The Book-Burning Arms of the University of Chicago

[Lawton Stahl]

In the design of the arms of the University of Chicago, "a further study of this design brought forth the objection of English heralds that the position of the book was illogical, that although the phoenix could not be consumed by the flames, the book would be." Ergo, it was determined to put the book in chief.

https://books.google.com/books?id=lCnOA ... ef&f=false



In 2012, Chicago modified its arms, to this:

http://communications.uchicago.edu/identity/logo

[J Duncan of Sketraw]

I like the original arms best

[Michael F. McCartney]

The old arms are quite nice, but the new ones are to my mind strikingly beautiful!
De gustibus...

[Kathy McClurg]

After reading the page - I think the University could have easily said the first one is our coat of arms and the second is a stylized shield for use as part of the University Logo and as a stand alone logo.

Thereby "keeping" both, per se.

[Michael F. McCartney]

A reasonable compromise. To be fair, my preference is based on the artwork, not the heraldic design; I suspect that if the two artists were switched, my preference would also switch.