"Heralditis" and the American Architect

 

The arms of Pierre de Chaignon la Rose as illustrated on his 1895 bookplate. Digital rendering by vErmines Love Supreme, August 2023.

Herald/i/tis, noun: (i) a condition infecting an individual to employ heraldic decoration for artistic purposes without regards to the rules or customs of heraldry; (ii) when a designer of a coat arms ignores the primary canon, arma sunt distinguendi causa, that armorial bearings should simply and clearly identify its owner and nothing more.

Example: "The architect was deeply afflicted with heralditis and sketched out a new quartered coat of arms for the school's chapel, which does not clearly identify the school at all."  

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Acknowledgement 

Special thanks and appreciation to Matthew Alderman, heraldic artist to the New England Historic Genealogical Society's Committee on Heraldry, for his gracious assistance in tracking down la Rose's article published in Liturgical Arts. 

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As the nation's leading herald in the early to mid-20th century, Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941) encountered an American mindset afflicted with what he would eventually define as "heralditis."  In nearly every new corporate coat of arms he would design for an organization, la Rose would spend more time sending correspondence to those leaders explaining the rules and customs of heraldry than any rationale for its design--a noble, yet exhausting endeavor.  

There is no question, therefore, that la Rose's prescription for battling heralditis was pure and simple:  education.  La Rose was not the only herald on a mission to fight this good fight.  Ralph Adams Cram (1863-1942) aided in the prescription of education with his article, "The Heraldry of the American Church" (1901 June 29).  The Rev. Dr. C. Ellis Stevens (d. 1906) made an additional contribution to the cause with his 1902 article, "Anglican Episcopal Seals," (April 5, 431-435).  

La Rose's first attempt can be found in a series of articles he published in Cram's Christian Art in 1907 (La Rose, 1907 May; La Rose, 1907, November).  These two articles focus heavily on Anglican heraldry and specifically seals and arms found within the Episcopal Church.  The singular focus is rather interesting, likely reflecting la Rose's growing impatience with appointed committees of amateurs.

In 1914, the herald would publish one last attempt to assuage fears of heralditis creeping into the Anglican and Episcopal Church with his article on ecclesiastical heraldry in The Living Church (La Rose, 1914 April 11, 835-836).  Following publication in 1914, la Rose seemingly surrenders to the Episcopal Church; at present, there is no data concerning the herald's attempt to provide further education on heraldry within the Episcopal Church.  

The fight against heralditis would be a life-long pursuit for the herald, engendering in many ways his life's purpose.  

An example of heralditis as found in the armorial bearings for The University Choir at The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee.  These arms in no way identify the owner as being a choir, much less one from Sewanee, and were likely appropriated from an early architectural sketch of arms for All Saints' Chapel.  Image source:  The University Choir Facebook page.

A recent discovery from the Archives of the University of Notre Dame revealed another such document promoting education of heraldry to fight the dreaded disease of heralditis.  In an undated document written by la Rose, "Ecclesiastical Heraldry and Architects," we learn the herald's first use of heralditis (La Rose, n.d.).  With the kind assistance from Matthew Alderman, we now know the undated document from the Archives of the University of Notre Dame was the basis for la Rose's article by the same name published by Liturgical Arts in 1933.  

Armorial bearings devised by la Rose for the Diocese of Sacramento in 1923 and the Diocese of Oklahoma (now Archdiocese of Oklahoma City) in 1922.  Image is courtesy of Matthew Alderman and appears in La Rose (1933), 191.  Click image to enlarge.

La Rose (1933) adds black and white emblazonments in the article of his designs for arms of the following archdioceses/dioceses:  Cleveland, Monterey and Fresno, Manchester, Santa Fe, Portland (ME), Rochester, Milwaukee, Seattle, Helena, San Francisco, Toledo, and Leavenworth.  The herald selected the Dioceses of Sacramento and Oklahoma for full colored emblazonments.

La Rose begins his manifesto:

"When the editor invited me to contribute an article on heraldry, I was a bit nonplussed, for heraldry is not a liturgical art, in that no phase whatever of the Church's liturgy involves its use.  The Church existed for twelve centuries or more without the slightest need of it, and if tomorrow heraldry were to be wiped off the face of the globe--which I sometimes wish would happen--the Church would be no poorer liturgically. 

"To phrase such a wish requires explanation.  My reason for it is that, in America, the essential nature of heraldry and its underlying purpose are pretty generally misunderstood, and, in consequence, it is constantly misused, especially by architects, and, for our specific purpose in this article, in ecclesiastical fabrics" (La Rose, 1933, 187).   

The article from 1933 gives us a glimpse into the herald's weary state of mind, having been worn down over the years by committees and armchair enthusiasts fighting back to advance heralditis in America.  

The high altar at St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in New York City.
Image is from the Parish's Facebook page.  Click image to enlarge. 

Ever the teacher and educator, la Rose provides an example of heralditis for the readers of Liturgical Arts.

"Better to explain what I am driving at, let me cite one or two specific instances.  In the church of Saint Vincent Ferrer, in New York, there is a frieze or band of decorative carving running round the clerestory which consists of an imposing array of coats-of-arms--an improbable decoration in a medieval church of its style.  

"On my first visit there I studied these arms with interest, and I daresay I should have felt flattered, because a large number were coats which I had myself designed for their owners.  But I could only groan, lamenting the, to me, obvious fact that my good friend, the architect, or some draughtsman in his office, had been temporarily afflicted with the worst case of 'heralditis' I have yet come across.  For I could discover few if any of the shields to have logical reason for appearing there.  

"To be specific, they were the arms of a number of Ordinaries, taken presumably from the Catholic Directory.  Now, of the prelates represented, only one could possibly have had any kind of juridical relation to this particular church; none, so far as I remember them was a member of the Order of Preachers.  I doubt if a single one had been a Benefactor, in the sense of having been financially concerned with the building of the fabric or its endowment; and finally, not one of them had yet been buried there.  

"Why, then, string up the personal arms of a group of people, however distinguished, who had no relation to this building, to the clergy in charge of it, or to the congregation that worships there?  This is sheer non-sensical heralditis, of a kind which no medieval architect would have ever been guilty" (La Rose, 1933, 190). 

Indeed, why?  The example from la Rose helps define this common illness which continues to plaque the American mindset to this very day.  I should say that, although the herald made sweeping strides in his battle, the war on heralditis continues.  Education for prevention is the best prescription, being mindful that this task can chip away at even the most battle-hardened knight.  

Works Cited

Cram, R.A. (1901 June 29).  The heraldry of the American church.  The Churchman, 83(26), pp. 813-818.

La Rose, Pierre de C. (n.d.). Ecclesiastical heraldry and architects.  Unpublished document.

La Rose, Pierre de C. (1907 May).  Ecclesiastical heraldry in America.  In R.A. Cram (Ed.), Christian Art, 1(1), pp. 64-70.

La Rose, Pierre de C. (1907 November).  Ecclesiastical heraldry in America II.  Diocesan arms.  In R.A. Cram (Ed.), Christian Art, 2(2), pp. 59-71.

La Rose, Pierre de C. (1914 April 11).  Ecclesiastical heraldry.  The Living Church, 50(24), pp. 835-836.

La Rose, Pierre de C. (1933).  Ecclesiastical heraldry and architects.  In H.L. Binsse (Ed.), Liturgical Arts, 2(4), pp. 187-194.

Stevens, C.E. (1902 April 5).  Anglican Episcopal seals.  The Churchman, 85(14), pp. 431-435.

Revisions & Updates

The arms of The Episcopal Church designed by la Rose between 1939-1940.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Over the past several days, I've gone back and revised several old articles.  I wanted to overhaul several important posts to fit my style standards, etc.  One such article, "Variations on a theme: Pierre de Chaignon la Rose and the cross in national colors," desperately needed to be updated.  Furthermore, I was able to add two more corporate coats within this same theme.  Please click here to read a thematic analysis of 13 corporate coats designed by la Rose in the cross in national colors.  

For a non-la Rosian article, I've revised the "Heraldry of the University of the South," and included new emblazonments rendered by Lucas A. Hofmann.  Please click here to learn more about the heraldry of The University of the South.

I'm currently working on another unidentifiable scholastic coat and fielding numerous emails from archives all over the place--an exciting time as I prepare to close a chapter on data collection.  I can hear my dissertation chair in my head saying, "after 10 years, you have enough data (250 or so corporate arms) so start your analysis and write!"  Yes, I hear this message loud and clear.  To be honest, it is exhausting at this point to keep searching for new discoveries, as the gap seems to widen more and more in locating sources for attribution and dating.  

Furthermore, I have since accepted that I could either spend the rest of my life hunting down lost arms designed by la Rose, or simply push forward with the data in hand.  I've longed believed that no single researcher holds an absolute knowledge on any given subject.  The goal of research, in the end, is to publish and plant a flag in the ground pointing the way for others to follow.  It is my hope that others will continue the quest I started back in 2014.  Onwards!  

Using Data to Identify La Rose's Work: Part 2

During this past summer, I happened across a peculiar seal and coat of arms set within a vesica piscis for a school I had never heard of before.  With my eyes now trained to spot certain heraldic features in order to determine whether or not Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941) was the designer behind the image in question, my "la Rose senses" began tingling.  The seal and arms of St. Genevieve-of-the-Pines School simply knocked me off my chair.  I remember asking myself, "where on earth did these arms come from?"  In my data of more than 250 designs for corporate arms designed by la Rose, the State of North Carolina has but only a handful.  I had my doubts but also hope that I discovered a new one.    

Finding previously unknown coats of arms that are likely designed by la Rose is like opening presents on Christmas Day.  Not long before my discovery of the seal and arms of St. Genevieve-of-the-Pines School, I ran across a previously unattributed set of arms for the Episcopal Missionary District of the Philippine Islands.  To learn about how I used data to identify the designer for the seal and arms of the Episcopal Missionary District of the Philippine Islands, please click here.   

As my investigation into the newly discovered seal and arms kept finding dead ends, I surrendered to the likelihood I may never uncover any evidence as to the designer and rationale of St. Genevieve's arms.  The researcher in me decided to see how data could possibly render a verdict concerning my questions of the designer and rationale.      

To that end, I devised a methodology for how to use my data in order to compare the arms in question with the 250 or so known works designed by la Rose and confirmed with sources.  Given the volume of the sample size of data, I believe these methods help render data-informed decisions regarding the designer of arms in question.  Here is my method:

1. Institutional background.  When was the institution in question established?  If the institution is Roman Catholic or founded by a religious order, has la Rosed worked with these groups previously?  Does the date of the institutional founding work within la Rose's heraldic timeline? 
2. Geographical Artifacts.  Are there confirmed arms designed by la Rose within the geographical area in question?  What, if any, are the related themes in the confirmed works and those within the arms in question?
3. Analysis.  First and foremost, is the heraldry perspicuous and good?  If there is a blazon for the arms in question, is it simple and match known blazons created by la Rose?  For the ordinary, division, and charges for the coat in question, is there anything unique that can found in other known arms?  If the arms are contained within a seal, what decorative elements of the seal can be compared to confirmed seals rendered by la Rose?  If the seal is in a "wafer style," does it contain a gothic quatrefoil?  For seals in either the wafer style or the vesica piscis, are letters rendered in the gothic Lombardic font?  Is the name of the institution rendered in either English or Latin?        

Application of the Krouse Method

To render a verdict on the seal and arms of St. Genevieve-of-the-Pines School, let us apply these established methods and put them to the test.  For fun, I am simply labeling this methodology as the "Krouse method."    

Institutional Background

St. Genevieve-of-the-Pines School was established in Asheville, North Carolina on January 6, 1908 by a Roman Catholic order of sisters known as The Religious of Christian Education which originated in France (Citizen Times 2016, January 6).  Currently in my data, I do not have any established or cited arms by la Rose for this religious order.  By 1987, the school would merge with Asheville Country Day School (Citizen Times 2016, January 6).  

The date of the school's founding fits nicely within the timeline of la Rose's heraldic work, which I define as being between 1902-1940.  If the school was opened in 1908, it could be any number of years before The Religious of Christian Education needed a seal to authentic their diplomas.  However, we need to use more data to render any judgment as to the designer.

Geographical Artifacts  

Next, we need to consider previously known heraldic designs created by la Rose in North Carolina.  For this step, we know of three established coats by the herald for the Vicariate Apostolic of North Carolina, Belmont Abbey, and the Diocese of Raleigh.  Yet, the data does not show any scholastic coats designed by la Rose within North Carolina--a possible limitation.

The arms of the Vicar Apostolic of North Carolina designed by la Rose in 1910-1911,
as appearing in La Rose (1911), page 9.

In La Rose (1911), the herald gives us an illustration of the quartered arms for The Most Rev. Leo Haid, OSB (1849-1924) who served as the Vicar Apostolic of North Carolina.  In the arms of Bishop Haid, the first quarter displays the arms for the jurisdiction itself and incorporated pine cones in the design.  The fourth quarter displays the newly designed arms for Belmont Abbey that la Rose rendered.  The abbey is also located in North Carolina.  

La Rose offers this blazon for the new arms of the Vicariate Apostolic of North Carolina: "azure, a lion rampant, his left foot upon a garb and holding in his right fore-paw a staff paleways, the top ending in a cross of three pine-cones, all or; a demi-chaperon at sinister (or a 'point sinister') charged with a bendlet gules" (La Rose, 1911, pp. 9-10).   

In La Rose (1911), we learn more regarding the herald's design rationale for the arms of the Vicariate Apostolic:

"The arms of the Vicariate are based upon those of its founder, Pius IX (Mastaï-Ferretti).  The Mastaï arms are azure, a lion rampant, his left foot upon a globe, all or.  For the globe I have substituted a 'garb,' or sheaf of wheat, from one of the early seals of North Carolina; and as a reminiscence of the pine tree which appears there also I have given the lion a cross-staff ending in pine-cones" (10).

Additionally, Baumstein (1983) asserts that the pine tree la Rose references above is in fact pointing towards the "Crescat" pine tree found within the earliest known arms for Belmont Abbey in North Carolina (67).

Through the arms of the Vicariate we have a matching theme when considering St. Genevieve-of-the-Pines coat--pine cones.  Let us consider the other established coat found in North Carolina.   

A modern emblazonment of the arms of the Diocese of Raleigh designed by la Rose in 1929.
Image source: Wikipedia.

In La Rose (1929b), we learn of the second coat of arms designed within the State of North Carolina, those for the Diocese of Raleigh.  La Rose (1929b) provides the following description for the new diocesan coat:

"The arms of the diocese are based on those of Sir Walter Raleigh (now rapidly becoming known to smokers of a new brand of cigarettes!).  In the original coat the lozenges are conjoined to form a 'bend' or diagonal stripe across the shield; for the diocese the bend has been turned into a cross, as was done with the Lafayette and Monterey coats for the sees of those names" (183). 

We see a bit of a playful side of la Rose referencing a new cigarette brand.  La Rose created the following blazon for the arms of the Diocese of Raleigh: "gules, a cross throughout of eight lozenges argent conjoined, four in pale" (La Rose, 1929b, 183).  

Unfortunately, we do not have any matching themes or designs from these diocesan arms.  Now, let us move into the third step of the Krouse Method.  

Analysis

First and foremost, the vesica piscis and the lettering surrounding the border rendered in Lombardic is a match for la Rose's work.  Moreover, when comparing the design work above the shield in the seal of St. Genevieve-of-the-Pines--the sacred heart of Jesus--we find similar work in the gothic tracery above the arms for the Episcopal Cathedral of the Incarnation.  

The seal and arms of the Episcopal Cathedral of the Incarnation in Baltimore, MD, designed by la Rose in 1916.  Image is from DeKay (1993), page 106.

La Rose designed the seal and arms for the Episcopal cathedral in Baltimore, Maryland in 1916 (The Living Church, 1916 May 27, 150).  Through the seal for the cathedral, we find an example of la Rose adding decorative elements above the shield for seals set within the vesica piscis style--especially when a mitre is not appropriate.

The seal and arms for the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia designed by la Rose in 1913.  Image is from the Diocese of Olympia website.

La Rose rarely used the ship or galley in his heraldic designs.  In my data, we do find one example of the ship or galley used as a charge in the arms for the newly formed Episcopal Diocese of Olympia in 1913.  

In Diocese of Olympia (1913) we learn the following description of the arms provided by la Rose:

“It is based upon the voyage of Captain Gray which conserved the Territory of Washington to the United States, just as now the Church will conserve it to the Kingdom of Christ. The sail of the heraldic ship is charged with the arms of George Washington, in honor of whom, of course, the state is named. And to indicate the state rather than the city of Washington, D. C., I have charged the pennant at the masthead with the single star of an American State.  Had it been the city I should have used a 'mural crown' instead of a star.  So much for the sail and pennant. 

"The flag itself is charged with the St. George Cross, which in Ecclesiastical arms is constantly used to symbolize the Anglican Communion. The colors of the whole should naturally fall into a patriotic combination of the American colors. And I think that even without a knowledge of Gray’s voyage and the analogy involved, the whole symbolism of the Diocesan coat will be clear to the least instructed” (20).

During the diocese's convention held in May 1913, the following blazon was officially adopted:

"Azure, an ancient galley under sail with pennon and flag all argent; the sail charged with the arms of Washington—two bars and in chief three stars gules; the Pennon charged with a hurt and thereon a star of the second; the flag charged with a Saint George cross gules" (Diocese of Olympia, 1913, 21).

While the ship in Olympia's arms is not an exact match for the charge used in St. Genevieve-of-the-Pines arms, we now have a precedent for its use.  I cannot explain the rationale for using the ship--perhaps as a reference to the religious order's establishment (hint: the answer is in the epilogue).  

In terms of the chief for St. Genevieve-of-the-Pines School--or the top third of the shield--the technique of using semmé or repeating a singular charge upon the field is a method used in multiple arms designed by la Rose.  While the data does not contain any arms when the chief is composed of the repeating pattern, it is possible that St. Genevieve-of-the-Pines School's arms represent the first instance for la Rose. 

The impaled arms of The Most Rev. John Gregory Murray (1877-1956)
appearing in La Rose (1929a), page 390.

In La Rose (1929a) we find an example of la Rose employing a semmé of pine cones for the field in the newly created arms for the Diocese of Portland in Maine--seen above in the arms of The Most Rev. John Gregory Murray (1877-1956).  The blazon given by la Rose for the arms of the Diocese of Portland: "azure sown with gold pine-cones, a miller's cross of silver" (La Rose, 1929a, 390).  

The herald provides this description for the see's new coat:

"In the arms of the see [Diocese of Portland] the field imitates the ancient coat of France from which the name of the state is derived, the French fleurs-de-lis here being replaced by the pine-cones of the 'Pine Tree State;' the cross is from the arms of the Dukes of Portland" (La Rose, 1929a, 390). 

Through the arms of the Diocese of Portland we have clear evidence of la Rose employing a semmé of pine cones.  I want to thank The Rev. Pachomius Meade, OSB, a member of the American Heraldry Society, for reminding me of the arms of Portland.

Additionally, let us consider the shield itself.  The shape of the shield used in the arms of St. Genevieve-of-the-Pines does match one of the six known forms used by la Rose.

The six known forms of the shield used by la Rose throughout his heraldic work.
Digitally rendered by Dimitri Prica, August 2023.

While the shield's shape is not a primary factor, of course, it can be useful for our purposes.  Here I defer to experts as my historical knowledge behind the various shapes is extremely limited.

One of six shapes for heraldic shields used by la Rose throughout his heraldic work.
Digitally rendered by Dimitri Prica, August 2023.

In our "green" shield above, we find a perfect match with the shield used in the arms of St. Genevieve-of-the-Pines.  Typically, but not always, la Rose used this shield shape in emblazonments for arms he designed in the mid-1910s to 1920s.  As an example, I have included the arms for the College of St. Rose which is located in Albany, NY and designed by la Rose in the 1920s (currently waiting on the archives to date these arms).  It is likely, therefore, that the seal and arms for St. Genevieve-of-the-Pines School was designed during this same time period.

The arms of the College of St. Rose in Albany, NY designed by la Rose in the 1920s.
Image is from the College of St. Rose website.

To summarize the findings from our three steps in the Krouse Method, we have the following information to consider:  

• Good and perspicuous heraldry for the arms of St. Genevieve-of-the-Pines School
• No known blazon can be found 
• The institutional date fits within the heraldic timeline of la Rose's work
• A previously unknown religious order, but likely a first for la Rose 
• Three known arms by la Rose found in North Carolina 
• Matching Lombardic font surrounding the vesica piscis style seal with others by la Rose
• A known example of decorative elements added above the shield within the vesica piscis
• Matching theme of pine cones from a documented coat of arms found within North Carolina
• At least one example of la Rose using a ship under sail as a charge, though the ship's designs do not match
• One known example of la Rose using a semé of pine cones for the field, though no precedence for a chief containing the repeating pattern
• One of six known shapes of the shield is a match for those used throughout la Rose's heraldic work

Following the three steps outlined for our methods, the researcher must now render a conclusion.

As more documents become accessible, I've recently discovered the
school bore arms as early as 1917.  

Conclusion

Given a thorough review of all known available data, it is my conclusion that the seal and arms of St. Genevieve-of-the-Pines School was highly likely designed by Pierre de Chaignon la Rose sometime between 1919-1925.  From the image below, we know that the seal and arms were in use by 1924.  

"The Victorian," the yearbook of St. Genevieve's showing the seal and arms in 1924.

In cases where schools have closed and their archives lost or scattered, it may be impossible to uncover supporting evidence to prove my claim.  Using data collected over the course of 10 years containing 250 known designs by la Rose, however, can help us make an informed decision on these arms with a high degree of certainty.  Yet, the researcher must always acknowledge the clear limitations regarding available data.   

I want to give special thanks to Mr. Joseph McMillan, the corresponding secretary for the New England Historic Genealogical Society's Committee on Heraldry as well as a former president of the American Heraldry Society, for his kind assistance with the blazon for the arms of St. Genevieve-of-the-Pines School.

The blazon for the arms of St. Genevieve-of-the-Pines School:  gules, a ship under sail flagged and pennoned of St. George on waves of the sea argent, on a chief azure a semé of pine cones of the second.

The hunt will continue to find supporting documentation regarding these arms.  If the reader happens to know anything about the arms of St. Genevieve-of-the-Pines School, please message me at chad.m.krouse(at)gmail(dot)com.  I will certainly attribute any information uncovered as my thanks and appreciation. 

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Epilogue

After publishing my article on the arms of St. Genevieve-of-the-Pines School, my friend and colleague Mr. Joseph McMillan kindly shared a likely source of inspiration for la Rose--the arms of the City of Paris in France.  In all fairness, when I initially wrote McMillan earlier in the summer regarding my new Carolinian find, he was abroad in Sweden attending the most recent Congress of Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences in Lund; his mind would have likely been far from considering the arms of Paris, France at that time.  

McMillan offers the following blazon for the arms of the City of Paris:  gules a ship under sail on waves of the sea argent, a chief azure semé de lis or.

The arms of the City of Paris, France
whose patron saint is St. Genevieve.
Image source: Wikipedia.

Moreover, as McMillan pointed out, the patron saint for the city of love is none other than St. Genevieve.  Thus, through the emblazonment of Paris' arms, we see the exact design technique and coloring la Rose used for the arms of St. Genevieve-of-the-Pines School.  The herald simply "Americanized" the arms of the City of Paris by changing the semmé of fleurs-de-lis to pine cones to reference the school's name and added the pennons of St. George on the ship for additional differencing.  Additionally, the Parisian basis references the roots of the founding congregation, the Religious of Christian Education. 

When comparing the arms of Paris with those of the Diocese of Portland, the "Americanization" by la Rose is clear and convincing for his hand in designing the arms for St. Genevieve-of-the-Pines-School.  For an example of how la Rose would "Americanize" another established coat of arms from the old world, please click here to learn about the arms for the Diocese of Richmond.

I share all of this to underscore the importance of the peer-review process; no one researcher has an absolute hold on knowledge.  As I continue to build my network of colleagues in the field of heraldry, I admire the wisdom and experience of others who both happily and readily add to the body of knowledge through sharing.  I am sincerely grateful for McMillan's depth and breadth of knowledge regarding all types of heraldry, for I would have not thought to look for these arms.  I also want to acknowledge Father Pachomius' assistance in pointing out the arms of the Diocese of Portland.  

Given this "Americanization" of an established coat from the old world, the attribution of the designer of the arms of St. Genevieve-of-the-Pines School is now 99.99% in favor of la Rose.  I have numerous examples of how the herald would make minute differencing elements for an established coat of arms from the old world with locally significant charges, rendering new corporate arms for his American clients.  

Works Cited

Baumstein, P. (1983).  Variations in heraldic insignia at Maryhelp Abbey.  In T. Kardong (Ed.), The American Benedictine Review, 34(1), pp. 62-73.

Citizen Times (2016 January 6).  Today in history: St. Genevieve-of-the-Pines school opens.  Citizen Times.  https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2016/01/06/today-history-st-genevieve-pines-school-opens/78344926/

DeKay, Eckford. (1993).  Heraldry in the Episcopal Church.  Acorn Press.

Diocese of Olympia. (1913).  Journal of the third annual convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Olympia.  Ranch Press.

Gowen, H.H. (1941).  The Diocese of Olympia.  In E.C. Chorley (Ed.), Historical Magazine of the Protestant Episcopal Church, 10(1), pp. 31-44.

La Rose, Pierre de C. (1911).  The arms of his Eminence Cardinal Gibbons. In H.J. Heuser (Ed.), The Ecclesiastical Review, 5(45), pp. 2-11.   

La Rose, Pierre de C. (1929a).  Recent episcopal arms.  In H.J. Heuser (Ed.), The Ecclesiastical Review, 80(4), pp. 386-390.

La Rose, Pierre de C. (1929b).  Recent episcopal arms.  In H.J. Heuser (Ed.), The Ecclesiastical Review, 81(2), pp. 181-185.

The Living Church (1916 May 27).  Maryland.  The Living Church, 55(4), 150.

A Case Study of la Rose's Designs for Episcopal Preparatory Schools

La Rose's designs for Episcopal Preparatory Schools.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Throughout the heraldic work of Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941) there exists many categories defining his corporate heraldry:  diocesan heraldry for the Episcopal Church, Roman Catholic diocesan and archdiocesan heraldry, heraldry for Roman Catholic religious communities, and scholastic heraldry to name but a few.  Within the category of scholastic heraldry there are multiple subcategories, and perhaps one of the smallest of those categories would be la Rose's corporate heraldry for Episcopal preparatory schools.

For this article, I will focus on three corporate coats la Rose designed for Episcopal preparatory schools found in New England, namely Lenox School, St. Paul's School, and St. George's School.  While this subcategory is rather small when compared to the overall volume of designs la Rose created within scholastic heraldry, these three coats showcase the brilliance of his methods and techniques for new corporate arms.  Moreover, I fully suspect there are more schools which fall into this category--especially Episcopal schools which have closed in the mid-to-late 1900s--and more research will be needed to uncover any additional arms.   

(1) Lenox School 

Arms of Lenox School.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024

Established in 1926, Lenox School was the visionary work of The Rev. George Gardiner Monks (1878-1978) to offer, "at moderate cost, a good secondary education with distinctly Christian emphasis" (Lenox School, 1933, 4).  By 1972, the school located in Lenox, Massachusetts would close due to a variety of enrollment and financial factors (Lenox School Alumni Association, 2014).  Between 1930-1931, la Rose was commissioned by Lenox School to create a seal and coat of arms.  

On Monday, November 10, 1930--the eve of the Feast of St. Martin of Tours--The Rev. Latta Griswold (1876-1931) delivered a sermon in Trinity Church, Lenox and offered this description for the school's newly adopted motto for the coat of arms:

"At their recent meeting the Headmaster and Trustees of Lenox School placed this school under the patronage of St. Martin of Tours.  A diligent search of the kalendar would fail to find a saint more fitting to be a patron of a school of the character and ideals of Lenox.  

"The Trustees adopted a motto and planned for a coat of arms.  The motto is the Latin version of part of the text chosen for this sermon [Matthew 20:28]--Non ministrare sed ministrare.  The Latin translation gives us a pleasant play upon words, for ministrare and ministrari, are spelled exactly the same...(Griswold, 1930, 1).  

According to Lenox School Alumni Association (2014), la Rose was asked to provide two sketches of designs for consideration.  Unfortunately, there is no data regarding the first sketch, but the second rendering was the adopted version seen above (Lenox School Alumni Association, 2014, 20).

Armorial banner of arms of Lenox School.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

For the arms of Lenox School, la Rose retained the use of an open, inscribed book bearing the Vulgate version of Matthew 20:28, and translated in the NRSV version as, "Just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many."

Because the Town of Lenox was named for His Grace Charles Lennox (1735-1806), 3rd Duke of Richmond and Lennox, la Rose would draw inspiration from the duke's arms (Lenox School Alumni Association, 2014, 20).  As a reference, the Lennox arms are blazoned: Argent a saltire engrailed Gules between four roses barbed and seeded proper.  

Arms of Lennox.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

La Rose would use the cross saltire, though not its engrailed version, and render it in gold upon a black field between three roses.  To honor the patron saint of the school, St. Martin of Tours, la Rose placed a martin in chief.

The blazon for the Lenox School coat of arms: Sable, on a cross saltire an open book edged and inscribed NON MINISTRARI SED MINISTRARE between three roses barbed and seeded and in chief a martin all Or.

To read a recent update on the arms of Lenox School, please click here for "Behind the Scenes II: Restoring the Dignified Arms of Lenox School."

One limitation regarding the arms of Lenox School is that due to school's closure in 1972, the archives have been scattered, or even worse, lost altogether.  It has proven impossible to uncover either the initial design sketch la Rose proposed, or a colored emblazonment of the adopted version rendered by la Rose--there are several drawn examples which do not match la Rose's careful hand.  I am grateful for the Lenox School Alumni Association's ongoing work to collect, archive, and share the rich history of Lenox School.

(2) St. Paul's School

Arms of St. Paul's School.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

St. Paul's School, an Episcopal-affiliated preparatory school located in Concord, New Hampshire, opened its doors in 1856 (Heckscher, 1980).  By 1928, Ralph Adams Cram (1863-1942), the father of "collegiate gothic," was enlisted to renovate the school's chapel, and undoubtedly this commission would draft la Rose's heraldic skills for the school (Heckscher, 1980, 217-218).

Designed in 1931, la Rose would do something quite different for the arms of St. Paul's School (D. Parsi, personal communication, August 8, 2023).  We know la Rose's preference for using the book as a charge on scholastic arms, and I have numerous examples in my data of the book rendered as an open and inscribed charge; however, for St. Paul's arms, la Rose decidedly used a closed book.  The only other known coat by la Rose using a closed book for scholarship can be found in the arms of St. Scholastica College (now closed) which was located in Atchinson, Kansas.  It is likely, as in the case of Lenox School, that la Rose provided two sketches for the school's consideration but no other sketches could be found in the school's archive collections.     

Banner of arms of St. Paul's School.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The two swords in saltire are a clear reference to the school's patron and namesake.  Including the "pelican in her piety" charge in these arms represents the broad Anglican tradition of inclusion which the school embodies (Anderson, 1999, 81).  These arms are still used today by the school.

The arms for St. Paul's School is blazoned: "gules, two swords in saltire argent hilted or between in chief a pelican in her piety and in base a closed book of the last" (Anderson, 1999, 81).

(3) St. George's School

Arms of St. George's School.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

St. George's School is the third and final coat of arms designed by la Rose for Episcopal preparatory schools in New England, and perhaps my personal favorite within this subcategory.  Founded in 1896 by the The Rev. John Byron Diman (1863-1949), St. George's School was to be located in Middletown, Rhode Island and established as a preparatory school for boys (Taverner, 1987).  

The flag of arms of St. George's School
designed by la Rose.
Image is courtesy of the
Archives of St. George's School,
August 2023.

Interestingly enough, Diman would resign from St. George's and received into the Roman Catholic Church in 1917, where he would later become a professed monk in the Benedictine Order and establish the Portsmouth Priory School (now Portsmouth Abbey School) in Portsmouth, Rhode Island (Taverner, 1987, 63).  

According to Taverner (1987), Diman changed his name to Father Hugh Diman, and was deeply conflicted about opening a new school so close to St. George's but did so out of obedience to his vows (65).  La Rose would also design the arms for both Portsmouth Abbey and its school.     

Fortunately the archives of St. George's School has a bounty of information concerning the school's beautiful and simplistic arms.  Just as Cram was commissioned to work on the chapel at St. Paul's School, Cram was hired in 1924 to create a design for the chapel on the campus of St. George's School (Taverner, 1987).

Bottom portion of the "Chivalry Window" inside the chapel of St. George's School.  Image is courtesy of the Archives of St. George's School, August 2023.  Click image to enlarge.

La Rose provided two design sketches for St. George's School.  In St. George's design #1, la Rose proposed: Argent, on a sun Gules, an open book edged with two clasps Or thereon inscribed VERITAS.  This design is simple and elegant, but somehow missed the mark for the school, as they selected his second design for adoption.

St. George's Design #1 created by la Rose for St. George's School.  This design was not adopted by the school. Image is courtesy of the Archives of St. George's School, August 2023

For the adopted design, the arms of St. George's School is blazoned: "Lozengy sable and argent, a cross of St. George Gules" (St. George's Alumni Association, 1939, 9).  La Rose's second design combines two elements together in a striking way to clearly identify the owner of these corporate arms.  

Through the arms of St. George's School, we see how brilliantly la Rose used the lozengy as a play on diamonds and the surname Diman--the school's founder

The red cross of St. George is made clear for identification.  When combined on the field, the lozenges and red cross simply create a visual aesthetic unmatched by any other of la Rose's designs--especially when these arms are rendered as a flag.

Armorial flag or banner of arms of St. George's School.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Scholastic heraldry represents a major portion of la Rose's heraldic portfolio.  In the examples of his work for Lenox School, St. Paul's School, and St. George's School, la Rose used a different design technique for each coat of arms to create clear and simplistic arms for each school.  Moreover, we see how la Rose evolved regarding the use of his favorite charge for scholastic corporate coats--the open and inscribed book.  If Lenox School represents the traditional "la Rosian" approach for incorporating an open and inscribed book, then the arms of St. Paul's School illustrates la Rose's rare design for a closed book. 

Rendered by
Chad Krouse, 2024.

The arms of St. Paul's School represents one of two armorial designs containing a closed book devised la Rose.  While la Rose initially proposed an open and inscribed book for the arms of St. George's School, the adopted arms for the school would not have a book at all incorporated into the design--and thankfully so given the visual delight of the final design.  

La Rose's capacity for capturing the history and spirit of the institutions he rendered arms for is a testament to his deep knowledge of the art and science of heraldry.  While Lenox School is no more, the arms for St. Paul's School have now been in use for 92 years, and those of St. George's for 84 years.  That these important academic institutions still proudly bear these coats of arms designed by la Rose so long ago, underscores the power of perspicuous heraldry to survive in an age of branding and marketing.  There is no doubt that countless generations of alumni from all three schools proudly claim these arms of their alma maters.   

Works Cited

Anderson, C.B. (1999).  Letter from the rector.  In St. Paul's School [Ed.], Alumni Horae, vol. 79(2), pp. 80-81.

Diocese of Rhode Island. (1905).  Journal of proceedings of the one hundred and fifteenth session of the Rhode Island Episcopal Convention.  Snow & Farnham Printers. 

Griswold, L. (1930).  St. Martin: A sermon preached on the eve of St. Martin's day.  Lenox School.

Heckscher, A. (1980).  St. Paul's: The life of a New England school.  Charles Scribner's Sons.

Lenox School Alumni Association (2014).  A history of Lenox School and its campus [white paper #1].  Lenox School Alumni Association.  https://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/677191/25529740/1412806899563/White+Paper+updated.pdf?token=BCgLzIhtb158bd5xBEbnyfr9XoM%3D

Lenox School (1937).  Lenox School: Past, present, future.  Case, Lockwood, and Brainard Company.

Lenox School (1933).  Lenox School Catalog: 1933-1934.  Lenox School.

St. George's Alumni Association (1939).  The new school shield.  In H.F. Preston [Ed.], Alumni Bulletin, St. George's School, vol. 22(2), 9.

Taverner, G.Y. (1987).  St. George's School: A history 1896-1986.  St. George's School.

The Churchman (1905 May 27).  Rhode Island.  In The Churchman [Ed.], The Churchman, vol. 91(21), 809.