Villanova University - Belle Air Yearbook (Villanova, PA)

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Coat of Arms 16

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“ .... .'u • f Winter snow halts construc- tion on Barry Hall. The fu- ture home of the Navy students was completed the following spring. The campus during the expansion pro- gram. The west end of the campus is complete. Note the Library, Chemical Engineering and Navy buildings. Still standing arc the World War II barracks at the undeveloped east end. Father Falvcy, director of the University Development Foundation, addresses a foundation banquet held in Dough- erty Hall. Work continues on the new science building. Scheduled for completion next fall, it will help fill a need created by our nation’s scientific progress.

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The first official seal of Villanova College was authorized by the board of Trustees in 1848; it was rectangular, and can be described as a device consisting of a Bible, Cross, Crozier, Cincture, and a pierced heart. There was no inscription on this original seal. The seal of 1848 was in use until the end of 1876. By January of 1877, a new crest had been approved to replace the old one. This new seal was circular in form, showing the figure of St. Thomas of Villanova, attired in cope and mitre, holding a crozier and a pouch, symbolic of his office as the Administrator of the Charities of the King of Spain. The Trustees authorized the creation of a third sea! in July of 1911. The original design of the 1848 seal was restored in this new copy. The difference lay in the addi- tion of an inscription Collegium S. Thomas de Villa- nova.” Below the main portion of the seal were the words Veritas, Unitas, Caritas.” However, in April, 1912, this third emblem was changed slightly; the shape re- mained the same, as did the inscription, but the entire emblem was reduced in size. The 1912 seal was to remain the College’s official coat of arms until the Centennial celebration in 1943. At this time, Father Vrana undertook the work of designing a new crest. When finished, the new crest consisted of two main elements; a shield set on a white field, picturing a blue cross and an open Bible imprinted Tolle Lege, Tolle Lege;” and the embellishment — containing the motto, the laurels, and the identifying circular inscription. Villanova became a University in 1953, and conse- quently, a fifth seal was designed—circular in shape, pre- senting again the Bible, Cross, Crozier, and pierced heart. Shown under the crest are the school motto and the found- ing date, 1842. Encompassing the seal is the Latin script Universitas Villanovana in Statu Pennsylvaniac.”