Connection Between Yale School of Nursing & the VOStJ

[Edward]

I noticed that the arms for Yale University School of Nursing
(YSN)incorporate a Maltese cross Argent on a Sable background. See:
http://nursing.yale.edu/About/arms.html. The late Professor (Art)
Theodore Sizer, Pursuivant of Arms of Yale University (Yale saw fit to
have one!), designed this coat of arms for YSN in 1959. The upper
third of the shield shows the coat of arms of Yale University (without
the Lux et Veritas ribbon). The lower two thirds show "the eight
pointed white cross on a black background of the Hospitallers or
Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, the earliest nursing order of
Christendom".

Just out of curiosity, was there ever a connection between YSN & the
VOStJ, or between Professor Sizer and the VOStJ? Or did the good
professor simply choose the Maltese Cross Argent on a Sable background
to honor/invoke the hospitaller traditions of the Knights of St. John?

[Ozzy]

Our his connection with the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St.
John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta, "the earliest nursing order
of Christendom".

[Edward]

Ozzy wrote:
> Our his connection with the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St.
> John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta, "the earliest nursing order
> of Christendom".

True, the Professor could be connected with another Order of St. John
such as the SMOM. For some strange reason, I was only thinking about
the VOStJ when I started this post. Silly me.

On a tangent note, I am pleased to know that Yale University (and I
assume Harvard as well given the vast array of arms for the various
Harvard schools and colleges) had Pursuivant of Arms. Are there still
people at these institutions filling these roles?

[Joseph McMillan]

Most of the school and house arms at Harvard were designed by Pierre
Chaignon la Rose, who is described by the student newspaper, the
Crimson, as having been heraldic expert for the university's committee
on arms, seal, and diplomas--no mention of any heraldic title.
Chaignon de Rose also designed a large number of arms of Catholic
dioceses, universities, and other institutions in the US.

Joseph McMillan

[Edward]

Joseph McMillan wrote:
> Most of the school and house arms at Harvard were designed by Pierre
> Chaignon la Rose, who is described by the student newspaper, the
> Crimson, as having been heraldic expert for the university's committee
> on arms, seal, and diplomas--no mention of any heraldic title.
> Chaignon de Rose also designed a large number of arms of Catholic
> dioceses, universities, and other institutions in the US.

Well he did a first rate job! For those that enjoy Harvard's heraldry
see: http://www.harvard.edu/academics/. Too bad, my alma maters did
not hire him!