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The 'American College of Heraldry' was founded in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1972 with the aim of aiding in the study and perpetuation of heraldry in the United States and abroad. Registrations are restricted by policy to American citizens or residents, as well as to others with significant personal or business connections in America.
After the foundation of the College, it was reorganized and chartered as a non-profit corporate body by the State of Alabama. The College is directed by a Board of Governors who elect Administrative Officers and an Advisory Board. There are several types of membership in the College, including Distinguished Fellows, recognized for their eminent standing, particularly in the field of heraldry; Fellows, who are so recognized because of their faithful service to the College and to the cause of Heraldry; Members, who are persons with an interest in heraldry; and Associate Members, who are less than 18 years of age. The College's membership is composed of persons having a serious interest in heraldry and includes individuals from across the United States and from throughout the world.
Several private heraldic societies were organized through the years in the United States, but none were sufficiently strong enough to survive. It was in response to this heraldic vacuum that the College was established. The College's intent was to bring some semblance of order into the American heraldic arena and to begin meeting the erstwhile heraldic needs of the public in the United States. The first few years of the College were marked by creative experimentation and modification in heraldic modes. In time, experience led the way toward a more conservative standardized approach, compatible with heraldry existing in other nations.

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PURPOSES

See also

External link

PURPOSES

The corporate purposes of the College are:

★ to educate the public regarding the history and meaning of heraldry;to initiate, promote, support and engage in scholarly, educational and informational endeavors in heraldic art and science and related fields;

★ to stimulate, collect, preserve and disseminate knowledge regarding heraldic arms;

★ to act as a resource center for those seeking learned opinions on heraldic questions;

★ to promote the rightful and proper use and display of heraldic arms according to the customs of heraldic art and science;

★ to collect, accurately document, preserve and disseminate information regarding both ancient and modern armorial bearings, especially those in current use and most especially those borne in this country;

★ to lend expert advice, counseling and design expertise to those desiring to establish an armorial tradition in their own families, to assist them in acquiring the proper public recognition for the design through registration of the arms with the College and publication of said arms by the College. Persons desiring to acquire new coats of arms from official offices of arms abroad are also gladly extended consultation and support in their undertaking.
The current Executive Director is David Robert Wooten. The College's current contact information is:

THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF HERALDRY

1836 Ashley River Road, Suite 396

Charleston, SC 29407

See also

★ American Heraldry Society

★ Committee on Heraldry of the New England Historic Genealogical Society

★ The Heraldry Society

★ Heraldry Society of Scotland

★ Royal Heraldry Society of Canada

External link

★ The American College of Heraldry