Where did you find it?

This book!

Cool! Thanks!

I will chime in about Lambda Chi Alpha.

From HQ website:

Lambda Chi Alpha Symbols

Coat of Arms
http://www.lambdachi.org/uploadedIma...20lo%20res.png

Perhaps the most commonly seen artistry representing Lambda Chi Alpha is our coat of arms, developed (unlike that of most fraternities) after careful study of the rules of heraldry. Designed by Jack Mason of Epsilon Zeta (University of Pennsylvania), our coat of arms displays our three open mottos, translated from top to bottom, “Crescent in the Cross,” “Naught Without Labor,” and “Every Man a Man.” Present are the crucicrescent, the lamp of learning, the clasped hands of brotherhood, and other symbols, as well as the inescutcheon signifying our merger with Theta Kappa Nu (the white rose is our fraternity flower) and the badge of membership below. In the medieval rules of heraldry it would be described as such:

Escutcheon: quarterly 1, vert, a lighten Greek lamp or; 2, or, an open book proper, bearing on its face the letters Chi, Omicron, Alpha Zeta; 3, able, a balance, or; 4, vert, a pair of clasped hands argent, between three mullets in chevron or; over all an inescutcheon argent, lion rampant holding a white rose slipped proper.
Behind the escutcheon a pair of swords in saltire, points downward, argent, pommels, and hilts or. Mantling vert, lined, or.
Encircling the escutcheon a riband purpire, edged argent, bearing the Greek motto Chalepa ta Kala surronded by an olive wreath which bears pendant the badge of the brotherhood.
Below the escutcheon a scroll with the Latin motto Vir Quisque Vir
Crest: issuant from a crown celestial or, ensigning a gentlemen's helmet proper, a crucicrescent rayonne or, Latin motto Per Crucam Crescens, on scroll.

The Badge
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1182/...b40b8ea07c.jpg

Our membership badge is made with the lambda being struck separately from a single piece comprising the chi, alpha, and crescent. The background for the letters delta and pi is enameled, and the lambda is joined to the remainder of the badge (always yellow, white, or green gold) before the eight crescent pearls and (optional) stones in the lambda are set.

The centrality of the badge is a custom continued from our fraternal predecessor literary societies. The Badge is properly worn over the heart, preferably with a badge guard bearing a monogram of the member’s zeta designation, and only by initiated members, their wives, and their fiancees (special exceptions may be made for some housemothers).
Sid note: Delta Pi used to be Delta Phi at the very beginning. It was later changed to Delta Pi in 1912 due to a Delta Phi fraternity on campus.

Associate Member Pin
http://www.lcabrother.com/uploads/1/...47.gif?217x233

The associate member pin has a most interesting history because it embodies the official badge of Theta Kappa Nu as well as the original new member pin of Lambda Chi Alpha. The original Lambda Chi Alpha pin was a gothic arch, and with the union, this was superimposed upon the triangles composing the official badge of Theta Kappa Nu.

The Seal
http://chopperalumni.com/images/seal%20color.jpg

The seal is used to identify official General Fraternity documents and publications. It should not be used for decoration, as an ornament for jewelry, stationery, etc., unless it is to be used as the official stationery for the General Fraternity. It is now properly used on charters, membership certificates, and authorized publications of the General Fraternities.


The Flag
http://feeds2.yourstorewizards.com/2...alpha-flag.jpg

The Lambda Chi Alpha flag may be flown on appropriate occasions or placed on a wall. Chapters may place their Zeta letters in the upper right corner to identify their flags.

The Recognition Button
http://www.lcabrother.com/uploads/1/...04/1734751.jpg

Unlike many fraternity recognition buttons, that of Lambda Chi Alpha is neither a miniture coat of arms nor a display of the cutout letters. It is a special design showing the cross and crescent combined. It is worn only on the left lapel of a suit jacket or sports jacket. Its original purpose was to permit members unknown to each other to recognize the common bond when the badge was not worn or was obscured by the jacket without "boasting to the world" of one's fraternal ties.

The Friendship Pin
http://wwwnew.towson.edu/towsonulamb...ages/recog.bmp

The cross and crescent with shield bearing the Greek letters pin was originally designed to be worn by girlfriends of members when the relationship had not yet reached the state of engagement or marriage. Today, the pin also is worn by members who have not purchased a badge, or by members who prefer its design.

The Flower

The Fraternity flower is the white rose.

The Mascot
http://www.lcabrother.com/uploads/1/...04/5664246.jpg

The Rampant lion holding our flower, the White Rose, symbolizes "Strength Protecting Innocence".

I honestly love our CoA so much. And our badge, well, that goes without saying.

*bump!*

Help, please: what is the difference between a coat of arms and a crest?

And if it's been answered, point me in that direction. Thanks.

*believes this information is somewhere in this thread, but is too lazy to go looking for it. Waits patiently for someone else to take this on...*

:D

The whole thing is the coat of arms. The crest is just a small part of the actual CoA though the CoA as a whiole is usually incorectly called the crest. The crest is the object that is above the shield. In the case of Theta is would be the eagle? holding the badge in it's mouth.

The color of the COA and the band of stars, are really the only similarities, the ribbon underneath is pretty standard I think. And I think when done more accurately the colors would be more distinct. Ours is maroon, theirs scarlet, and our band is not green. It's just faded looking in that image.

^^ couldn't see the twisted band under Kappa Sigma's. Additionally I don't think you can say anything about the sheer concept of having a symbol in the upper region as a similarity since in a COA with a diagonal stripe there are really only two other places to put 'symbols' within the main area - above and below (with the option of breaking it down into more symbols/areas of course.)

And a dove and a caduceus aren't really similar either.

/this isn't some weird attempt to 'defend' things I just don't see a particular similarity. Everyone just goes OOH LOOK FIVE STARS DIAGONAL and put it together with the name and make assumptions.

I imagine a whole bunch of CoA have similarities by the sheer conventions of heraldry and blazon

Thanks! Yes that would be the crest, indeed. Now I will not forget that fact.

Not really. The US has no real rules of heraldry and most GLO CoAs violate the English rules of heraldry. Also to respond to lleduc, the torse (twisted band) is a fairly common feature in CoAs in general, not just GLO ones. And finally wasn't Ms. Butterfield not only an expert of heraldry, but the founder of a Women's Fraternity?

Yes indeed; she was one of the eleven founders of her GLO.

true - I was kind of thinking more in terms of symbolism (like lamps, keys, books, skulls, etc.) , rather than the specific heraldry rules (or on argent - that's unpossible!)

ETA: not that I think that knowing about symbolism means that I could try to discern the secret meanings of other GLO's CoA