The Origin and Significance of the Academy's Della Robbia Insignia

Abstract

SHORTLY after the Academy was organized, a discussion took place, the object of which was to find an appropriate design for an insignia which might appear on all certificates of membership, on programs, or on Academy publications. Although Academy records are completely silent about this discussion, for they have been thoroughly searched, it is obvious that a design was selected and was used as our insignia for a period of 10 years. Figure 1 is a replica of this insiginia. The story of the selection of time insignia [See the FIG. 1. in source pdf] shown in Figure 1 is pieced together by information obtained by letters I have received from those who must have had a hand in its selection. Dr. Marshall Pease writes that he has a vague recollection of time matter being brought up at a meeting of a small group of Academy members in Dr. Clifford Grulee's home. He thinks he remembers that Mrs. Grulee (though she herself says she cannot remember this) suggested a Della Robbia type of insignia. Dr. Grulee, at any rate, remembers that he consulted with Mr. Jasper King, the director of C. L. Richetts in Chicago. The firm later became the Scriptorium, and this is the name of the firm that now makes the present insignia. Mr. King was not only a business man, Dr. Grulee writes, but was well acquainted with artistic work of many kinds. Mr. King now has no memory or records of this commission, buy Dr. Grulee says Mr. King submitted 2 or 3 examples. and it was from these that the first insignia was chosen.