The history of the seal of the United States

by Gaillard Hunt

Sanguinated—blood stained, or blood color.

Scutcheon—escutcheon.

Semé—covered with small bearings.

Tenants—supporters.

Tinctures—the metals or colors.

Tressure—a double border within the escutcheon, and not reaching the edge.

Vert—green, represented in engraving by diagonal lines.

INDEX

• Adams, John, on first committee, [7];
  • describes device, [8];
  • design of, [9], [10];
  • connection with Prestwich, [38].
• Alden, Roger, keeper of the seal, [45].
• Arms of England, changes in, [50].
• Bailey, Banks & Biddle, cut fourth seal, [64].
• Barton, Thomas, father of William Barton, [23].
• Barton, William, called into consultation on design, [23];
  • first design, [24];
  • second design, [28];
  • claims paternity of arms, [32];
  • improves Thomson’s design, [35];
  • credit due to, [37].
• Boudinot, Elias, on seal committee, [23].
• Bradshaw, John, supposed epitaph on, [14], [15], [16].
• Champlin, John D., Jr., opinion of, on seal, [48], [54], [59].
• Chicago Exposition, illustrations of seal at, [61].
• Cincinnati, Order of, eagle on badge of, [65].
• Coat of Arms of the United States. See Seal of the United States.
• Dwight, Theodore F., Chief, Bureau of Rolls and Library, superintends new seal, [54];
  • opinion on designs, [56].
• Deane, Silas, complains of want of seal, [18].
• E Pluribus Unum, motto, first suggested, [12];
  • by whom, [13];
  • origin of, [14];
  • adopted, [41].
• Eagle, first suggestion of, [24], [28];
  • Thomson’s treatment of, [33], [34];
  • adopted as emblem, [41];
  • Franklin’s opinion of, [65].
• Ellery, William, recommends that seal be considered, [18].
• Franklin, Benjamin, on first committee, [7];
  • design of, [9], [10];
  • suggests motto, [14], [16];
  • criticises eagle, [65].
• Frelinghuysen, Theodore F., Secretary of State, seal cut by order of, [51];
  • writes about seal, [53].
• Flag of the United States, adopted, [18].
• Great Seal of the United States. See Seal of the United States.
• Gribelin, engraving by, [9], [10].
• Hay, John, Secretary of State, fourth seal cut by direction of, [63].
• Hollis, Thomas, gives motto, Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God, [14].
• Houston, William Churchill, on seal committee, [19];
  • writes report, [21].
• Jefferson, Thomas, on first committee, [7];
  • design of, [9], [10];
  • connection with motto, [13];
  • suggestion of, [13], [14];
  • adopts motto, [14].
• Lee, Arthur, acts with seal committee, [24].
• Lewis, Samuel, jeweler, keeps seal for treaties, [52].
• Lovell Committee, appointed, [18];
  • reports, [19];
  • report recommitted, [23].
• Lovell, James, on seal committee, [19].
• Marshall, John, Chief Justice, opinion of, on use of seal, [66].
• Mathæis, Paulo de, picture by, [10].
• Middleton, Arthur, on seal committee, [23].
• Norton, Charles Eliot, opinion of, on seal, [54], [56].
• Prestwich, Sir John, connection of, with seal, [38].
• Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God, motto proposed, [9], [10];
  • origin of, [14], [15], [16].
• Rutledge, Edward, on seal committee, [23].
• Scott, John Morin, on seal committee, [19].
• Seal, Great, of England, [8].
• Seal, Great, of France, [7], [8].
• Seal of the United States, first committee to design, [7];
  • first designs for, [8];
  • motto for, [13];
  • need of, [18];
  • second committee for, [19];
  • Barton’s designs for, [24], [28], [35];
  • Thomson’s designs for, [34], [37];
  • Sir John Prestwich’s connection with, [38];
  • adopted, [41];
  • cutting of, [43];
  • proposed less seal, [44];
  • correct name for, [46];
  • second seal, [48];
  • correction of, [49];
  • treaty seal, [52];
  • reverse of, [53], [56], [61];
  • seal of 1884, [53];
  • the fourth seal, [63];
  • device criticised, [65];
  • uses of, [66].
• Secretary of State, keeper of the seal, [45].
• Shaftesbury, Earl of, engraving in Treatise, [10].
• Simitière, Eugène Pierre Du, consulted by first committee, [8];
  • design of, [9], [11], [12], [17].
• Snowden, A. Louden, Director of the Mint, seal medal struck by, [50].
• Stabler, Edward, cuts second seal, [48].
• Thomson, Charles, consults Barton, [31];
  • ordered to prepare design, [33];
  • submits design, [34];
  • design improved, [35];
  • credit due to, [37];
  • has charge of seal, [44].
• Tiffany & Co., submit designs, [57].
• Totten, C. A. L., writes about seal, [50].
• Webster, Daniel, Secretary of State, seal cut under, [49].
• Whitehouse, James Horton, consulted about seal, [54];
  • submits designs, [56];
  • argument for, [59].
• White, Alexander, proposes less seal, [44].
• Whitmore, William H., consulted relative to seal, [54];
  • opinion on design, [55];
  • submits designs, [56].
• Winsor, Justin, consulted concerning seal, [54];
  • gives opinion, [55].

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