American College of Heraldry and Arms
Encyclopedia
Pratt Street
Pratt Street is a major street in Baltimore. It forms a one-way pair of streets with Lombard Street that run west-east through downtown Baltimore. For most of their route, Pratt Street is one-way in an eastbound direction, and Lombard Street is one way westbound. Both streets begin in west...
, Baltimore, MD.
The organization was divided into two administrative divisions: the American College of Arms researched inherited arms, verified genealogy, and granted new arms to individuals across the country; the College of Arms of the United States assisted corporate entities, such as businesses and municipal heraldry.
The College was established by Donald Franklin Stewart
Donald Franklin Stewart
Donald Franklin Stewart was director of the Five Fathom Lightship Museum in West Ocean City, Maryland and the USS Constellation Museum in Baltimore, Maryland. He was the Curator of the USS Torsk Submarine . He was a National Board Member of Operation Sail 1976 and the Director of Op Sail 1976 in...
, William Henry Lloyd
William Henry Lloyd
William Henry Lloyd , a Baltimore, Maryland attorney, was the Republican Party candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland in 1942, defeated by incumbent David J. Ward, the Democratic Party candidate...
, Charles Francis Stein, Jr.
Charles F. Stein
Charles Francis Stein, II was a Baltimore, Maryland, United States lawyer and historian. He was a founding officer of the American College of Heraldry and Arms.-Works:...
, and Gordon Malvern Fair Stick
Gordon Stick
Gordon Malvern Fair Stick was a corporate executive and community leader in Baltimore, Maryland.Gordon Stick was born in Nagoya, Japan to Estes Pearl Fair and Jacob Monroe Stick, a Lutheran minister and missionary...
. Their titles were, respectively, Chief Herald Marshall, Herald Genealogist, Herald Chancellor, and Telorum Rex.
The College employed art students from the Maryland Institute College of Art to paint the armorial achievements and create grant and matriculation documents.
On 1 June 1968, the College granted arms to President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Lyndon Johnson; the grant was presented to Johnson by Mr. Donald Stewart in the Oval Office
Oval Office
The Oval Office, located in the West Wing of the White House, is the official office of the President of the United States.The room features three large south-facing windows behind the president's desk, and a fireplace at the north end...
of the White House on Monday, June 10, 1968 at 10:00 AM with U.S. Senator Daniel Brewster
Daniel Brewster
Daniel Baugh Brewster was a Democratic member of the United States Senate, representing the State of Maryland from 1963 until 1969...
in attendance. The arms were blazon
Blazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image...
ed Azure on a Saltire Gules fimbriated between four Eagles displayed a Mullet Or.
In October of 1968, the College granted a coat of arms to Maryland Governor Spiro Agnew
Spiro Agnew
Spiro Theodore Agnew was the 39th Vice President of the United States , serving under President Richard Nixon, and the 55th Governor of Maryland...
. The blazon of these arms was Azure on a Cross between four Horses Heads couped Argent a Cross botony Gules.
By January 1969 the College had refused over 1000 requests for arms. The petitions were denied because they were assumed arms or armorial petitions with errors in their genealogy
Genealogy
Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...
. The College also excluded helms or coronets from their armorial grants.
The College existed until 1970.
See also
- American College of HeraldryAmerican College of HeraldryThe American College of Heraldry was founded in 1972 with the aim of aiding in the study and perpetuation of heraldry in the United States and abroad...
- College of Arms FoundationCollege of Arms FoundationThe College of Arms Foundation is a non-profit body whose mission is the promotion of heraldic knowledge in the United States. It was first incorporated in 1983 in the state of New York. The purpose of the original foundation was to raise funds for the College of Arms in London...
- Committee on Heraldry of the New England Historic Genealogical SocietyCommittee on Heraldry of the New England Historic Genealogical SocietyThe Committee on Heraldry of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, established in 1864, is the world's oldest non-governmental body primarily concerned with heraldry. It authenticates and records coats of arms rightfully borne in the United States or by U.S...
- United States Heraldic RegistryUnited States Heraldic RegistryFounded in 2005, the United States Heraldic Registry is a private, American enterprise that offers free registration of contemporary and historical heraldry.By early 2010, the USHR had compiled information for over 900 coats of arms...