JMU Logo

JMU Logo PNG

The JMU logo symbolizes the vast opportunities provided by the institution. The emblem shows that every student within the university’s walls is safe, and their rights and uniqueness are respected.

Meaning and History

Despite its extensive historical past, the JMU logo appeared relatively recently and remains constant. Due to the frequent name changes, previous visual symbols had no connection to the university.

The educational institution was named after the fourth President of America, who lived long before the founding of the Normal and Industrial School (1751-1836) and had no connection to it. The name was chosen for several reasons.

James Madison was born in Virginia, not far from the city of Harrisonburg, where the university is located. In his political career, he was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates and later became president. Therefore, the name was chosen as that of one of America’s prominent figures who lived near the university.

Madison became famous for his amendments to the U.S. Constitution. He proposed a system of governance consisting of three branches of power and a bicameral legislative body, which still operates in the country. However, the Bill of Rights is the most important contribution for which the president was immortalized in JMU. Most of its provisions were proposed by the politician. This document protects freedom of religion and speech, the right to bear arms, housing, and much more.

Harrisonburg is a city that attracts many immigrants. Dutch Mennonites, who practice a religion different from the majority (18th century), found refuge here and formerly enslaved Black people in 1865 who practiced Baptism and other religions. The inhabitants of this city are so diverse that they speak 55 languages. Even the city’s name was given in honor of the son of an English settler who built the first house here. Harrisonburg is considered an independent city where the observance of the rights and freedoms of its residents is very important. They have always welcomed people seeking a new homeland in America. Therefore, James Madison holds great significance in this area. In 1938, when the college was founded, it was named after the president.

What is JMU?

The university, located in the American city of Harrisonburg, ranks second among the best educational institutions in the southern United States. It offers 62 undergraduate majors and programs for graduate and doctoral degrees. It is characterized by affordable tuition and tolerance.

before 2018

The JMU logo showcases the educational institution’s connection with James Madison. The portrait of the fourth President of the United States is drawn in an old-fashioned style, with a detailed depiction of facial features. It has a strict and minimalist design, typical of many symbols dedicated to historical US figures. The artists used negative space to make the lines expressive. James Madison’s image symbolizes the high quality of education and commitment to the values the politician relied on when creating the Constitution.

On the right side, the university’s full name is written, divided into three lines. The bottom word is significantly smaller than the top two, but all of them are executed in the same serif font, similar to Trajan Pro 3 Semi Bold by Adobe. Interestingly, in James Madison’s portrait, you can also see a semblance of serifs: they are located in the collar area. This balances the image with the adjacent text. All elements of the logo are either purple or white.

2018 – today

The James Madison University emblem is quite simple. It consists of the highlighted abbreviation of the name and the full name placed nearby. The symbol’s simplicity is partly due to the university’s extensive legacy. Since its foundation, the university has expanded from two buildings to an impressive infrastructure, including sports facilities, parks, educational and entertainment centers, dormitories, and more. JMU has its own newspaper, sports teams, 350 clubs, ten groups uniting students by race or beliefs, and over 30 fraternities. Reflecting all this in the university’s visual symbol was not easy. Therefore, the emblem focused on the name.

The main significance is the abbreviation, surrounded by a white background with a purple outline that follows its shape. It is this background that demonstrates that, in addition to regular education, the university offers a wide range of activities, providing ample space for students’ development. It also indicates the scale of the campus. To visit all the places and participate in clubs, students do not need to leave the university’s territory. Each day brings something new, and this is indicated by the outline, which seems to outline the campus.

The outline also serves as a symbol of protection. Inside JMU, there is an atmosphere of acceptance, respect, and safety. Therefore, a student of any nationality, race, or religion can count on the support and equal rights of everyone.

The slight forward tilt of the letters symbolizes movement and the pursuit of development. The university’s primary focus is on research, so the process of learning here never stops.

Seal

The university’s seal is designed in a uniform style with the logo. University professor Horace Burr developed it. The double border indicates the protection of students’ rights. In the first circle, the institution’s name and the founding year of the first women’s school, which later evolved into JMU, are placed.

Inside is the coat of arms of the Madison family, in honor of whom the university was named. The coat of arms is made in the English style and features a helmet and shield with axes and chevrons inside. For JMU, the image was slightly modified. The original knight’s hand with an axe at the top was replaced with a torch, symbolizing the light of knowledge that the university shares with its students.

Below the coat of arms on a heraldic ribbon is the inscription: “knowledge and freedom.” The signature demonstrates the priorities of the institution and personally of President James Madison, emphasizing the importance of education, freedom, and equality.

The modern version of the seal appeared in 1975, just before the college became a university. Before that, a version designed in 1908 for the women’s school was used. In it, the inner shield was divided into four parts with inscriptions: state, literature, industry, and home, with corresponding images for each word.

Font and Colors

The main colors of the emblem and seal are white and purple.

• Purple symbolizes knowledge, freedom, prosperity, and well-being. It represents extraordinary and gifted people. In the logo, purple reflects the creativity, artistry, and talent development of students.
• White denotes development and a new chapter in life upon entering the university.

The logo uses three types of fonts: the first for the abbreviation in bold italic, the second for the name of the institution (Artegra Sans Black), and the third, a thin serif font, reminiscent of typewriter text, for the word “university” (Artegra Slab SemiBold).

JMU color codes