Seal of Alabama
Encyclopedia
The Great Seal of the State of Alabama is the state seal
of the U.S. state
of Alabama
.
The first seal was designed in 1817 by William Wyatt Bibb
, the governor of the Alabama Territory
and the subsequent first governor of the state. When Alabama became a state
in 1819, the state legislature adopted the design as the official state seal. The seal prominently features a map showing one of the state's most valuable resources—its major rivers. The map was shown affixed to a living tree, with no motto.
The design was replaced with a new seal on December 29, 1868. The law describes the design thus:
This design is still used by the Alabama Department of Labor.
In 1939, at the request of Governor Frank M. Dixon
, the original concept of a map design was returned to use. The new seal was adopted during a special session called by the Governor. The design was described as follows:
The use of stars in the border, the specific design of the letterforms and the map image, the labeling of adjacent states and the Gulf of Mexico
, and the application of colors to the seal are not described in the law.
, which use a variety of designs, including the Coat of arms of Alabama
, the State Seal, and other distinct elements.
Seals of the U.S. states
The following gallery displays the official seals of the 50 states, federal district, and territories of the United States of America:-See also:* Coat of Arms of the U.S. States* Seals of Governors of the U.S. States* Flags of the U.S. states...
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
.
Seal of 1817
The first seal was designed in 1817 by William Wyatt Bibb
William Wyatt Bibb
William Wyatt Bibb was a United States Senator from Georgia and the first Governor of the U.S. state of Alabama. Bibb County, Alabama, and Bibb County, Georgia, are named for him....
, the governor of the Alabama Territory
Alabama Territory
The Territory of Alabama was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 15, 1817, until December 14, 1819, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Alabama.-History:...
and the subsequent first governor of the state. When Alabama became a state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
in 1819, the state legislature adopted the design as the official state seal. The seal prominently features a map showing one of the state's most valuable resources—its major rivers. The map was shown affixed to a living tree, with no motto.
Seal of 1868
The design was replaced with a new seal on December 29, 1868. The law describes the design thus:
The seal is in the form of a circle, and two and a quarter inches in diameter; near the edge is the word 'ALABAMA' and opposite, at the same distance from the edge, are the words 'GREAT SEAL.' In the centre of the seal an eagle is represented with raised wings alighting upon the national shield, with three arrows in his left talon. The eagle holds in his beak a streamer, on which immediately over the wings are the words 'HERE WE REST.' The crest-word, which give name to the State, signifies "The land of rest."
This design is still used by the Alabama Department of Labor.
Seal of 1939
In 1939, at the request of Governor Frank M. Dixon
Frank M. Dixon
Frank Murray Dixon was an American Democratic politician who was the 40th Governor of Alabama from 1939 to 1943. Born in Oakland, California in 1892, he died in Birmingham, Alabama in 1965. His interment was located in Birmingham's Oak Hill Cemetery.Dixon took part in World War I and served as an...
, the original concept of a map design was returned to use. The new seal was adopted during a special session called by the Governor. The design was described as follows:
The seal shall be circular, and the diameter thereof two and a quarter inches; near the edge of the circle shall be the word "Alabama," and opposite this word, at the same distance from the edge, shall be the words, "Great Seal." In the center of the seal there shall be a representation of a map of the state with its principal rivers. The seal shall be called the "Great Seal of the State of Alabama." The seal shall be kept and used as required by the Constitution and laws.
The use of stars in the border, the specific design of the letterforms and the map image, the labeling of adjacent states and the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
, and the application of colors to the seal are not described in the law.
Seals of the Government of Alabama
There are several seals of the Government of AlabamaGovernment of Alabama
The government of Alabama is organized under the provisions of the 1901 Constitution of Alabama, which is the lengthiest constitution of any political entity in the world...
, which use a variety of designs, including the Coat of arms of Alabama
Coat of arms of Alabama
The coat of arms of Alabama depicts a shield upon which is carried the symbols of the five nations which have at various times held sovereignty over a part or the whole of what is now Alabama. These are the coat of arms of France, the ancient coat of arms of Spain--Castile quartering León, the...
, the State Seal, and other distinct elements.
See also
- List of Alabama state symbols
- Coat of arms of AlabamaCoat of arms of AlabamaThe coat of arms of Alabama depicts a shield upon which is carried the symbols of the five nations which have at various times held sovereignty over a part or the whole of what is now Alabama. These are the coat of arms of France, the ancient coat of arms of Spain--Castile quartering León, the...
- Flag of AlabamaFlag of AlabamaThe current flag of the state of Alabama was adopted by Act 383 of the Alabama state legislature on February 16, 1895:The cross of St. Andrew referred to in the law is a diagonal cross, known in vexillology as a saltire...
