Armorial Ensigns of the Lesser Known

Arms of the Institutum Divini Thomae.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

As a follow up to my previous post showcasing emblazonments of several Ivy League schools and other prominent academic institutions, I felt it was only fitting to highlight arms from equally noble institutions likely unknown to some.

I am thrilled to present for the first time in digitized full-color, the arms of the Institutum Divi Thomae.  Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, the institute was a scholarly venture of the Roman Catholic Church focusing on scientific research.  Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941) designed the arms for the institute in 1936 with a few unique marks of identification.  The inscription on the open book reinforces this mission, while the sun in splendor in dexter canton references St. Thomas Aquinas.  

Blazon:  Or, on a cross Gules an open book edged with two clasps Or inscribed Religio Scientia between four bezants, in dexter canton a sun Gules.

It truly brings joy creating arms knowing its the first time the design joins the digital age.

Arms of Rice University.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024

Rice University was designed in 1912 by la Rose--his first design for a secular institution.  La Rose's blazon for the arms of Rice University:  Azure, two chevronels Argent between as many Athenian Owls Argent.

Groton School coat of arms.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The famous American architect and father of "collegiate gothic," Ralph Adams Cram (1863-1942) designed the arms for Groton School in 1904.  Located in Groton, Massachusetts, the school's coat of arms is blazoned:  Argent, on a cross Gules a sword in pale point to base with hilt ensigned of a coronet all of the field, on a chief Sable three open books of the field.

Arms of Bryn Mawr College.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The arms of Bryn Mawr College are quite striking to say the least.  Designed in 1904 by the College of Arms in London--designed, no grant as far as I know--the arms are blazoned:  Per pale, Or and Ermine three owls proper.

College of Arms you say working with a US college in 1904?  According to the College, yes.  I will definitely want to see if these arms were granted.  My hunch is that a herald did the design work and dispensed with all the legalities, etc.

Arms of the University of Washington St. Louis.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024

The University of Washington St. Louis bears arms layered with identification. Designed in 1897 by Professor Holmes Smith, the arms are blazoned: Argent, on two bars Gules an open book bearing the motto PER VERITATEM VIS, in chief three stars of five points and in base as many fleurs de lys Vert.

Banner of arms, University of Washington St. Louis.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024

The coat of arms of Washington & Lee University, located in Lexington, Virginia, may be unfamiliar to many.  Designed in 1901 by chemistry professor William George Brown, the quartered arms combine a lot of imagery for identification.

Arms of Washington & Lee University.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Blazon for the arms of Washington & Lee University:  Quarterly. 1st Azure open book Argent thereon inscribed OMNIA AUTEM PROBATE. 2nd Argent two bars in chief three mullets Gules (Washington). 3rd Gules a fess chequy Azure and Or between ten billets Argent, four in chief, three, two, and one in base (Lee). 4th Azure a cinquefoil pierced Argent, a bordure engrailed Ermine.

The coat of arms of Washington & Lee University, with crest and motto.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Banner of arms of Washington & Lee University.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

I will say, the university's arms are most attractive when rendered as an amorial banner.

Arms of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The arms la Rose designed for the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont are simple and clear.  Sadly, however, one cannot find a decent emblazonment anywhere until now.

If you guessed that the piles reference Vermont's Green Mountains then you're well on your way in learning la Rose's methods.  I'm glad to now have a good emblazonment of these lovely arms.   

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The following three arms below were designed by la Rose and perhaps represent his most controversial work in the 21st Century.  The arms of Grace Hopper College at Yale were not designed by la Rose, but I want to showcase these new arms.  All three of la Rose's designs have been retired and I wanted to ensure their conservation.  

As our collective social consciences woke to finally acknowledge the pain and struggles our sisters and brothers of color endure in the US every day, institutions nationwide took a deep internal look at names and symbols that no longer represent everyone in their constituencies.  Colleges and universities--especially--removed names from institutions and buildings and even retired logos and symbols too.

My efforts to preserve these designs stem purely from a heraldic perspective and scholarship.

Arms of Calhoun College at Yale (since been renamed).
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024

The arms of Calhoun College, the name of a former undergraduate residence at Yale, were designed by la Rose in 1931 and simply blazoned:  Argent, a saltire engrailed Sable; a chief of the arms of Yale.  The namesake of the residence had ties to slavery and thus Yale retired the name as well as the arms.  

The new arms of Grace Hopper College at Yale.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Calhoun was replaced with Grace Hopper for the residential college.  The new arms of Grace Hopper College became official in 2017 and blazoned:  Azure semé of Plates and Billets Argent a Dolphin embowed Or; on a Chief Argent a Fess engrailed Sable.

Former arms of Kirkland House at Harvard.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

La Rose designed the arms for Kirkland House at Harvard in 1931.  The design in recent years caused a stir, as many at Harvard believed Kirkland's arms too closely resembled the Confederate flag.  Thus, these arms were effectively retired and new design ushered in.

Former arms of Harvard Law.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

As part of his heraldic program for Harvard's Tercentenary celebrations in 1936, la Rose devised arms for all the schools of university.  The arms of Harvard Law, however, would become a lightening rod for controversy and effectively retired in 2016.  The issue:  the three gold garbs of wheat representing Isaac Royall, Jr., whose family had owned slaves.  In 2021, the law school unveiled new arms. 

Armorial Ensigns of the Well-Known

Select arms of Ivy League Schools.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

This weekend I was able to scratch off several more projects, including these emblazonments.  Certainly well known, no doubt.

Arms of Princeton University.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

I was actually a bit surprised with how my version of Princeton's arms turned out.  The tenne, or orange "stain," looks like stain to me!

Arms of the University of Pennsylvania.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024. 

And since both Princeton and UPenn share basically the same field division (chevron and chief), these two arms came together in vector format rather quickly.

Arms of Brown University.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Brown University's coat of arms are rather simple and quite lovely as such--I especially like how the open books are blazoned in red.  In rendering their arms in my heater shield shape, it is acceptable to have the sizes of the charges in base be smaller than their chiefly counterparts.

Arms of Columbia University.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The arms of Columbia University were not adopted until 1949 and was the result of a collaboration between Milton Halsey Thomas (Curator, Columbia's Archives), Phillip M. Hayden (Secretary of Columbia), and Harold H. Booth ("specialist in heraldry") and blazoned:  Azure, a chevron Argent between as many king's crowns Or.

Arms of Stanford University.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

While I previously shared my emblazonment for Stanford University's arms, it only seems fitting to include those here--the "Harvard of the West Coast."

I wanted to get the arms of Cambridge and Oxford completed as well.  

Honestly, I feel like the sky is my limit now when considering which heraldic projects to tackle next.  Practicing with all these well-know arms has been great to learn my software (and more importantly, patience).

Arms of Cambridge University.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Arms of Oxford University.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Mission Digital: Preserving Arms From the Past II

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lilies and Swords

Arms of St. Joseph's Academy, St. Paul, MN.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

In 1851, the Sisters of St. Joseph established St. Joseph's Academy in St. Paul, MN and would later enlist Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941) to design a proper coat of arms for the school.  Created in 1927, la Rose blazoned the arms:  Azure, a semme of Madonna lilies Argent, on a sword in pale Or with hilt in base, an open book edged with two clasps Or inscribed Suboles Doctrinae Pietas (“Reverence, Scion of Scholarship”). 

A library print of the Academy's arms from St. Joseph Academy (1971).
From the Author's private collection.

I remember well when I stumbled upon these arms years ago, utterly fascinated by la Rose's semme work with the lilies.  A striking design for the Sister's school.

Learning how to recreate la Rose's design in vector format presented some challenges.  The library print above was my only guide and I struggled to figure out how to make the semme of lilies work.    After learning what a "clipping mask," is and how to use it, bam we have semme!  

The design incorporates the lilies to reference the Sisters of St. Joseph, and the sword in pale geographically locates the academic institution in St. Paul, MN.  Simple, clear, and perspicuous heraldry at its finest.  La Rose's ability to abstractly illustrate multiple data points in one harmonious design is truly his gift to US corporate heraldry--setting a standard without the need for quartered arms littered with multiple charges as so often seems to be the case in scholastic heraldry.

I simply love this design.

Works Cited

St. Joseph Academy. (1971).  School of happy memories: A pictorial history 1851-1971.  Privately printed.

Lecture Notice

Free virtual lecture announcement!!!

Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 17th at 7:00 p.m. (Eastern) for a free virtual lecture sponsored by the American Heraldry Society.  

To register for this program, please click here for the American Heraldry Society's registration page.

I'll be presenting--for the first time--one of my favorite themes from my research on Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941), his use of the phoenix rising from its flames.  We'll cover both some scholastic and ecclesiastical heraldry.  I promise to make this exciting and captivating so log on and join us!

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. 

The Struggles of Personal Heraldry

Arms of private armigers 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-armiger.  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 armiger.  Will I do more in the future, who knows?  My love of corporate heraldry readily holds my attention these days.  

Old Armiger, Fresh Arms II

New emblazonment of arms for a private armiger.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

Final emblazonment for a private armiger.  While I originally designed these arms in September 2014, we were never able to get a digital emblazonment, something I regret now.  

Arms: Gules, on a pale Azure fimbriated Argent three escallops Argent enfiled with as many vidame coronets Or;

Crest: On a wreath of Argent and Gules, a lamb rampant gorged of a vidame's coronet Or holding in dexter arm a market stick proper erect with crook facing sinister and on sinister arm an eschuteon Argent thereupon a Chi Rho Gules;

Motto: "From Strength to Strength."

Old Arminger, Fresh Arms

New emblazonment of arms for a private arminger.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

On fire this weekend and managed to knock off another project that I've delayed for some time.  Arms were designed in October 2014 but never managed to get a digital emblazonment.  It's lovely to see these in full color now.

Arms: Per chevron Gules and barry wavy Argent and Azure, in chief a demi sun in splendor and in base an anchor all Or;

Crest: On a wreath of Argent and Gules, a Golden Retriever passant gorged of a collar Gules, in dexter paw a shotgun proper;

Motto: "Fire When Ready."