Harvard Logo

Harvard Logo PNG

Meaning and History

What is Harvard?

The oldest American university opened in 1636 and was named after the priest John Harvard, the first philanthropist. Harvard is now one of the world’s leading higher education institutions and is part of the Ivy League group.

The famous Harvard shield appeared much later than the university – in 1836. On September 8, the day of the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the educational institution, it was first presented to the public. Then, on a large tent, the students stretched out a white banner, which depicted this knightly equipment element.

However, its prototype appeared much earlier. As history shows, Josiah Quincy studied the university archives as a student and accidentally discovered a sketch that had been lying unclaimed for many years. A shield was painted on it, which later became the basis of the coat of arms.

The emblem received the red color even later – in 1910, at the universal suffrage of students. Then 1,800 people spoke for him. The impetus for this idea was the act of graduate student Charles William Elliot. In 1858, to distinguish the university team at the traditional regatta, he gave the athletes red armbands. At the next competitions, the head of the university did the same. This is how the classic magenta tie was born. It was this color that formed the basis of the logo.

The symbol of Harvard University is a strict dark red shield, surrounded on all sides by a large laurel wreath. In the center, there are three open books in white. Each of them has four latches-locks – 2 on each side. There are 12 of them – by the number of schools (directions) that make up the university.

The pages contain fragmentary VE, RI, TAS. This is the motto of the university in Latin, which in translation means “Truth.” The first two syllables are located in the upper row’s two books, the last in the third, located just below, in the narrow part of the shield.

Beneath a wreath of laurel leaves is a wide white ribbon with the word Harvard. It is made in thin capital letters. The font is Garamond, like the previous inscription. The color of laurel and book covers is dark gold. All components of the logo are outlined with a thin black line.

The shield image is also used as the individual emblems of each of the 12 student campuses – the so-called houses. They differ only in color and a set of central elements.

Font and Colors of the Emblem

The Garamond typeface makes the Harvard emblem. Thin elongated serif letters look very harmonious against the background of the heraldic shield and unwound ribbon. The “R” has an elegantly exposed foot, and the “V” is the same as the Latin victory sign.

For the logo of the famous educational institution, almost from the very beginning, a combination of red (shield), black (inscriptions, frames, edging), and gold (laurel wreath, book covers) were chosen. The color, like the font, has never changed since the approval of the university symbols.

Harvard color codes