer, but equally worthy, are the arms of St. Paul's in Chestnut Hill.  Again, excellent differencing and completely avoiding the use of Paul's attributed (undifferenced) arms.  Well done.  Blazon:  Azure, a sword in pale with point to chief Argent hilt and pommeled Or surmounted by an open book edged with three clasps Or thereon inscribed Spiritus Gladius on a canton Gules a lamb Argent a bordure Sable charged with eight plates.

Arms of Church of the Good Shepherd, Rosemont
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Working on securing a blazon for the arms of Good Shepherd in Rosemont, a lovely coat of arms and a lovely parish!

Arms of the Philadelphia Divinity School
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Lastly, I stumbled upon a nearly extinct coat of arms, those of the Philadelphia Divinity School (PDS) which merged with Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  Lovely and simple arms, very similar to those Ralph Adams Cram designed for the Groton School earlier in the 1900s.

Blazon for the arms of the Philadelphia Divinity School:  Argent, a cross Gules on a chief Azure three open books edged with three clasps Or.

Comparing designs, L-R: Groton School, PDS, and Hodgson Hall (Sewanee)
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Comparing the arms of PDS with two other known designs reveal similarities with nuanced differences.  The tincture of the chief, along with edging and number of clasps for the books, distinguish all three.  Groton's arms have a sword and crown on the cross.

The arms of Groton School (seen above on left) were designed in 1902 by Ralph Adams Cram (1863-1942) and  blazoned:  Argent, on a cross Gules a sword in pale with point to base hilt enfiling a crown Argent on a chief Sable three open books edged with two clasps Argent.

The arms of Hodgson Hall at the University of the South were designed by Dr. J. Waring McCrady in 2018 when he designed armorial flags for all the undergraduate residence halls at Sewanee.  While no official blazon can be found at present, here is our working one:  Argent, a cross Gules on a chief Purpure three open books edged with two clasps Argent.

Works Cited

Diocese of Pennsylvania (1907). Journal of the convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Pennsylvania. [Philadelphia]: Published by order of the convention. 144.

La Rose & Music City

Proposed seal and arms for the Diocese of Nashville
produced by Pierre de Chaignon la Rose in 1932
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Some years ago, I was fascinated to learn that Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941) had been commissioned for arms in the State of Tennessee.  Why?  After spending three years in graduate school/seminary in Tennessee, to find something as foreign as heraldry displayed seems, well, foreign.  Sewanee, of course, being the exception to this observation.  In fact, my research over the years has uncovered four corporate coats of arms produced by la Rose in the 1930s.

For the see of Nashville, la Rose proposed the design for a seal in the vesica format with new arms as illustrated above in 1932.  I've not encountered another Roman Catholic see whose seal is rendered in this format.  As far as I know, there is no evidence that the Diocese of Nashville adopted this particular shape, but thankfully their archives preserved la Rose's proposals and correspondence on the matter.

The vesica shaped seal with arms is widely used by dioceses in the Episcopal Church, as la Rose fashioned nearly 30 seals for Episcopal dioceses using this same format.  I do have one basilica that la Rose produced a seal with arms in the vesica shape which is still in use today. 

The Dominican Congregation of St. Cecilia, based in Nashville, worked with la Rose on a number of designs as the sisters established or took over leadership of a number of primary/secondary schools in the region.

L-R: Arms of Notre Dame High School and
the Dominican Congregation of St. Cecilia
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

The Sisters established St. Cecilia's Academy in Nashville and the school uses the undifferenced arms of the Congregation.  To the south of Music City, Chattanooga became another focal point for the Congregation and ran Notre Dame High School which still operates and uses the arms la Rose designed, though their modern branding has the entire armorial ensigns in green/white reflecting their livery colors.  I'm working with the sister in charge of the Congregation's archives as I've inquired about three more schools which appear to bear arms that are suspiciously la Rosian.  So, more to come.

If you know, please share!
This is an exact replica from la Rose's drawing.

Of interest to me and my colleagues with the American Heraldry Society, I cannot identify the sinister charge in base of the high school's arms.  What is it?  If you know, please email me at chad(dot)m(dot)krouse(at)gmail(dot)com.

La Rose's design theory and framework was very much rooted in the medieval tradition.  La Rose believed that arms for a branch of a religious community should have in base the undifferenced arms of the main order while using a chief for differencing and creating unique identification for the new branch.  Countless examples exist illustrating la Rose's faithful adherence to this rule.  With St. Cecilia's Congregation, however, we see the reverse used--its important to bear in mind that the high school's arms had been created before the congregation's request for a design.

I can offer only some guesses for this new design arrangement:  1) the gyron for the Order of Preachers is quite striking and likely presents certain design challenges, 2) St. Cecilia Congregation did request a coat of arms similar to the design rendered for Notre Dame High School, or 3) given what he had to work with to create a simple and clear coat of arms, he had no choice but to change up his framework.  Thus, the chief of the Dominican arms becomes the unifying symbol in the arms for both foundations and corporate sole and the base allows for differencing creating unique identification of the bearer.  Fascinating. 

We see other examples within the Dominican family where la Rose changed things up in order to produce clear and perspicuous heraldry.

L-R: Arms of Albertus Magnus College and the Dominican Province of St. Joseph
both designed by la Rose
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

In the 1920s, la Rose produced designs for Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Connecticut and the Province of St. Joseph in New York.  Here we see la Rose placing an inescutcheon on top of the undifferenced arms of the Order of Preachers using their gyronny of eight and cross.  The visual effect creates a rather striking bordure effect--immediately you know that somehow the Dominicans factor into this corporate body!  

A foundation of the St. Cecilia's Congregation that I'm actively pursuing
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Finally, I'm going on a limb suggesting that la Rose also used the other coat of arms in the Dominican family for a foundation of St. Cecilia.  I'm currently waiting on evidence from the archives so stay tuned.  Regardless who designed these arms, I think they're lovely.

The final corporate coat is that of Father Ryan High School in Nashville founded in 1925.  The school is beginning its centennial year in 2025.  I was honored to work with the official author writing the school's history regarding la Rose's design which is to be published this year as part of the celebration.  La Rose designed the school's arms in 1931 

Seal with arms of Father Ryan High School
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

La Rose's blazon for the high school:  Gules, between a cross saltire Or, three laurel wreaths and in base a covered ciborium all Or.  The ciborium found in base is a clear reference to Father Ryan.  The seal with arms arrangement above is the typical design format la Rose used for scholastic arms--a wafer style containing a gothic quatrefoil holding the arms in center.  I've simplified his design somewhat for a modern feel.

Tennessee, after all, does have good heraldry within its borders...you just need to dig a little.