Our Lady of Cincinnati College

Seal and arms of Our Lady of Cincinnati College, later Edgecliff College, and the only surviving
artifact identifying tinctures and metals I could find.

Hunting down information regarding the coat of arms for Our Lady of Cincinnati College has proven virtually impossible.  Thankfully I found a reference in Evans (1959) which names Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941) as the designer and with the date 1936.  Score for at least the designer.  What about a blazon for the arms?  Tinctures and metals?  What is inscribed on the open book?  The image above was all I could find regarding la Rose's design and thankfully included hatch marks.  

Our Lady of Cincinnati College was founded in 1935 by the Sisters of Mercy as a women's college.  In 1969, the College changed names to Edgecliff College and began admitting male students by 1970.  By 1980, Edgecliff College merged with Xavier University.

As the case with many of the now closed schools la Rose designed arms for, their archives have either been lost or scattered indiscriminately.  While Xavier University has some artifacts from Edgecliff in its collections, there is scant little from Our Lady of Cincinnati.    

Arms of Our Lady of Cincinnati College, later Edgecliff College.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Through the hatching on the seal/arms, I was able to make out the tinctures and metals.  The blazon, as best as I can tell, is: Gules, an open book edged with two clasps Or inscribed “Maria Vita et Spes Nostra” and in base a cross of the Sisters of Mercy Argent, on a chief Azure in dexter a crescent and in sinister a plow Argent.

Click to enlarge.

The chief abstractly reads Our Lady, Cincinnati.  I love that even though I find the design somewhat unbalanced.  The cross in the base of the arms comes from the insignia used by the Sisters of Mercy as seen below.  I also like how the cross is literally the foundation of the arms since the Sisters founded the college.

Insignia of the Sisters of Mercy.

Arms of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati designed by la Rose.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

La Rose used the plow in his design of arms for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in 1921 which are blazoned: Or, a plow between three cross crosslets fitchy Gules.

Recreation of la Rose's design for the College's seal.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Recreating la Rose's gothic quatrefoil was incredibly challenging and my version is not perfect.  Remember, a seal is not a coat of arms and vice versa.  Seals are used to legally authentic documents and may contain a coat of arms but not required.  There is no governance or direction in the US on designing a corporate seal.

Banner of arms, Our Lady of Cincinnati College.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Alas, I simply had to create a banner of arms even if the college no longer exists.  I continue to enjoy recreating la Rose's work from the past and hopefully giving them new life in the digital world of the 21st century.  

Even though Edgecliff College is no more, there is a rather active alumni association using the old line art of seal and arms.  I knew something had to be done, for la Rose if nothing else!  I sent the alumni association a suite of emblazonments for their use as well as the write up below.  Since I thoroughly enjoyed my work with Lenox School's Alumni Association, I wanted to do the same here.  Please click here to learn about my work with Lenox School Alumni Association.

 

Works Cited

Evans, Mary Ellen (1959).  The Spirit is mercy: The story of the Sisters of Mercy in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati 1858-1958.  Newman Press, pp 268-269.

Shakespeare's Arms

Arms of William Shakespeare.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

I feel like its a rite of passage...a step forward that every aspiring heraldic artist must tackle...yes, the arms of the great poet William Shakespeare (1564-1616).  I will say, however, I actually enjoyed putting these arms together in vector format.  Who doesn't love good canting arms?  Which reminds me of a saying I recently heard, "heralds don't pun, they cant."  

Scott-Giles (1950) offers the following blazon for the armorial ensigns of William Shakespeare:

Arms:  Or, on a bend Sable a spear Or headed Argent 

Crest:  On a wreath Or and Sable, a falcon displayed Argent supporting a spear Or headed Argent

Motto:  Non Sanz Droict ("Not without right")

The crest of William Shakespeare.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The crest is simple, clean and straightforward.  I like it!  Moreover, I was thrilled to be able to have the falcon actually holding the spear.   

Arms of William Shakespeare.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

I even added what's called "diapering" in the background to help provide better visualization of these arms.

From Scott-Giles (1950).

I enjoy Scott-Giles (1950) work on the heraldry of Shakespeare, definitely worth having a copy in your library.  

Works Cited

Scott-Giles, C.W. (1950).  Shakespeare's Heraldry.  AMS Press.

La Rose & The Signet Society

The arms of the Signet Society at Harvard.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

One of the earliest documented design for arms by Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941) was devised for his literary club at Harvard, the Signet Society.  Designed around 1902, Signet's arms would be carved on the pediment of its house in Cambridge.  

Shiverick (1969) provides la Rose's blazon:

Arms:  Gules, a signet ring Or, surrounded by seven bees of the same marked with Sable

Crest:  From a fillet Or and Sable, a dexter forearm issuing, clothed in a Sable sleeve with Argent cuff.  The hand proper holding an open book with two clasps and edges Or, across the pages of which is inscribed VERITAS.

The crest of the Signet Society at Harvard.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

La Rose's crest offers us a glimpse into his developing methods for illustrating unification and differencing in arms by using the open and inscribed book.  VERITAS is Harvard's motto and inscribed upon its three open books.  Fascinating, right?

I really liked the challenge of creating the crest.  I actually like this one and find it unusual that la Rose created one--he was not a fan of corporate arms bearing crests and mottos.

   

Another version of Signet Society's coat of arms.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

There are a few other social clubs at Harvard bearing arms designed by la Rose, and I hope to get those emblazoned in the coming days.

Works Cited

Shiverick, Nathan C. (1969).  A short history of the Signet Society.  Privately published.  Cambridge, MA.

https://www.scribd.com/document/376709846/A-short-history-of-the-Signet-Society

Armorial Ensigns of Sweet Briar College

The coat of arms of Sweet Briar College in Virginia.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Years ago I wrote a brief piece on the arms of Sweet Briar College, a women's college in Virginia so I won't retrace my footprints.  Please click here to read about Sweet Briar College's coat of arms. 

Designed around 1938 by English professor Dr. John M. McBryde, the arms are blazoned:  Quarterly 1st and 4th, Sable, a cross engrailed Argent between four plates each charged with an arrow Sable (Fletcher); 2nd and 3rd, Gules, three tilting spears Or headed Argent (Amherst), and on a chief Or three tudor roses barbed and seeded Gules.

Banner of arms, Sweet Briar College.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

There's a lot going on with this design.  Still, the campus is a lovely Cram-designed academic village and one of Virginia's finest colleges.