Smith
College Collections Online
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Scope and Content Note
The collection consists of published and unpublished writings related to
the origins, significance and evolution of the Smith College seal, and
specimens of seal designs, including a color photograph of a stained glass
window made in 1875 to hang in College Hall (now hanging in Alumnae Gymnasium),
a proposed and rejected design from 1935, and what is probably a design
for a new seal proposed by a Smith student in 1975 as part of an art project.
Also included is documentation of the College's policy regarding its official
colors.
Note on the Smith College Seal
The first seal was designed in 1871 by Smith Trustee Professor William
S. Tyler (Amherst) and adopted by the Board of Trustees in September 1871.
Since that time, the seal has been revised once: in 1935 the design was
simplified by the removal of the rays of light emanating from the figure
of the Virgin Mary. Despite calls for further revisions, the seal remains
the same to this date.
The figure of the Virgin Mary for the design of the seal is taken from
the painting by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617-1682) of the Immaculate
Conception of Los Venerables, c.1678 (alternately called by William S.
Tyler the Assumption of the Virgin). In the College Seal the figure represents
the Woman of the Apocalypse as seen by Saint John the Evangelist (Revelations
12:1), enclosed by the sun in the moon at her feet. The motto,
is the Greek from the Second Epistle of Peter 1:5, and translates as: “in
your virtue, knowledge.”
Inventory
Click on the document icon
to view each document.
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College Seal - Articles
and Essays |
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"The Significance of the Smith College Seal" by Henry
M. Tyler. Smith Alumnae Quarterly X:1
Note: For a reproduction and discussion of Murillo's
"Immaculate Conception of Los Venerables," upon which the Smith College
seal is thought to be based, see the Murillo exhibition Catalogue
(London: Royal Academy of Arts, 1982), pp. 147, 195. |
1918 Nov. |
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"The Smith College Seal" by Milly Freeman Morrill (SC
1961) |
1964 Sept. |
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"Smith College Seal" |
n.d. |
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College Seal - Specimens
(click thumbnail image to view) |
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 First
official Smith College Seal |
1871 |
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 Bartolomé
Esteban Murillo (1617-1682), The Immaculate Conception of Los Venerables |
c.1678 |
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t.jpg) Smith
College seal in stained glass. Displayed in College Hall from 1875 until
renovations in 1932; in 1980 displayed in Alumnae Gymnasium |
1875 |
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 Smith
College banner in the restored library of Louvain, France |
1930 |
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 Smith
College seal, proposed design (rejected) |
1935 |
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 Smith
College seal, proposed design (accepted) |
1935 |
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  Smith
College seal, proposed designs (rejected) |
[1975] |
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College Colors |
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Samplings from the Smith College Student Handbook
(section on "Smith Customs")
Note: The 1949-50 Handbook was the last
to explicitly mention college colors. |
1904, 1925, 1949 |
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TLS: Robert Withington to President Herbert Davis
Re: adoption of official College color as white; coloring
of College seal |
1941 Oct. 2 |
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TLS: Nina Browne (SC 1882) to Miss Collin
Re: question of official College colors |
1927 Dec. 24 |
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TL: Secretary to the President, to Bradford & Co.,
Inc., St. Joseph, MI
Re: official colors of Smith College (probably in reference
to an order for memorabilia or other merchandise) |
1928 Aug. 9 |
END OF GROUP
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