University Seal
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Articles
The current university seal was instituted in 1905. In 1989 it was redesigned based on the Frederick Owen design. The following was taken from the 1904 University Bulletin:
First Winter Convocation, February 22, 1905
President Charles Willis Needham announced the official adoption of a University flag... The new seal of the University, the design of which was adopted by the Board of Trustees on November 16, 1904, was formally accepted as the seal of the University from this date. Both the seal and the flag were designed and donated by Mr. Frederick D. Owen, of Washington, who made the following presentation:
MR. FREDERICK D. OWEN.
President Needham, Members of the Board of Trustees, the Student Body of the George Washington University, and Guests: A study for a flag should always embrace two well-defined principles-the shape and the proportion of parts and their relation to one another. Colors when applied should be so arranged as to out, make and look well, besides harmonize in their arrangement in the design.
For the George Washington University the shape here represented is a rectangle of five (5) feet hoist and seven (7) feet fly, with a band of one unit of measure through the center of each side, thereby forming a cross; 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 are therefore the measurements.
In this design the form lends itself well for the placing of the University colors, buff and blue. Buff for the field and blue for the cross placed upon the center divides the flag into four parts, giving a good section for the placing of the appropriate symbols of the great University departments.
In the center of this blue cross, and therefore in the center of the flag, is placed a painted enlarged copy of the great seal of the University.
Around the edge of the flag a gold fringe is placed, and a gold cord and tassel at the head of the staff make a flag indicative of the colonial days, yet modern in its adaptation; therefore let the buff and the blue wave in the breeze for years to come and lead the students to achievements second only to those performed by men who wore the buff and the blue over one hundred years ago.
THE SEAL--HERALDIC DESCRIPTION
The seal of the George Washington University shall be two inches in diameter, bearing the arms of the University, as follows: Or, the head of George Washington, as painted by Gilbert Stuart, on a chief (azure); an open Testament showing the following words from chapter I, verses 1-4, of the Gospel according to St. John:
On the left-hand page: (Greek) "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
On the right-hand page: (Greek) "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men."
The design and the inscription are taken from the original seal of Columbian College.
All proper. Upon the background the words Deus Nobis Fiducia, "God is our trust."
All within a double annulet (azure), outer roped, inner beaded bearing the words "The George Washington University, 1821."
THE SEAL DESCRIBED
It is seen, therefore, that the arms of the University, strictly speaking, consist of the shield, with an open book--the Bible-in the chief and a medallion of the head of Washington where the stripes of a shield generally are placed.
In the field around the arms is the motto of the University, and encircling this creation is a band with the words "George Washington University, 1821," inscribed within.
The proportions of this study as adopted are as follows: The shield (or arms) is rectangular and patterned after the one adopted by the State Department for the United States Seal.
Upon the open book is placed the Greek text, in the field the Latin motto, and in the outer band the University name and date, all with the intent of typifying the growth of languages--due respect being given to the Greek, Latin, and English.
The diameter is taken at 32/16, seal and die measure, and the outer band is one-eighth the diameter or one-quarter the radius.
The shield is one radius wide by one and one-third high. The chief is one diameter by two-fifths wide. The lower part is practically one radius square, and embraces the circle in which is the head of Washington in alto and bas relief.
The colors of the University are placed as follows: Blue in the chief surrounding the book, with buff below encircling the head of Washington. The field is left open with the outer band blue, with the gold or buff letters shining out. When this seal is engraved upon a flat surface the blue is represented by fine horizontal lines and the buff by small dots. The form always remains the same, with only a change representing it in colors, or engraving, or in relief. With these proportions well understood the arms of the University can be drawn any size, and above all, if the seal should be destroyed, by following these conditions it could be restored.
Document Information
Images: 1
Photographic Credit: University Archives paper imprint from seal in David S. Brown Memorabilia Room
Author or Source: University Bulletin, 1904/05
Document Location: University Archives
Date Added to Encyclopedia: December 21, 2006
Prepared by: Lyle Slovick, Assistant University Archivist
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