The Heraldry Society
Encyclopedia
The Heraldry Society is one of the leading organizations in the world devoted to studying heraldry
. In 1947, a twenty year old John Brooke-Little
founded the Society of Heraldic Antiquaries. This title was changed to The Heraldry Society in 1950. It was incorporated
in 1956 and is now a registered charity
with the registered charity number 241456. The principal object of the society is to extend interest in and knowledge of heraldry, genealogy
, precedence, and related disciplines. For fifty years, Brooke-Little served as the chairman of The Heraldry Society. In 1997, as Brooke-Little was ending his career as an officer of arms
, he changed roles in the Society to become its president. He served in this role until his death in February 2006.
In addition to being chairman and president of the society, Brooke-Little served as the Honorary Editor of the society's scholarly journal, The Coat of Arms. From the first publication of the journal until the middle of 1965, his mother, Constance Egan
, served as the managing editor of The Coat of Arms, though Brooke-Little always had a guiding influence on the publication. It was not until 2005, that Brooke-Little finally handed complete control of the journal to two young officers of arms, Bluemantle Pursuivant
Peter O'Donoghue
and Rouge Dragon Pursuivant
Clive Cheesman
. Although based in London, the Society has an international membership.
In December 2006 the patron of the Society, the Duke of Norfolk
, became President of the Society, leaving the post of patron vacant.
Heraldry
Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
. In 1947, a twenty year old John Brooke-Little
John Brooke-Little
John Philip Rudolph Dominic Derek Aloysius Mary Brooke-Little, CVO, KStJ, FSA, FSG, FHS, FHG , FRHSC , FHSNZ, KM, GCGCO was an influential and popular British writer on heraldic subjects and a long-serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in London...
founded the Society of Heraldic Antiquaries. This title was changed to The Heraldry Society in 1950. It was incorporated
Incorporation (business)
Incorporation is the forming of a new corporation . The corporation may be a business, a non-profit organisation, sports club, or a government of a new city or town...
in 1956 and is now a registered charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
with the registered charity number 241456. The principal object of the society is to extend interest in and knowledge of heraldry, genealogy
Genealogy
Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...
, precedence, and related disciplines. For fifty years, Brooke-Little served as the chairman of The Heraldry Society. In 1997, as Brooke-Little was ending his career as an officer of arms
Officer of arms
An officer of arms is a person appointed by a sovereign or state with authority to perform one or more of the following functions:*to control and initiate armorial matters*to arrange and participate in ceremonies of state...
, he changed roles in the Society to become its president. He served in this role until his death in February 2006.
In addition to being chairman and president of the society, Brooke-Little served as the Honorary Editor of the society's scholarly journal, The Coat of Arms. From the first publication of the journal until the middle of 1965, his mother, Constance Egan
Constance Egan
Constance Egan was an English author and editor. She was the second wife of Raymond Brooke-Little, an electrical engineer, and mother ofJohn Brooke-Little....
, served as the managing editor of The Coat of Arms, though Brooke-Little always had a guiding influence on the publication. It was not until 2005, that Brooke-Little finally handed complete control of the journal to two young officers of arms, Bluemantle Pursuivant
Bluemantle Pursuivant
Bluemantle Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is a junior officer of arms of the College of Arms in London. The office is reputed to have been created by King Henry V to serve the Order of the Garter, but there is no documentary evidence of this. There is, however, mention of an officer styled...
Peter O'Donoghue
Peter O'Donoghue
Michael Peter Desmond O'Donoghue is the current Bluemantle Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary at the College of Arms in London.He was appointed to the office on 17 January 2005, on successful completion of a period of probation...
and Rouge Dragon Pursuivant
Rouge Dragon Pursuivant
Rouge Dragon Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is a junior officer of arms of the College of Arms, named after the red dragon of Wales.The most recent Rouge Dragon Pursuivant was Clive Edwin Alexander Cheesman, whose replacement has yet to be announced....
Clive Cheesman
Clive Cheesman
Clive Edwin Alexander Cheesman is an officer of arms at the College of Arms in London, and is currently Richmond Herald, having been appointed on 7 April 2010. Cheesman was formerly a curator in the Department of Coins and Medals in the British Museum. He was Rouge Dragon Pursuivant of Arms in...
. Although based in London, the Society has an international membership.
In December 2006 the patron of the Society, the Duke of Norfolk
Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk
Edward William Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk, is the son of Miles Stapleton-Fitzalan-Howard, 17th Duke of Norfolk and his wife Anne Mary Teresa Constable-Maxwell. The principal seat of the Duke of Norfolk is Arundel Castle....
, became President of the Society, leaving the post of patron vacant.
See also
- The Heraldry Society of Scotland
- Royal Heraldry Society of CanadaRoyal Heraldry Society of CanadaThe Royal Heraldry Society of Canada is a Canadian organization that promotes the art of Canadian Heraldry. Founded as the Heraldry Society of Canada, the mission of the Royal Heraldry Society of Canada and its branches is to promote the art of heraldry, particularly Canadian heraldry, and to...
- The Heraldry Society (New Zealand Branch)
- American Heraldry SocietyAmerican Heraldry SocietyThe American Heraldry Society is a learned society that promotes the study of heraldry and education of U.S. citizens about heraldry. The organization also advocates the development of a distinctly American heraldic tradition and encourages the legal protection of armorial bearings in the U.S. The...
- Committee on Heraldry of the New England Historic Genealogical SocietyCommittee on Heraldry of the New England Historic Genealogical SocietyThe Committee on Heraldry of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, established in 1864, is the world's oldest non-governmental body primarily concerned with heraldry. It authenticates and records coats of arms rightfully borne in the United States or by U.S...
- White Lion SocietyWhite Lion SocietyThe White Lion Society was founded in 1986 as a society to benefit the College of Arms through donations of useful items and publications. John Brooke-Little, while Norroy and Ulster King of Arms was integral to the foundation of the Society...