Can’t let this topic get underway without making sure the shield of my university are the first (and therefore the best) arms posted….
I give you the St. Edwards University ‘seal’...
http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/7036/steds2vf.jpg
St. Edward’s University Seal Blazon: Azure, cross argent on anchor and/or scepter or in saltier star or in dexter chief. In base of wavy azure a heart with two arrows argent ascending or descending in saltier between two crosses argent.
Classes started anew today; will be sure to snap a few pictures of some the heraldry around campus and of things which symbolise the three things we are known for in this part of the country.
1- Academics
2- Dramatic Arts programs
3- Monied Hispanic students
In that last category, I unfortunately only qualify in one of those things. And I seem to have chosen the wrong one!
UPDATE- There is also a fourth thing we are known for, but it’s not appropriate for this board.
This is a nice one Mark.
Thanks!
I believe that our library has its own coat of arms, (saw a bookplate in an old dusty volume in our library), and I have seen various arms carved on many of the older buildings around campus. I’ll try to remember to take a camera tomorrow.
Considering that over the course of St. Eds history, it has only recently been the case that a great number of laypeople are empoloyed as professors, I’d be willing to wager that these arms are religous in nature.
OK folks, I managed to remember to take my camera today. But unfortunately I did not remember to clear up some space on the memory card. As a result, I filled up the card in one part of the campus with only a few shots. Will seek out more stuff as soon as time permits.
Please let me know if this sucks up too much bandwidth, and I’ll size it down or move.
Without further ado…
http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/1885/830200650cj3.jpg
Old main, called that even though there does not seem to be a ‘new’ main. It is the oldest building on campus. The welcome sign seems to be covering up a shield of some sort, but I can’t be sure. It is also interesting to note the tops of the spires, which resemble fleur-de-lys.
http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/9766/830200648nh0.jpg
One of the towers on the backside of old main. The anchor theme is continued from the arms. Another thing you probably noticed is the year 1903. This is not the year this building was built, but rather the year it was gutted by fire and then rebuilt.
http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/1803/830200644tr9.jpg
A view from the inside of old main, looking out. Sorry for the blurriness of this pic, apparently I was moving. If I were a competent photographer, the image you would be admiring is the stained glass representation of the arms of the congregation of the holy cross (I think).
http://img45.imageshack.us/img45/324/830200645cl7.jpg
Turning physically around from the previous photo, you are greeted by more modern looking doors. Careful examination of the tops of the pillars behind these doors should reveal more shields, but I think these are not heraldry as much as stylized decor. They are azure, a cross gules.
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/2300/830200646rt5.jpg
This lovely document hanging on a wall was the closest thing I could find to a formal presentation of the arms in that particular building. It is actually a mission statement, but the arms are done quite nicely; the photo does not do it justice.
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/1852/830200647vy0.jpg
Leaving old main and walking towards Fondren hall, we have this fountain thingy with the arms one one side, and "St. Edwards University 1888" on the other.
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/5302/830200649rw5.jpg
Turning left, we apprach one of the favorite ‘hang out’ spots on campus, the Sorin Oak. Named after Rev. Edward Sorin (a rather famous fellow), according to legend it was planted by Sorin when he founded the place. Again we see the arms of the congregation of the holy cross.
But that is where I ran out of space on the memory card… alas, you never got to see the oak itself, or the rest of the campus.
However I will leave you with this standard photo of the university seal in the middle of Ragsdale plaza…
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/907/seuphotofx7.jpg
Go Hilltoppers!
Mark Olivo wrote:
Turning physically around from the previous photo, you are greeted by more modern looking doors. Careful examination of the tops of the pillars behind these doors should reveal more shields, but I think these are not heraldry as much as stylized decor. They are azure, a cross gules.
I dunno, Mark…the shield covered up partially by the Welcome sign could easily be a shield with a plain cross. There may be more to the school’s heradrly than meets the eye.
F’rinstance, amongst all the other references I could find to Azure a Cross Argent are the arms of the Bishopric of Speier in Switzerland. Does the school have a Swiss connection?
Mark Olivo wrote:
Just wondering if anyone else spotted this.
Is that possibly some sort of decoration or award around the shield of the congregation? (I’ll take a closer second look on Friday). Seems like it may be.
Can any of our clergy members enlighten me, or am I just imagining this?
Great news fellas!
(on another thread) I mentioned that I was investigating whether or not my present and former schools used coats of arms. For St. Edwards, I inquired if the residential halls used individual coats of arms.
It turns out they don’t, but here is part of the response to my idea that arms ought to be adopted:
"What a great idea! I am copying the Residence Directors on your e-mail so they can read your thoughts as well.
One element of the SEU experience we are attempting to bolster IS tradition of halls. I think adopting a coat of arms might be one way to help build tradition and pride in each hall.
I do not know the University’s take on this. They may not approve of “official” seals for the residence halls, but we can cross that bridge when we get to it.
I would suggest you pose this idea to your hall council and get their feedback on it. That would be your first step in moving this idea along."
So we are underway with this idea! Woo-hoo!
I will soon be pestering you all with help on this… in particular those of you who might be able to help me track down the coats of arms for certain 19th century French priests in the Congregation of the Holy Cross.
-M
Sounds good. 
I can see two obvious approaches to designing arms for college residence halls (of course there are likely others)—
1) Distinct. dissimilar arms for each—best for on-campus use
2) differencing the school arms for each hall—best for longer-term (alumni) identification. Simplest differences might be different colored borders charges with some emblem suggestive of or unique to each hall. This approach does the least "damage" to the school arms, pretty much regardless of what they are, unless the school arms already have a border.