Chicago Blackhawks Logo

Chicago Blackhawks LogoChicago Blackhawks Logo PNG

The representative of the indigenous population of America has always been present on the emblem of this team. And she does not intend to refuse it because the symbol is a tribute to nationality, not racial discrimination. Thus, the Chicago Blackhawks logo has retained its original appearance despite public pressure. Only minor adjustments have been made.

Chicago Blackhawks: Brand overview

Founded: 1926
Founder: Wirtz Corporation
Headquarters:
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Website: nhl.com

The Chicago Blackhawks, one of the “Original Six” NHL teams, is based in Chicago, Illinois. The team competes in the Central Division of the Western Conference of the League. Its history goes back to 1926 when the Western Canada Hockey League collapsed due to the financial problems and increasing NHL competition. WCHL founders Frank and Lester Patrick had to sell players and entire teams to their richer NHL rivals to stay afloat. They telephoned Chicago coffee tycoon Frederic McLaughlin to arrange the purchase of Portland Rosebuds. McLaughlin himself was a sports enthusiast, though he preferred far more aristocratic kinds of sport. He was a first-class horse-rider and a very famous polo player, so he liked the idea. A group of shareholders headed by McLaughlin managed to pay Patrick $ 200,000 to transfer the Rosebuds to Chicago.

The team based in the City of the Winds could be called neither buds nor roses nor combinations of these words. Major Frederick McLaughlin was a commander with the Blackhawk Division during World War I, so he did not think much about his new club’s name. Moreover, McLaughlin loved his native land and knew its history. He was aware that the 19th-century Midwest (including in Illinois, where Chicago is located) was plagued by bloody wars between the colonists and the Native Americans. One of the legendary figures of Indian wars was the leader of the Black Hawk tribe. That is why the Chicago club logo doesn’t depict a hawk, but the Indian’s head being ironic since the franchise foundation.

Until 1986 the team name was spelled Black Hawks, but now it is spelled as Blackhawks.

Meaning and History

Chicago Blackhawks Logo History

Although the team has a huge number of logos (there are ten), this does not mean that they are different from each other. No, the history of the Chicago Blackhawks emblem is the evolution of one version in different “faces” because the main element is the native American nation of the Black Hawk nation. He was a prominent figure in the history of the state of Illinois. This concept was proposed by Irene Castle, wife of a coffee mogul and first franchise owner Frederic McLaughlin. More than a dozen years have passed since the inception of the debut version, and the same face is still looking at the fans of the hockey club, as at the beginning. The changes were minimal.

In 2008, the Chicago Blackhawks logo was recognized the best in the NHL according to a quiz of the League’s fans. “It is the very recognizable emblem, which carries a special message and inspires rivals to countless imitations. The logo gives the feeling of pride and duty towards him and looks great on a T-shirt and a baseball cap”, the polling organizers said.

The vivid color appeared in the logo in 1935. The leader’s face was painted red. But later, it was considered incorrect about the Indians, and in 1941, designers made the skin brown.

But some Native Americans still do not approve of this logo and the idea of using Indian culture for entertainment purposes. Sometimes it causes a serious scandal.

In 1926, the club appeared, the Chicago Blackhawks team logo was created by Irene Castle, the wife of the team’s founder and coffee tycoon Major Frederick McLaughlin.

The hero of the emblem is the military leader of the Indian Sauk tribe. He participated in The War of 1812 (1812-1815) between the United States, the United Kingdom on the British Empire side. In 1832, he led the military actions of Saukies and Foxes against the United States. The man was a notable figure in the history of Illinois, where the club is based.

In the original version, the Chicago Blackhawks emblem was black and white and contained an inscription “black hawks,” which means the nickname of the team “Chicago Blackhawks.” The name was invented by McLaughlin, a commander of the 333rd machine-gun battalion of the 86th Division of the US Army during the First World War. Its members call themselves “Black Hawks.”

What is Chicago Blackhawks?

This is a professional hockey club founded in 1926. He is a member of the NHL, where he represents the Western Conference and the Central Division. Until 1986, the team bore the name Black Hawks and then received the current name. Since 1995, she has been training at the United Center stadium.

1926 – 1935

Chicago Blackhawks Logo 1926-1935

The original Chicago Blackhawks logo was designed by Irene Castle, the wife of Frederic McLaughlin, the club’s owner. It represented a side view of a Native American’s head with three feathers and a braid. The image was encircled by the words “Chicago Black Hawks.” The only colors present in the emblem were black and white.

1935 – 1937

Chicago Blackhawks Logo 1935-1937

The 1936 logo palette included two more colors in addition to black and white. Now the Indian’s head was red, while his hair was light brown. Otherwise, the black circle and white-scripted name of the team remained the same.

1937 – 1941

Chicago Blackhawks Logo 1937-1941

The version unveiled in 1937 looked pretty similar, except for the background: the black color was replaced by white. The red-skin Indian and the name of the team in a black background were not modified.

1941 – 1955

Chicago Blackhawks Logo 1941-1955

In 1941, the logo was a bit overhauled, still depicting an iconic Indian’s head. A more detailed headshot replaced the pensive portrait. Facial features became softer, red skin turned warm yellow, and hair became black with thin green lines. There were three red and white feathers in his hair. The black outer ring was trimmed with a thin red outline.

1955 – 1957

Chicago Blackhawks Logo 1955-1957

In 1955, the Blackhawks introduced a new Chicago Blackhawks logo. It was a more detailed drawn Indian’s head: the face was decorated with red and white stripes. He was wearing a red earring and four multi-colored feathers in the hair (a green, a yellow, and two red). A white line ran through the hair to make the image voluminous. Two red lines bordered the black ring with the name of the team inside.

1957 – 1965

Chicago Blackhawks Logo 1957-1965

The sixth Chicago Blackhawks emblem showed minor alterations. The black ring with the inscription “Black Hawks Chicago” remained unchanged. The white lines in the Indian’s hair turned yellow. One of the red feathers was changed to orange. Also, Native American facial features were modified again.

1965 – 1989

Chicago Blackhawks Logo 1965-1989

1965 brought changes to Black Hawk’s head, but these would endure for two decades. The black roundel was removed from the logo, leaving the Indian’s head to serve as the team crest. The facial features were softer and simpler; the forehead was a bit elongated. The portrait had a neutral expression. The red and white stripe on the forehead turned black. The given logo would undergo only slight changes to this day.

1989 – 1996

Chicago Blackhawks Logo 1989-1996

By the end of the 1980s, graphics and color were pretty much improved. The red and orange feathers in the hair were decorated with white lines, while the green and yellow ones were trimmed with yellow and blue lines, respectively.

1996 – 1999

Chicago Blackhawks Logo 1996-1999

The team initiated another logo redesign. It included just a slight shift in the color scheme: the face grew darker, while the outline was colored in a brighter shade of yellow. The green, yellow, and blue colors of the feathers became brighter and sharper-cut.

1999 – today

Chicago Blackhawks Logo 1999-Present

A sign with a smiling indigenous US representative is now in circulation. It is based on the previous version of the darker shade. Now the colors, on the contrary, are bright, catchy, expressive. The character has war paint on his face, indicating that the team is ready for decisive action on the sports field. There are four multi-colored feathers in the hair. They are tied together and secured at the back of the head.

The head of an Indian is shown in profile and directed to the left. Moreover, in this version, it is not as old as it was before 1989. Facial features have been slightly corrected, close to Caucasoid, so the logo has become much more universal.

Font and Colors

Chicago Blackhawks emblem

The debut logo features a black and white outline of a Native American, surrounded by the words “Black Hawks” (top) and “Chicago” (bottom). The logo itself looked like a classic rondel with a central part and a wide border. The form of the seal was replaced in 1965 by the image of an Indian, formerly in the middle of the circle.

During the emblem’s entire existence, the main changes concerned skin tone, age, facial expression, hairstyle, and the number of feathers in a bunch. As a result, the image of a young character with war paint appeared.

Chicago Blackhawks symbol

The text part was present on early logos – up to 1964 – chopped grotesque typeface from the Sans Serif category.

But the palette of the logo is very diverse: it consists of bright colors. These include green (feather), black (hair, facial features, and contours), yellow (face, feather, and lines in the hair), red (feather, war paint), crimson (feather). There is also white, which, along with red and black, is included in the Chicago Blackhawks’ official colors.

Chicago Blackhawks color codes

Red Hex color: #ce1126
RGB: 206 17 38
CMYK: 2 100 85 6
Pantone: PMS 186 C
Black Hex color: #000000
RGB: 0 0 0
CMYK: 0 0 0 100
Pantone: PMS Process Black C
Yellow Hex color: #ffd100
RGB: 255 209 0
CMYK: 0 9 100 0
Pantone: PMS 109 C
Orage Hex color: #ff6720
RGB: 255 103 32
CMYK: 0 70 100 0
Pantone: PMS 165 C
Blue Hex color: #001871
RGB: 0 24 113
CMYK: 100 95 2 10
Pantone: PMS 2748 C
Gold Hex color: #cc8a00
RGB: 204 138 0
CMYK: 2 39 100 10
Pantone: PMS 131 C
Green Hex color: #00843d
RGB: 0 132 61
CMYK: 96 2 100 12
Pantone: PMS 348 C

What does the Chicago Blackhawks logo mean?

The logo depicts a representation of the indigenous population of North America – a former leader and warrior of the Sauk people. The head, adorned with four multi-colored feathers, is positioned in profile. The look is directed directly; there is a national coloring on the face.

Will the Chicago Blackhawks change their logo?

The hockey club Chicago Blackhawks does not intend to change its logo. The team has already announced this officially. She also said that there is no name change in her plans.

Is Blackhawk an Indian tribe?

No, Blackhawk is not an Indian tribe, but the name of a Sauki indigenous people called Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak. They were warriors. The year of his death is 1838. It is also called the 86 Infantry Division, in which Frederic McLaughlin, the founder of the sports club of the same name, served. It was after these infantrymen that he named his hockey team.

What is the Blackhawks mascot name?

The Blackhawks mascot is named Tommy Hawk. It is an anthropomorphic black hawk in the athletic uniform of a hockey team and with four multi-colored feathers on its head. This character first appeared at the beginning of the 2001-2002 season.