The Arms of Sweet Briar College

A line drawing of the arms of Sweet Briar College displayed as a banner.

Blazon  

Arms:  Quarterly 1st and 4th, sable, a cross engrailed argent between four plates each charged with an arrow of the first (Fletcher); 2nd and 3rd, gules three tilting spears or headed argent (Amherst), in chief or three tudor roses barbed and seeded gules;

Motto:  Rosam Quae Meruit Ferat.    

Sweet Briar College, founded in 1901, is located outside of Amherst, Virginia and one of a handful of women's colleges in the Commonwealth.  The campus is quite stunning and the architecture blends well into the rolling landscape.  The college's seal, seen below, was created by Dr. John M. McBryde who was the chair of the English Department at Sweet Briar.  McBride was also the designer of the seal used by another woman's college in Virginia, Hollins.  Below is an excerpt from the College's website detailing the rationale of their seal.  

The seal consists of the Fletcher and Amherst arms quartered with three Tudor roses above. The arms of Lord Amherst are three tilting spears, gold with silver tops on a red field. The Fletcher arms, which used to hang in Sweet Briar House, were a silver cross on a black field with four bezants each charged with an arrow.

It was customary when a family married into another either to divide the shied in half, thus dividing the two coats of arms and placing them side by side; or to quarter the arms, with those of the more important family appearing on the right. As Lord Amherst, from whom the county takes its name, was Governor-General of the British forces in North America, and for some years the Governor of Virginia, it seems appropriate that his arms should be quartered on the shield.

The Tudor roses symbolize Sweet Briar, though not the color of the Sweet Briar rose, for pink is not a proper heraldic tint. The roses on the shield are red in a gold field.

As a background to the super-imposed shield, is twined a rise vine, which supports the scroll bearing the motto... The motto is an adoption of the motto of Lord Nelson, "Parmour qui meruit fert." In its present form, "Rosam quae meruit ferat," it signifies that those who wear the Sweet Briar rose must be mindful of the obligation, and be worthy to bear it." (The alumnae news publication, Dec. 1938)

It is worth noting that there seems to be some discrepancy in the "arrow" found in the Fletcher arms. The College received significant funding from the estate of Mrs. Indiana Fletcher Williams (1828-1900).  The arrow appears inside the bezant or roundel in the Fletcher arms.  By looking at these arms used in England, a pheon or arrowhead, fills the bezants rather than a full arrow.  The College uses the full arrow but I have opted for the pheons.  The surname Fletcher refers to one who made arrows and so this charge is a pun upon the name.  The Fletcher blazon given previously comes from the arms of Sir Henry-Aubrey Fletcher, 4th Baronet (1835-1910) as found in Armorial Families: A Complete Peerage, Baronetage, and Knightage...edited by Arthur Charles Fox-Davies in 1895.  Fox-Davies notes these arms were used without authority from the College of Arms.  Debrett's, as seen below, gives a different blazon for the same armiger, using the pheons.  Click on the photo to enlarge.    

And the question is, which is correct?

Another interesting difference appears when comparing the spears from the Lord Amherst's arms with those on Sweet Briar's coat.

The arms of Jeffrey Amherst, The Baron Amherst of Holmesdale

The quarterings containing the "tilting spears" are blazoned: Gules, three tilting spears or two and one headed argent.  The words two and one in the blazon mean that the positions of the spears on the field vary as opposed to having all three positioned the same.  The county's seal, below, does the same with their quarterings of the Amherst arms.

The flag and seal of Amherst County, Virginia pre-2004.

In 2004, the County quietly dropped the Confederate flag from the seal's ineschuteon.  The ineschuteon is now blazoned: Argent, two bars gules and in chief azure, three stars of the field.

Aside from these minor differences, the arms of the College are quite regal and look the best when displayed as a banner.

Heraldic Banners of the University of the South (Sewanee)

The Arms of the University of the South displayed as a banner.

I am truly fascinated with flying heraldry.  In particular, I have long wanted to see what the arms of The University of the South would look like rendered as a banner or flag.  After trying to unlock the secrets of the Sewanee Tressure, I was impressed by just how grand and regal these arms appear from a pole.  I drew these with pencil and opted not to color them in as my colored pencils wouldn't do justice to these arms.  

The arms of the undergraduate college at the University of the South displayed as a banner.

I really like the undergraduate college's arms, which are blazoned, Azure (blue) three celestial crowns or (gold) within a Sewanee tressure of the second.  

The arms of The School of Theology at The University of the South displayed as a banner.

Most impressive of all three, in my opinion, are the arms of the School of Theology when appropriated for a flag.

Now, imagine these banners in full color inside All Saints' Chapel.  This is the pomp and circumstance that I believe Sewanee should have.  If only these beautiful arms would be used and appreciated more.

Folger Shakespeare Exhibit

Recent line drawing of the arms of Hampden-Sydney College
 displayed as a flag 

Earlier this week, I was able to stop by the Folger Shakespeare Library on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC for their exhibit, "Symbols of Honor: Heraldry and Family History in Shakespeare's England," which is closing on 26 October.  The very first item encountered when you walk into the gallery is the honorary devisal of arms from the College of Arms, London to the President and Trustees of Hampden-Sydney College.  While I had seen this impressive work of art before in the College Museum, I was now able to see it with a better sense of knowledge.

I was also able to get the Latin blazon from the document.  The blazon was written in Latin especially for this document, I suppose as a way to reflect the College's commitment to the Classics.

The blazon reads: "In scuto oblique dextrorsus et sinistrorsus secto argenteo et aureo, una crux Sancti Andreae rubea inter in capite et ui uno aquilas expansas et in lateribus ferra jaculi caerulia duo, et in medio liber apertus in colore nativo, et inscriptus litteris nigris Greek inscription ("Ye Shall Know the Truth") et tegmine nigro consutus...

I am unable to get the Greek font to work on my blog, so I substituted in the English translation.  I would recommend the exhibit, it was lovely and I had never been in the Folger before which was a pleasant surprise.    

NEHGS Committee on Heraldry

Arms of the NEHGS Committee on Heraldry

While the US does not have any arms granting authorities, there is, however, the oldest non-governmental heraldry organization known as the Committee on Heraldry which functions within the New England Historical and Genealogical Society (NEHGS) which is headquartered in Boston, MA.  The committee has recently launched a new website which announce's its charge:

The Committee on Heraldry was established in 1864, within the New England Historic Genealogical Society, to “collect and preserve information in regard to heraldry.” Dating back to the twelfth century, heraldry is the art of representing individuals and families with particular symbols and colors arranged on and around a shield (a “coat of arms”) or other conventional shape. Because heraldry has been used for centuries to identify individuals and families, it can be vitally important for genealogical research. Yet beyond their genealogical value, heraldic arts from every era are well worthy of study and appreciation. Heraldry can be found abundantly on gravestones, seals, portraits, embroideries, and countless monuments and buildings, in every European country and in every land colonized by Europeans, including the United States. Since 1864 the Committee on Heraldry has been collecting information on American colonists and modern Americans with coats of arms, as well as on the use of heraldry and heraldic artifacts in the United States and her colonial predecessors. This website provides information on the Committee and its projects, an index to the Roll of Arms of colonists or early immigrants with proved hereditary arms, and information and forms for registering or recording coats of arms with the Committee.

My arms were officially enrolled with the Committee on 2 September 2014.  I am quite excited to have my arms registered here.

A Seal for Saint Joe

 Proposed Arms and Seal for the Alumni Association 
of Saint Joseph Central Catholic High School

Huntington, WV

While it seems like ages ago, I remember well my student days at St. Joe.  I was fortunate to be a student during my junior and senior years as a result of a large county-wide public school consolidation.  I went from being in a class of 200 or so to roughly 40.  Yes, my graduating class numbered 40 something.  It was at St. Joe that I was actually challenged by my teachers to think and to write--novel ideas I assure you for high school.  I was selected to read the prayers over the school's PA system every day--from The Book of Common Prayer no doubt!  I loved my time there.  

Through the connectivity of Facebook, I learned that St. Joe is forming an alumni association.  Immediately I thought of what I could contribute being so distant from the school and then an idea started to emerge.  The school employs a rather bad bucket logo for their arms.  It's clearly more of a 1950's notion of high school logos than heraldry per se.  However, in 2024, the school will officially celebrate 100 years of Roman Catholic Education on their existing site in Huntington, WV.  It's time to have a brand that represents the timeless qualities of the educational experience so many students enjoy within those hallowed halls.

Saint Joseph has attributed arms that include the lily and a carpenter's square.  The carpenter's square is rendered as a chevron in heraldry.  I wanted to keep that same imagery but difference it for the alumni association.  The school's current logo was of no use.  I also wanted to incorporate the use of an open book, something that is synonymous with academic arms.  Since the school's mascot is the "Fightin' Irish," I opted to drop the lilies and use trefoils which can mimic the shamrock depending on how their drawn.  In chief, I used the open book with three clasps bearing the inscription, "In Principio Erat Verbum," of "In the Beginning was the Word" (John 1:1).  I surrounded the arms with the classical seal used by many Roman Catholic institutions and added the school's name.  The font, Lombardic, is in my opinion the classic seal font and I'm getting better with writing in it.

Proposed arms rendered as a flag.

The school's colors are navy and gold.  Since navy is not a tincture in heraldry it cannot be used on the shield.  These colors are referred to as the livery colors. 

Should the school wish to adopt the seal and arms, my suggestion would be to drop "alumni" from the bottom and add the founding date of 1924.   

The shield's blazon is:  Or, a chevron azure between three trefoils of the second, on a chief azure an open book of three clasps or thereupon "In Principio Erat Verbum."  

   

New Arms

Private Commission, Copyright 2014.

I recently completed a new achievement of arms for a close friend of mine.  While I'm only displaying his crest, the full blazon reads:

Arms:  Gules, on a pale azure fimbriated argent three escallops of the third 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 of the first thereupon a Chi Rho of the second;

Motto:  "From Strength to Strength."

The new armiger is a devout Christian who adores the image of Christ the Good Shepherd, which really helped me design a crest befitting great meaning for him.  The market stick is a lovely example of how a shepherd's tool (and also a great walking stick for support) can be incorporated along with the Shield of Constantine.  I think the crest creates a compelling image of a pilgrim preparing for battle with instruments of love and compassion.

The vidame's coronet creates a nice symbol for lay Christians.  

The Arms of the College of William & Mary

The Arms of the College of William & Mary

Williamsburg, Virginia 

One can hardly discuss scholastic heraldry in the US or even the Commonwealth of Virginia without mentioning the arms of the state's oldest institution of higher learning, the College of William & Mary located in Williamsburg.  Granted by the College of Arms in London on May 14, 1694, the arms are blazoned:  "Vert, a colledge or edifice mason'd argent; in chief a sun rising or the hemisphere proper, as in the margent hereof is more plainly depicted."  (Donald M. Sweig, "Vert a Colledge...:A Study of the Coat-of-Arms and Seals of the College of William and Mary in Virginia," The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 84, No. 2, April 1976, page 143).  Jack E. Morpurgo gives the blazon as, "Vert, a colledge or edifice mason'd argent in chief a sun rising or" (Their Majesties' Royall Colledge,Washington, DC: Hennage Creative Printers, 1976, 36). 

I am somewhat conflicted about these arms.  I'm reminded of L.G. Pine's statement regarding good heraldry and the legitimacy of arms--just because they're legally granted does not mean that they're good arms.  With the opening of a new colony, new resources, new everything, I suppose the heralds were not inclined to change convention with regards to new charges. Is it a coincidence that the "colledge" looks a bit like Oxford?  The brilliance of the sun seems overshadowed by a depressed star.  In some way, I suppose the heralds saw the new world with the cracked lens of the old; heraldry was not going to take off in a new direction and create any new trends.  Not then, at least.

It is worth noting that the college changed their seal, dropping these arms, in favor of a republican-looking temple which has been recorded on an honorary degree granted March 6, 1790 (Sweig, 146).  Moreover, the seal of Virginia also changed in 1776.  Sweig recounts this poignant quotation from Lyon G. Tyler (1894):

"The Revolution was, in Virginia, a revolution not only in government, but in church, education, and sentiment generally.  Monarchy in every guise became odious.  The Roman Republic presented at that time the highest exemplars of virtues and heroism known to history...Heraldry, the history of pedigrees, fell into utter disrespect" (Sweig, 146).

Eventually, however, the arms granted by the Herald's College would resurface as the official arms used for the seal of the college.

Another grant of arms from London came a few months prior to the college's, those of Francis Nicholson (1655-1728) who would later serve as Governor of the Province of Virginia among other offices.  Nicholson was also a founder of the college.  His arms are blazoned: "Azure, on a cross argent between four suns or, a cathedral church gules" (Morpurgo, 36).  Below is a sketch of Nicholson's arms as found in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 1885, Vol XXXIX, page 73.

The Arms of Francis Nicholson (1655-1728)

Granted March 9, 1694

This should help give a sense of heraldry at the close of the Seventeenth Century.  All in all, I love history, especially Virginia history.  I am proud that this old Virginia institution is and has been such a force in the Commonwealth.  Whether or not I like their arms, of course, is irrelevant.

Commission for New Arms

Private commission, by the Author.  

Copyright 2014.

Arms:  Azure, semé of Masonic compasses erect Argent, a dexter hand couped erect of the second;

Crest:  On a wreath Argent and Azure, a Black Labrador head erased gorged of a collar Or clutching in its jaws a glove of the first;

Motto: "My Soul is Resilient."

A friend of mine asked if I would devise arms for him, and of course I jumped at the chance.  The design came to mind rather quickly, which surprised me.  These are classic canting arms as the hand is a pun on the armiger's surname.  The armiger is a Mason and I thought of a way to incorporate the compass from the Masonic symbol in a pattern, or seme.  I think they came out rather nicely!  The crest was also fun, as the armiger loves his Black Lab.  In the dog's mouth is a white glove, apparently another symbol found in Masonry.  The motto was a collaborative effort and accurately portrays the armiger's war cry.  He loves it and so do I.