KU Logo PNG
The KU (University of Kansas) logo represents its history surrounded by modern traditions, at least, that’s how the university interprets its visual identity. It represents its roots through the prism of religion and relevance, demonstrating the values students and teachers follow. It’s about spiritual enrichment, augmented with new knowledge and dreams.
The University of Kansas emerged from a fight among Lawrence, Manhattan, Topeka and Emporia in 1861-1862 over the site of the state’s main university. Lawrence won through local fundraising and the backing of Charles Robinson, Kansas’s first governor. On March 1, 1864, the university charter was signed. Robinson and his wife Sarah donated the 40-acre Mount Oread site, while Amos Adams Lawrence contributed $10,000.
The first Board of Regents met on March 21, 1865, and named Reverend Robert Oliver as chancellor. North College opened on September 12, 1866, with 55 students, 26 women and 29 men. KU admitted men and women on equal terms from the beginning. At first it worked partly as a preparatory school; university-level courses began in 1869, and the first class of four students graduated in 1873.
Academic growth followed gradually. The law school opened in 1878, medical courses appeared in 1880, and a full four-year medical school was formed in 1905 through links with Kansas City colleges. In 1886, chemistry professor Edgar Bailey created the chant that became “Rock Chalk, Jayhawk.” Football began in 1890 with a game against Baker University.
Basketball gave KU its wider national profile. James Naismith arrived in Lawrence in 1898 after inventing the game in Springfield in 1891. His student Forrest “Phog” Allen coached for 39 seasons and trained future legends Adolph Rupp and Dean Smith. KU won NCAA titles in 1952, 1988, 2008 and 2022. Allen Fieldhouse opened in 1955, the same year Wilt Chamberlain chose Kansas, and became one of the sport’s best-known arenas.
Meaning and History
The visual identity of this university includes not only the logo but also a seal. The seal is considered as old as the higher education institution itself, dating back to 1866, when the university opened its doors to students. The seal’s design was chosen and approved by R.W. Oliver, the first rector of KU. The theme of both early and later versions has always been a religious scene related to the biblical figure Moses, who kneels before a burning bush. This scene perfectly resonates with the Latin phrase “Videbo Visionem Hanc Magnam Quare Non Comburatur Rubus,” taken from Exodus (3:3). Translated into English as “I will see this great vision in which the bush does not burn,” it represents the university’s motto. The logo is business-like and practical, considering current design requirements to stay modern.
What is KU (University of Kansas)?
KU (University of Kansas), located in Lawrence, is a public R1 university with a very high research activity level and 350 programs. To conduct quality educational processes, it has several specialized centers, including medical, humanities, and agricultural. It also has its own sports department and research base. KU was established in 1864 by the Kansas State Legislature and opened in 1866.
1864 – today
The KU (University of Kansas) emblem has strictly limited circulation. It can identify the university in print materials and official documents, including advertising sources. It guarantees the content’s legitimacy and serves as a kind of signature, hence the primary focus on the name.
The inscription occupies two lines and is typeset in the same font. The upper part is in lowercase because it contains the phrase “The University of,” which in size matches the single word “Kansas” in the lower row. The designers have matched their length by varying the size of the glyphs. All characters have thin serifs that connect at certain points – for example, between “V” and “E,” “R” and “S,” “T” and “Y,” and also between “K,” “A,” and “N.”
Below, a narrow blue line is colored to match the “KU” sign. This abbreviation stands for “Kansas University.” It can be used separately from the rest of the inscription, as specified in the university’s license, and strictly monitored by its marketing communications department. The abbreviated name must be clear and prominent. It is very noticeable that the right leg of the first letter is longer than the other strokes, symbolizing the hill on the Lawrence campus.
The Seal
The KU (University of Kansas) seal has a religious character, matching the university’s motto, “I will see this great vision in which the bush does not burn.” It depicts Moses kneeling before the burning bush – a bush that is burning but not consumed, where God appeared to him. The seal was introduced simultaneously with the university’s opening in 1866 and was chosen by rector R.W. Oliver. The original version is no longer in use; the current second version was redesigned in 1964 by Professor of Arts and Sculptor Elden Tefft for the university’s centennial.
The shepherd is depicted against the backdrop of mighty mountains, silent and ancient witnesses to many historical events. The image is centered in a circle, surrounded by several bands of different widths. The university’s motto in Latin is placed within these bands, with each word separated by a bold dot. This line is from Exodus. Following this are the university’s name (also in Latin) and the year of its official founding, 1865. All inscriptions are typeset in thin, sans-serif uppercase glyphs.
Font and Colors
The typefaces in the academic seal and the university logo differ in design: the former uses grotesque letters, while the latter uses serifs. This is the Trajan font, used by most higher education institutions because it effectively conveys formality and solemnity.
Though the university colors are crimson and cobalt blue, only blue is used in the visual identity. Thus, all elements of the seal, the highlighting stripe, and the “KU” abbreviation are blue. They are complemented by white and grey; in some instances, black is also present.