Reed College - Griffin Yearbook (Portland, OR)

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sources considered beforef: was completed. The coat: . Louis, Dr. T. L. Eliost'r: arms of Mr. ReedIs family. The charge finally chosen in the lat- ter part of the year 1914 includes a shield with a border of thir- teen stars, a Heur-de-lis placed at each of the upper points of the shield, a rose at the base point, and the griHCm on a conven- tional background of a Hattened rose. The thirteen stars come from the Adams crest, and the Heurs-de-lis from that of Dr. Eliot,s Alma Mater. The rose tRichmond rose, color of deep redy was added for local symbolism, representing Reed as the college of Portland, the Rose City. The griHin, which is the prevailing feature of the seal and the only one of its kind in use on an American college coat-of-arms, symbolizes something fine which every lover of Reed spirit should interpret and understand. With the head, shoulders and feet of an eagle, and the body of a lion tthe eagle and the lion being the two noblest beasts, one of the air and the other of the landy, the griffin has from time immemorial symbolized a guardian and protector of man and the beasts of the earth. In its early habitat in Asiatic Scythia, it was credited with the protection of gold and precious stones. Thus, in familiar tradition, it has gained, through centuries, the attributes of swiftness and strength in the service of protection. The griH'in was also connected in Mythology with Artemis, and with Apollo, the Sun God, whose Chariot was sup- posed to have been drawn by one. In this capacity as the servant of light, it became the enemy of ignorance. In later times the griHin,s position as guardian extended to the protection of sarcophagii, and, in many places, to its establishment as the Genie of a city. In the medieval period when the old legends died out through loss of contact with the East, the Church adopted the griHin to serve its own purpose. The new legends sometimes held it as representing the devil, eager to carry souls away to the deserts of Hell. The Bestiaries of the times give the first record of the griffin en rampant as thus falling into disrepute as an emblem. In other medieval legends, however, it represented the Savior. The griH'in in this case was symbolic of the union of the divine and human in Christ. Dante in Purgatory saw the car of the Church drawn by a griHin. Later, when heraldry was being Page Fifteen

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the sake of the stone cutters, but of course retaining the principal 'motive of the original, represent the leading uhiversmes and colleges. Those of the oldest colleges in the Umted States are laced over the main south entrance, and include, from' east to West, Columbia, Princeton, Harvard, Yale and Pennsylvania. The east half of the building carries seals from the eastern halls of learningf-the end including a group of womens colleges,- thewestern half, seals of the western colleges. The seal of Reed College is to be found on the west side of the oriel above the Chapel door. Ht also forms a part of the cornice between House C and D on the facade of the dormitory, and of the decoration over the Sally Port archQ Parts of the seal have been convention- alized for this use as a mural decoration.- It may be of interest to note the sources considered before the final charge, or design of the seal, was completed. The coat-of- arms of Washington University, St. Louis, Dr. T. L. Eliot,s Alma Mater, now placed as a seal on a t the left hand side of the Chapel I platform, was one of the many that were Considered as a source for ideas. The John Adams, crest, also considered for possible parts to complete the Reed College Seal, is now the coat-of-arms used for the Reed College Library book plate. Amanda Wood Reed, who with her husband, Simeon G. Reed, endowed the college, was related to the Adams fam- ily. Only minor details were adopted from the shields of John Adams and of Washing- ton University, the dominant note, the griH-in, or griHon, be- ing obtained from the coat-of Page Fourteen

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Page Sixteen developed along with the establishing of the feudal manor, the mythical significances Current before the Dark Ages were re- instated and the griH-in soon found widespread usage on es- cutcheons. It is clear, then, why the griH'in was emblazoned on the coat-of-arms of Simeon G. Reed, an Englishman, and why, with such historical significance and the attributes of an. enemy of ignorance and a guardian of the precious things of life, few symbols could have been more fitting for a college seal. . Of other features of the Arts building which are distinctive, the most noteworthy is the Chapel stair-way. It is finished in stone and brick, with heavy oak panelling, and is known as the Staircase of Emulation. The panels were made removable, to be replaced, some day, by carved tablets to distinguished Reed students, and the brick walls are ready for the insertion of bronze memorials. The place in years to come is to be a memorial stairway. The graceful architecture accomplished in the rectangular space through which the staircase winds is note- worthy. The shape of the two small groined vaults, and the peculiar luxurious spaciousness attained in the stairway, are proof of the success of the architects ceaseless planning and remodelling from famous staircase models for the new creation. Care of adaptation is shown in the great variety of doors and arches everywhere, all modelled from different sources but brought together into one harmonious whole. In the Chapel, the dark oak panelling, scarlet hangings, rough yellow stucco, and smooth cream-colored ceilings form a pleasing color scheme. An air of stateliness is added by the dome-like structure of the apse, the carved chairs and pulpit, and the open timber roof of elaborated hammer beams and king posts. The bronze lamp-pendants, of intricate rose deisgn, act as contrast to the dark beams. The open timber roof also lends an air of solid permanency to the whole. When the architect came to the planning of the dormitory, he unconsciously unbent and twith a smilel sought to make a large budding domestic. He and his associates searched the old English manor houses for the plan, the folk lore and the grotesques, and