Fraternity and Sorority Arms, Seals, Flags and other Insignia

[Gusteau]

So, I don't want to see this thread get buried...

The official Delta Chi Flag is a two pointed pennant bearing the letters delta and chi in buff on a red background with a buff border. MC, the vexillologist, could probably describe it in much more official terms than that.



(This picture makes the letters and border look more gold than they are, in person they are closer to true buff.)

This is the seal of the fraternity. Chapter seals will have the chapter name in place of the laurel leaves on the bottom of the seal.

[pshsx1]

This is the SigEp flag:





The top flag is used for Ritual purposes and the bottom flag is the display flag. The letters Sigma, Phi, and Epsilon are in the upper right hand corner and the chapter designation of the state is in the bottom left corner.



This is the Blackburn Heart. It used to be one of SigEp's official symbols a few years ago. When printed in color, it is always red. When not printed in color, it is printed gray, never black, to denote a feeling of warmth and brotherhood.





The top image is the original Founders Badge with rubies and garnets. When proposing the organization, it was discovered that a Sigma Phi fraternity already existed, so some research was done and Epsilon was added. The jeweler was ordered to stamp a gold E at the bottom of the 20 badges being produced.

The bottom image is the current badge with the shield surrounded by 20 pearls. If I'm not mistaken, only the Grand Chapter President is allowed to wear one with all diamonds. Forgive me if I'm wrong, though.



This the Sigma Phi Epsilon Coat of Arms. The Ducal Crown and the rays of light are the symbols on the Alumni Recognition Pin. On the left of the shield is the Star of Hope on a field of purple. The Sword of Virtue is on the right side of the shield on a field of red. At the bottom is a Greek Orthodox cross with the Lamp of Knowledge in the middle. The Escruscion Scroll (which I can't spell) is at the bottom with the words SIGMA PHI EPSILON in Greek.



This is The Balanced Man symbol. It is also the new member pin. The pattern around the edge represents the infinite continuum of learning which is broken at the top by the Fraternity letters. The Greek words say "Spirit Healthy, Body Healthy": thus the Sound Mind and Sound Body concept.



This is the SigEp Pledge Pin.

I can't think of anything else right now. If you have any questions, ask away!

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by pshsx1

At the bottom is a Greek Orthodox cross with the Lamp of Knowledge in the middle. The Escruscion Scroll (which I can't spell) is at the bottom with the words SIGMA PHI EPSILON in Greek.

Thanks for all the info pshsx1! I've always like Sig Ep's flag in particular.

Two minor points if I may. First, it's simply a Greek cross, not a Greek Orthodox cross. A Greek cross is one which all four arms are the same length, as opposed to a Latin crossm, where the vertical part is longer than the horizontal part.

Also, by "Escruscion" do you mean "escutcheon"? That's simply fancy heraldic speech for "shield." The scroll at the bottom can simply be called the scroll or (more commonly, heraldically anyway) the "motto."

[pshsx1]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Thanks for all the info pshsx1! I've always like Sig Ep's flag in particular.

Two minor points if I may. First, it's simply a Greek cross, not a Greek Orthodox cross. A Greek cross is one which all four arms are the same length, as opposed to a Latin crossm, where the vertical part is longer than the horizontal part.

Also, by "Escruscion" do you mean "escutcheon"? That's simply fancy heraldic speech for "shield." The scroll at the bottom can simply be called the scroll or (more commonly, heraldically anyway) the "motto."

Actually, the star on the flag is angled wrong in those pictures. It should be tilted to point towards the upper right corner.

Also, thank about the cross. During New Member Ed we were told it was a Greek Orthodox Cross. I'm just repeating what I learned!

Just looked at the new member packets from last Spring and we wrote it as " Escusian" scroll. It probably is what you said. I need to look atom National docs.

[gammaowl]

Phi Gamma Delta Flag
A royal purple field with the greek letters Phi Gamma Delta, a white star in the upper right hand corner, and the chapter designation on the upper left hand corner.


The Black Diamond
A black diamond with a white star at the center. The official recognition symbol of Phi Gamma Delta when the greek letters are not appropriate.


The Coat of Arms
A golden shield, three red roses, a purple chevron with three silver stars, a snowy white owl as the crest, and a scroll at the bottom with the open motto "Friendship, the sweetest influence."


The Seal of Phi Gamma Delta
Clasp hands, over a book, with the greek letters, rays of light, and the words fortiter, fideliter, and feliciter at the bottom.


Founder's Badge
A gold diamond with black enamel with the greek letters: Phi Gamma Delta; below it the greek letters: alpha, omega, mu, eta; and the white star at the top.


Pledge Pin
A white star.

[pshsx1]

I just want to keep my whole post all together. :P

Originally Posted by pshsx1

This is the SigEp flag:





The top flag is used for Ritual purposes and the bottom flag is the display flag. The letters Sigma, Phi, and Epsilon are in the upper right hand corner and the chapter designation of the state is in the bottom left corner.



This is the Blackburn Heart. It used to be one of SigEp's official symbols a few years ago. When printed in color, it is always red. When not printed in color, it is printed gray, never black, to denote a feeling of warmth and brotherhood.





The top image is the original Founders Badge with rubies and garnets. When proposing the organization, it was discovered that a Sigma Phi fraternity already existed, so some research was done and Epsilon was added. The jeweler was ordered to stamp a gold E at the bottom of the 20 badges being produced.

The bottom image is the current badge with the shield surrounded by 20 pearls. If I'm not mistaken, only the Grand Chapter President is allowed to wear one with all diamonds. Forgive me if I'm wrong, though.



This the Sigma Phi Epsilon Coat of Arms. The Ducal Crown and the rays of light are the symbols on the Alumni Recognition Pin. On the left of the shield is the Star of Hope on a field of purple. The Sword of Virtue is on the right side of the shield on a field of red. At the bottom is a Greek Orthodox cross with the Lamp of Knowledge in the middle. The Escruscion Scroll (which I can't spell) is at the bottom with the words SIGMA PHI EPSILON in Greek.



This is The Balanced Man symbol. It is also the new member pin. The pattern around the edge represents the infinite continuum of learning which is broken at the top by the Fraternity letters. The Greek words say "Spirit Healthy, Body Healthy": thus the Sound Mind and Sound Body concept.



This is the SigEp Pledge Pin.

I can't think of anything else right now. If you have any questions, ask away!

This is the Sigma Phi Epsilon keynote. Everything in it has a Ritual meaning soooo.....

[steelerbear]

Originally Posted by Gusteau

This is one of those times I wish I could wax sentimental about their Ritual significance, but I will only say that it is truly beautiful.

Understood, and agreed!

One thing I've noticed while looking through this thread is how many orgs have CoAs that use their official colors--but Phi Mu doesn't. Our colors are rose and white, but our Coat of Arms is or (gold), gules (red), and sable (black)--yes, all secret. We also have two official versions of our Coat-of-Arms. The main one is the top one pictured here, with the scroll on the bottom in red; the alternate is in the middle, with the scroll in white. The rest of it, though, is essentially the same. Of course, there's also the black & white version at the bottom. I wonder if any other orgs have CoAs in colors other than their official colors--I'm sure some group does, but I don't know who.








To break it down: A shield of gules with three stars of gold atop the Fraternity badge. Two lions support the shield, standing on a scroll with the words "Les Soeurs Fideles" ("The Faithful Sisters" in French). The crest is a gold lamp of knowledge with a red flame, sitting atop a gold and red torse, or wreath of colors. The badge is a black, barbed quatrefoil with two gold bonds; the top with the letters Phi and Mu, and the bottom with three black stars; and a hand holding a heart in the center. Our Coat-of-Arms was designed in 1904 by Annie Laurie Mallory (Parker), Alpha, assisted by Louise Monning (Elliott), Alpha.


Something weird I've found on e**y: a framed copy of our Coat-of-Arms in a somewhat gruesome style. The lions look especially weird, the torse is missing, there are stones surrounding the badge (and they're even missing one stone on the top left hump), and the shield's unique shape has been slightly changed... but worst of all, whoever drew this thing added some funky finger pointing from the bottom of the shield up to the badge. I know some other orgs have similar Coats-of-Arms listed on e**y, but has anyone noticed mysterious hands or other weird things appearing in their designs?



Phi Mu's Seal is below: the lamp of knowledge sits atop a stack of three books and is surrounded by a scroll with our open motto, "Les Soeurs Fideles." The Seal is found on every member's Initiation Certificate, as well as on other official Fraternity correspondence, charters, etc.



We also have an official Fraternity flag, but I haven't seen it in years. We also have a banner that's used during official national events (i.e. Convention). Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of the flag or banner.

Also, at Convention every two years, we have a Parade of Banners... below is a picture of this year's representatives from Gamma Tau Chapter (Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; the chapter won this biennium's Carnation Cup, the highest award given to a chapter at Convention. Random: My mom is on the far right in the hot pink suit--she used to be their adviser; now she's a national... well, not officer, but title-holder, shall we say). The chapters are all represented, whether still in existence or not.

[LucyKKG]

Re: the weird framed version of Phi Mu's seal: I have something similar with some of Kappa's symbols, but it's not our seal/CoA! Weird...

Each Kappa chapter also has a flag at our convention. I'm pretty sure the inactive chapters aren't represented. Each chapter makes their own. I'm on the right with two of my sisters at our 2008 convention.

[Gusteau]

Re: The old Phi Mu CoA. What I think is really interesting is the depictions of the lions as rampant regardant and rampant guardant, where they are both depicted as guardant in the current version.

In case I lost you there:

Lion Rampant


Lion Rampant Regardant


Lion Rampant Guardant


@pshsx1: that is intriguing...if you can tell (which I doubt) why is the term keynote used instead of, for example, emblem or allegory which is what I would tend to classify it as.

[steelerbear]

Originally Posted by Gusteau

Re: The old Phi Mu CoA. What I think is really interesting is the depictions of the lions as rampant regardant and rampant guardant, where they are both depicted as guardant in the current version.

Yay education! I noticed the differences, but I had NO idea there was terminology for it. Thanks!

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by pshsx1

This is the Sigma Phi Epsilon keynote. Everything in it has a Ritual meaning soooo.....

Originally Posted by Gusteau

@pshsx1: that is intriguing...if you can tell (which I doubt) why is the term keynote used instead of, for example, emblem or allegory which is what I would tend to classify it as.

It is really interesting. Can you tell us anything about how/where it would be used, pshsx1?

Originally Posted by steelerbear

One thing I've noticed while looking through this thread is how many orgs have CoAs that use their official colors--but Phi Mu doesn't. Our colors are rose and white, but our Coat of Arms is or (gold), gules (red), and sable (black)--yes, all secret.

I may be remembering incorrectly, but I can't think of any use of rose as a color in heraldry. Roses themselves are always red or white. Perhaps the designers used gules as the heraldic equivalent? Do you know if the colors were adopted prior to the adoption of the coat of arms in 1904?

Meanwhile, I heartily approve of the use of gold, red and black (though I'd order them a little differently).

I wonder if any other orgs have CoAs in colors other than their official colors--I'm sure some group does, but I don't know who.

Off the top of my head, I can think of Beta Theta Pi:



Their colors are "delicate shades of pink and blue." The colors were adopted in 1879, the arms in 1897. This may be another case of using gules and azure to represent pink and blue.


Chi Phi:



The colors are scarlet and blue, but the only scarlet/red is on the badge in the crest.


Alpha Sigma Phi:



The colors are cardinal and stone, but there is no red in the arms. I suppose silver (argent) = stone.


Delta Tau Delta:



The colors are purple, white and gold, but purple appears only in the torse.


Phi Gamma Delta:



The colors are purple and white, but the arms are purple and gold. (The owl appears to be ermine, not argent.)

Something weird I've found on e**y: a framed copy of our Coat-of-Arms in a somewhat gruesome style. The lions look especially weird, the torse is missing, there are stones surrounding the badge (and they're even missing one stone on the top left hump), and the shield's unique shape has been slightly changed...

FWIW, heraldically speaking an artist can design the shape of a shield however he or she wants and can otherwise exercise some artistic freedom as long as the elements of the arms are preserved. In other words, things like the shape of the shield are not part the blazon -- the "official" description of the arms. That said, most GLOs have an official, standardized design that does dictate things like the shape of the shield.

We also have an official Fraternity flag, but I haven't seen it in years. We also have a banner that's used during official national events (i.e. Convention). Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of the flag or banner.

I tried googling for them, but the hits I got were for the Phi Mu Alpha flag. Can you describe either of them?

Thanks for all the info!

[pshsx1]

Originally Posted by Gusteau

@pshsx1: that is intriguing...if you can tell (which I doubt) why is the term keynote used instead of, for example, emblem or allegory which is what I would tend to classify it as.

Originally Posted by MysticCat

It is really interesting. Can you tell us anything about how/where it would be used, pshsx1?

It is sometimes called an allegory, but I honestly don't know why it is called the keynote; that's the term we use, though.

It appears at the top of every chapter's charter.

The road leading to the building on the hill and the hill it sits on are fairly "new." It used to be a body of water with the hill behind it. At that time, the hill did not have anything but the badge on it and the rays illuminating outward. Also, on the water, there was a sailboat. The weird part is that there is no mention of a boat in any of our Rituals or ceremonies. No one knows what the boat means. I guess our Founders and their friends took that secret to the grave...

ETA: I guess I can point out things on the keynote if you ask.. I just can't give you any meaning!

The three steps, though, allude to a few things such as our 3 Greek letters or our 3 cardinal principles.

[IrishLake]

Originally Posted by gammaowl

Founder's Badge
A gold diamond with black enamel with the greek letters: Phi Gamma Delta; below it the greek letters: alpha, omega, mu, eta; and the white star at the top.

In case some don't catch the similarities between the Fiji and Theta badges.

[steelerbear]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I may be remembering incorrectly, but I can't think of any use of rose as a color in heraldry. Roses themselves are always red or white. Perhaps the designers used gules as the heraldic equivalent? Do you know if the colors were adopted prior to the adoption of the coat of arms in 1904?

We're like Gamma Phi Beta in that our flower is a pink carnation; our colors are pink and white, but we like to fancy it up and say 'rose' and white. GPhiB's (beautiful! I've always admired it) coat-of-arms even shows the pink carnation, but ours doesn't have a smidgen of pink or any reference to our flower. The meanings of the colors gules and rose are totally different, so I seriously doubt the red was chosen to take the place of the pink.

Also, Phi Mu's coat-of-arms was adopted in 1904 when we officially became Phi Mu, whereas the colors of rose and white were adopted in 1852, just after our founding (we originally used blue ribbons to designate members until the original Philomathean badge was designed).

I tried googling for them, but the hits I got were for the Phi Mu Alpha flag. Can you describe either of them?

Honestly... not at the moment. I'll check with my mom later. As our Convention Marshal, she'll have a MUCH better recollection of our banner and flag than I obviously do.

[AZTheta]

Originally Posted by IrishLake

In case some don't catch the similarities between the Fiji and Theta badges.

There is a very sweet story on the FIJI website, in the archives section, about the origination and first wearing of the Kappa Alpha Theta badge. The reader is cautioned to "take (it) with a grain of salt" but I find it to be enjoyable, even if somewhat questionable (it can't be verified, apparently).

http://www.phigam.org/NetCommunity/P...id=1057&chid=9

I really like this GC thread and have learned a lot from it.