Lakeside’s logo is everywhere: on websites, clothes, banners, and even doormats. Behind this ever-present icon is a centuries-old history of design that anchors Lakeside’s present in its storied past.
Heraldry, or the design and study of coats of arms, has been alive since the 12th century, when knights painted distinctive emblems on their shields. In heraldry, the term “crest” refers to the top element of the design, whereas the entire symbol is termed a “coat of arms.” It’s also a frequent misconception that every element of a coat of arms has an innate symbolism. While there are no universally established meanings, one could generally assume that a lion represents bravery and a wavy blue line could signify waterway. Coats of arms can even create visual puns on the name of their bearer!
Lakeside’s first coat of arms was adopted in 1937, long before its merger with St. Nicholas School. A Tatler article from 1974 suggests that it was drawn up by a “Mr. Holcum” at the request of then-headmaster Robert Adams. Whereas the 1974 article claims Mr. Holcum was “evidently a student at the time,” a 1977 article makes no such mention and adds that the coat of arms was created “in response to a need for a symbol to put on the school catalog.”
In its first version, the shield (or, pedantically, the escutcheon) was split into four parts by the aptly-named quarterly division. The top left quarter of the shield bore a cross with flaring arms, known in heraldry as a crosslet formy, emblazoned with a star. The potential meaning of this symbol is very unclear; crosses are generally associated with Christianity, while W. Cecil Wade, author of The Symbolisms of Heraldry, suggests that the star signifies divine virtue. The top right quarter features Lakeside’s iconic lion — a symbol of courage and bravery. The bottom right corner is emblazoned with a sword, another ambiguous motif that Wade connects to justice but the 1974 Tatler article attributes to valor.
Most confusing of all, however, are the three circles, formally known as roundels, in the bottom left corner: roundels have different names and meanings based on color, and Lakeside’s first coat of arms exists only in black and white. If the circles are red on a yellow background, in keeping with Lakeside’s school colors, Wade would make the unverifiable claim that they represent the bread eaten as part of the Holy Communion. The archival Tatler, on the other hand, maintains that they “represent faith, hope, and charity.” If this article is correct, Wade’s writings would imply that the circles’ actual color is argent, the heraldic term for silver or white. Beneath the shield is the motto, “Tibi seris, tibi metis,” a Latin phrase translating to “as you sow, so shall you reap.”
The use of this particular coat of arms ended in 1971 when Lakeside merged with St. Nicholas School. Though St. Nicholas did not have a coat of arms, its official emblem was a blue chrysanthemum encircled by the Latin phrase “Nihil est virtute amabilius,” translated as “Nothing is more lovely than virtue.” The St. Nicholas Auditorium on campus is, in fact, the only place where this chrysanthemum can be found on its own — otherwise, Lakeside’s branding guide requires it to appear alongside the lion. Lakeside’s new coat of arms merged the two most iconic designs — the chrysanthemum and lion rampant — into the emblem we know and love today.
Not everyone was pleased, however: in 1977, student Tom K. Harris wrote in his column in the Tatler that he saw the new design as “throwing away fifty years of [Lakeside] tradition” and remarked that “[t]he next step would be to change the name of the school to ‘Lake Nicholas’ or ‘St. Side.’”
Nevertheless, Lakeside has embraced its new coat of arms. These historic symbols now grace stained glass windows, spirited apparel, and distinctive logos. And if there’s one thing Harris got right, it’s that Lakeside’s first motto still stands true, even in disuse: “What better way is there today to sum up Lakeside’s philosophy in four words? Has that much really changed in fifty years?” Indeed, as we near one century of strong Lakeside heraldry, we will continue virtuously to reap what we sow.
