Wisconsin State Seal
History of the
Wisconsin State Seal
Click on the seals to see a larger view -
The seal of the Northwest Territory was indeed significant and symbolic. Water transportation was represented by a wide placid winding river with two ships. A clearing felled with the woodsman's axe representing lumbering and the conquering of the wilderness, but against the defiance of the serpent entwined around a felled log, probably simulating the wild and savage state yielding to the onward march of progress and civilization. The fruit tree (probably an apple tree) represents horticulture being introduced by the western pioneer agriculturist incidental to the trend of exploration and development. The Latin motto "MELIOREM LAPSA LOCAVIT" translated is "he has planted a better than the fallen".
The Great Seal of Michigan Territory when it included the area we call Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Territory was erected April 20, 1836, and adopted a great seal of which the chief features were an arm holding a pick and an irregular pile of lead ore, designed by Hon. John S. Horner, first Secretary of the Territory.
A Second territorial seal approved March 11,1839, engraved by William Wagner of York, Pa., was in use as late as October 1,1849, or until the first state seal could be engraved and made ready for use.
On June 21, 1848, following the admission of Wisconsin to the Union, May 29, 1848, Edward H. Rudd was employed to engrave the first great seal of the state which was practically a reproduction of the second territorial seal described as follows: "In the foreground is a farmer, plowing: in the center, on a landscape, are a sheaf of wheat, a pyramid of pig metal, and a Indian erect: on the left side is a steamboat afloat; on the right a yacht under sail; in the upper distance, to the right, a flouring mill; in the upper center, the old capitol; above these objects, the motto "CIVILITAS SUCCESSIT BARBARUM" or "Civilization has taken the place of barbarism".
The first great seal of the state was not pleasing to Governor Nelson Dewey. He therefore took steps, in 1851 to have a more satisfactory seal provided. It is said that on going to New York he carried with him a design, prepared, at his request, by Chancellor John H. Lathrop, of the University of Wisconsin, with the intention of having it engraved, and that upon chancing to meet, in Wall Street, Edward G. Ryan, afterwards chief justice of the Supreme Court of Wisconsin, the Governor showed him the proposed design. Mr. Ryan, did not approve to this design and it was abandoned. The two then sat down together on the steps of one of the banks in Wall Street and there worked out the present coat of arms and the Great Seal of the State.
In 1881, the second great seal having become worn by use, a new seal was engrave, which, in its main features, is a reproduction of the seal of 1851. Some changes, however, were made by Henry Mitchell, the Boston engrave, who did the work. The larger, or Wisconsin shield, is quartered by a perpendicular and horizontal line, instead of, as formerly, by lines drawn in the form of a letter X. The United States motto, "E PLURBIUS UNIM," is placed in a circle around the United States Shield, instead of on a banner above it; thirteen stars formerly shown on this inner shield, were omitted, while the bareheaded miner was crowned with a hat, his feet placed in different position, and the supporting arms of both the sailor and miner were placed behind, instead of on top of the Wisconsin shield.
The present great seal of Wisconsin dates from 1851, but was modified somewhat in 1881, when , by act of the Legislature, a new seal was engraved for the State by Henry Mitchell, of Boston. The Seal consists of a metallic disc two and seven sixteenths inches in diameter. Around the upper edge of the seal appear the words "Great Seal of the State of Wisconsin." while around the lower edge appear thirteen stars representing the original states of the Union. The coat of arms of Wisconsin occupies the center and completes the Great Seal.
The Coat of Arms consist of a quartered shield, the quarters being respectively a plow for agriculture, and arm and held hammer for manufacture, a crossed shovel and pick for mining and an anchor for navigation, all representing the industrial pursuits of the people of Wisconsin. In the center of this larger shield appears a smaller one with thirteen upright bars as shown in the coat of arms of the United States. This smaller shield is surrounded by a double circle or "garter" on which appears the motto of the United States, "E PLURIBUS UNUM," (One out of many). Both the shield of the United States and the motto are intended to symoblize the loyalty of Wisconsin to the Union. The base of the larger shield rests upon a pyramid of pig lead and a cornucopia; the one indicative of the mineral wealth and the other of the general resources for prosperity furnished by the state. Supporting the larger shield are, "Dexter" (meaning "on the right"), a sailor holding a coil of rope representing labor by water, and "Sinister," ("meaning "on the left") a yeoman, with his left hand resting on a pick, representing labor by land. Above this shield is the form of a badger, for the "Badger State" and over the crest, on a banner, the word "FORWARD," the motto of the state of Wisconsin.
The information on this page was taken from The Flag of the United States and of Wisconsin by Harrison Summers Kerrick, published in 1931 by The White Book House of Chicago Illinois.