American College of Heraldry and Arms facts for kids
The American College of Heraldry and Arms, Inc. was an organization in the United States. It started in 1966. Its main goal was to promote heraldry across the country. Heraldry is the study of coats of arms and family symbols. The college was located in Baltimore, Maryland.
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What the College Did
The college had two main parts. Each part focused on different types of heraldry.
American College of Arms
This part of the college helped individuals. They researched family coats of arms. They also checked family histories, called genealogy. If a person did not have a coat of arms, this division could grant them a new one.
College of Arms of the United States
This division worked with groups and businesses. They helped companies and cities create their own symbols. This is known as municipal heraldry.
Who Started It
The college was founded by four people. They were Donald Franklin Stewart, William Henry Lloyd, Charles Francis Stein, Jr., and Gordon Malvern Fair Stick. Each founder had a special title. These included Chief Herald Marshall and Herald Genealogist.
Art and Design
The college worked with art students. These students came from the Maryland Institute College of Art. They helped create the beautiful artwork for the coats of arms. They also made the official documents for grants and registrations.
Famous Grants of Arms
The college granted coats of arms to important people. This showed their role in American history.
President Lyndon B. Johnson
On June 1, 1968, the college gave a coat of arms to President Lyndon B. Johnson. Donald Stewart presented it to him. This happened in the Oval Office at the White House. A U.S. Senator, Daniel Brewster, was also there. The coat of arms had a blue shield. It featured a red X shape with a gold star in the middle. Four golden eagles were also on the shield.
Governor Spiro Agnew
In October 1968, Maryland Governor Spiro Agnew received a coat of arms. His shield was blue. It had a cross shape. There were four silver horse heads around the cross. The cross itself was red and shaped like a clover.
Why Some Requests Were Denied
The college was very strict about its rules. By January 1969, they had turned down over 1,000 requests.
Common Reasons for Denial
- Assumed Arms: Some people claimed arms they did not truly own.
- Genealogy Errors: Requests were denied if family history details were incorrect.
- No Helms or Coronets: The college did not include helmets or crowns in their grants.
When It Ended
The American College of Heraldry and Arms existed for a few years. It operated from 1966 until 1970.
Seal of the College
The college's own seal showed many different symbols. These symbols came from various European countries. For example, it included a lion from Scotland and three lilies from France. It also had three lions from England and a double-headed eagle from Germany. The seal also featured a harp from Ireland and a castle from Spain. In the center, it had a shield with stripes and stars. This represented the United States.
