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I do not know the newspaper name. Or the date. It is on file at the Enoch Pratt Free Library Archives dept.
I found this article about them a little while ago:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_College_of_Heraldry_and_Arms
Interesting how they were only in existence for four years. I wonder if the arms they "granted" to President Johnson are still on display anywhere?
Yes, the LBJ documents are at the LBJ library, and I have photos, partly thanks to Ed Wenzl’s research. In fact, I think some of the pictures have been posted previously in one or the other of the forums—maybe the thread on presidential arms in the historical heraldry forum.
Anyway, the LBJ arms are in the queue for my Presidential series. Here’s my drawing of the shield:
Stunningly beautiful!
I think it was mentioned once before on the thread where this came up, but it’s a shame that they could only cram 7 eagles into the achievement.
I have to agree, it was a bit heavy on the bird!
*edited by member*
"The arms were blazoned Azure on a Saltire Gules fimbriated between four Eagles displayed a Mullet Or"
The blazon does say fimbriated, but it doesn’t mention the color. It could be a mistake on Wikipedia.
Andrew,
I don’t think that the letters patent contain the word fimbriated! The image that Michael Swanson posted do not contain the word fimbriated in the blazon.
*edited by member*
The "heralds" comprising this "college" don’t seem to have been too strong on accurate or consistent blazon.
The documents Ed Wenzl, Mike Swanson, and I tracked down from the LBJ library can be viewed at http://forums.heraldrysociety.us/showthread.php?t=1592&page=2&highlight=johnson
The typed blazon and explanation of the arms signed by Donald Franklin Stewart, OSJ, KCT, GCS, "Chief Herald Marshall [sic] of the American College of Arms," says "On a shield azure a saltire gules, bordure argent surmounted by a mullet or. Four eagles displayed or."
The blazon on the grant says "On a shield azure, a saltire gules, surmounted by a mullet or, and four eagles, Chief point, Dexter flank, Sinister flank, and Base point, displayed or."
I can’t find it, but seem to recall a third blazon that mentions the saltire being fimbriated argent. In any case, both of the emblazonments in the LBJ Library documents clearly show the fimbriation as silver/white, so I guess this is one where we just have to refer to the old, "more clearly depicted in the margin." Unfortunately, that would mean the eagles should not be displayed but displayed with wings inverted.
What a mess.
(By the way, I don’t agree that the emblazonment is stunning. The eagle supporters are remarkably awkward, the crest is way too small for the size of the shield, and there are several other lapses as well. The calligraphy appears to be competent, but was done on imitation parchment too cheap to hold up for 40 years without shriveling up.)
Probably all reasons why they only lasted for four years
Joseph McMillan wrote:
the crest is way too small for the size of the shield
The crest is to scale if you have only studied unrealistic Victorian and Georgian renderings of heraldic bearings! Somewhere I read that it is best if the shield, helm and crest are proportionately about one third of the entire achievement each. From a historical standpoint actual jousting shields were quite small compared to those seen in modern films. Early styles were like heater shields and later styles were similar to my avatar only somewhat concave, often these later shields were bolted directly onto the armored knight.
Andrew J Vidal wrote:
Probably all reasons why they only lasted for four years
Most likely, the president of the college, Mr. Stick, ended the college because he got hyper involved in the Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem, serving 1972 to 1976 as American Grand Prior.
I’ve also noticed that the blazon says nothing about supporters.