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!

Finding Notre Dame

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

For the longest time I've been frustrated by the fact that no decent digital emblazonment of Notre Dame's arms existed...until now.  These arms were among the early designs that I completed using vector format. Designed in 1930 by Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941), the arms for the University of Notre Dame located in South Bend, Indiana are somewhat iconic in my opinion.  

Blazon for the arms of the University of Notre Dame:  Azure, issuing from a lake barry wavy Azure and Argent, a passion cross charged with an open book edged Or thereon inscribed VITA DULCEDO SPES, and in dexter canton a six pointed star Argent.

A souvenir found on eBay. 

The university's arms set within a gothic quatrefoil and most likely 
rendered by la Rose himself.

Banner of arms of the University of Notre Dame.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

So, now we have la Rose's beautiful, simple, and clear arms for the University of Notre Dame. 

Heraldry of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine

Arms of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

One of the world's largest cathedrals is quietly nestled in the upper west side of Manhattan. I remember my first visit there and simply wandering around, head fixed skyward, and in awe of the building's shear magnitude. The Cathedral of Saint John the Divine holds the cathedra for the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York and bears unique arms which I wanted to recreate.

Banner of arms, the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The cathedral's arms are quite unique and make a clear Biblical reference to its dedication of St. John. 

The Rev. Canon Edward Nason West (1909-1990) was a canon of the cathedral and well versed in heraldry.  Canon West's arms are based on those granted to his mother by the College of Arms in 1951.

Arms granted to Isadora Angelina West by the College of Arms in 1951.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The blazon for the coat of arms for Isadora Angelina West was kindly shared by the Archives of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.

Arms:  Per pale Argent and Sable, a fess dancetty counterchanged in dexter chief a cross couped Sable.

Crest:  In front of a plate a griffin's head erased Sable beaked and gorged with a ducal coronet Or.

Motto:  Trewest

Coat of arms of The Rev. Canon Edward Nason West (1909-1990).
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Among Canon West's many contributions, he created the "Anglican Compass Rose" as a image showing unity amongst the global Anglican Communion.  The center features the arms of St. George and encircled with the Greek inscription of John 8:32, "the Truth will set you free."

The Anglican Compass Rose was designed by West in 1954 and later embedded in the floor at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, as well as the National Cathedral in Washington, DC and Canterbury Cathedral in England.

The Anglican Compass Rose.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The Anglican Compass Rose was later rendered as a flag for the 1990 Lambeth Conference by The Rev. Andrew Notere.

The Anglican Compass Rose Flag.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024

Make a pilgrimage to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, I highly recommend it.

The Struggles of Personal Heraldry

Arms of private armingers designed by the author.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

I've been asked before to design personal coats of arms--mostly from well-intentioned individuals struggling to come up with their own design.  I certainly relate to this design struggle, vividly recalling my own ordeal tearing through untold drafts with dissatisfaction.  One thing, however, changed for me when I decided to research how well designed arms were pieced together with intention and meaning.  When I kept stumbling on this rather odd name, Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941), I decided this guy must know something about heraldic design and so it began.  Researching a designer's work unlocked everything for me, for I knew I did not want to simply throw a bunch of charges on a field and call it a day.  I wanted a design layered, abstractly true to my brand, and above all balanced and beautiful.

My journey into this newfound world of heraldry all of sudden became special and filled with purpose.  While it took time and many drafts to arrive on my chosen design, I was glad for both the journey and its intended destination.  Now ten years on since I finalized my arms, I'm still in love with them.  

For this reason I politely decline most requests to design personal arms.  In a word, these are personal.  Without really knowing a person, and I mean truly knowing them, I find it quite difficult to come up with ideas that resonate and reflect the would-be-arminger.  I do encourage them to take their own journey, take time, and ultimately to be patient.

That being said, the few designs I have completed have been for close friends--meaningful experiences for myself and the arminger.  Will I do more in the future, who knows?  My love of corporate heraldry readily holds my attention these days.