The Cambridge University Heraldic and Genealogical
Society was formed as the result of the merger in 1957 of
a previous Heraldic Society (founded 1948) with the Cambridge
University Society of Genealogists (founded 1954).
Foundation of the society
The first Cambridge University Heraldic Society was founded in 1948
from the remnants of the late Nineteenth-century monumental brass
society. In 1954, a separate Cambridge University Society of
Genealogists was formed. Not surprisingly many members of one
society were members of the other and on 10 June 1957,sponsored by
some Vice Presidents, by agreement between the secretaries, Special
General Meetings of both societies were held and resolutions passed
abolishing both societies on condition that a new joint society was
formed later in the day. Meetings held earlier in the term had led
to the formal culmination of a series of discussions for the
consolidation and amalgamation.
The structure of the new society was to include a
Patron and a number of Honorary
Vice Presidents. The committee was to consist
of
President,
Secretary,
Senior
Treasurer, Junior Treasurer and ordinary
Committee Members.
The society today
Four speaker meetings are held in each of the
Michaelmas and
Lent terms and
a ninth at the beginning of the
Easter term.
These are in the general area of
heraldry
and
genealogy but also include cognate
subjects such as ceremonial dress,
tartan,
local history, customs, military
medals or
indeed anything of an
antiquarian
nature. There are generally two outings each year--one in
Michaelmas and one in Lent-–to places of interest of heraldic and
genealogical interest.
In recent years, the Society has visited the
College of
Arms
, the Society of
Genealogists and various cathedrals
and museums. The Society also hosts one large dinner each
term with the Annual Dinner (in the Lent term) attracting up to 70
diners. There is also a garden party in the Easter term.
Patrons
Sir Arthur Cochrane (
Clarenceux King of Arms) was Patron
of the original Heraldic and Genealogical Societies until his death
in 1954. The position was still vacant when the amalgamation took
place. The Cambridge University Society of Genealogists had had a
President in the person of the late
Earl Mountbatten of Burma, a keen
genealogist. Therefore, Lord Mountbatten
was invited to be Patron of the new (1957) Society, a post which he
held until his assassination in 1979. In honour of his memory and
with the permission of his elder daughter,
Countess Mountbatten of Burma,
the Society inaugurated the
Mountbatten Commemorative
Lecture.
This remains the most important meeting of
the year and the lecture has frequently been given by senior
members of the College of
Arms.
Lord Mountbatten was succeeded as Patron by
H.E. Archbishop Bruno Heim, a leading
authority on the
heraldry of the
Roman Catholic Church who designed
armorial bearings for several
Popes. His
Excellency generously donated a copy of a number of his own
publications to the Society. After his death he was followed by the
Most Noble
Duke of Norfolk,
Earl Marshal and Hereditary Marshal of
England.
Publications
In the
late 1950s and early 1960s, the Society transcribed the registers
of the Cambridgeshire parishes of
Shepreth
and Westley Waterless and published a small
number of copies. Its most ambitious project, however, was
to produce
The Cambridge
Armorial showing the arms of all the corporate
armigers in Cambridge (including town, university,
colleges, theological colleges and schools) with blazons and brief
histories of each. Although begun in 1966, it was to be nineteen
years before it was published through the efforts of Wilfrid
Scott-Giles, Heather Peak and Cecil Humphery-Smith. In 1995 the
Society launched a magazine, called the
Escutcheon, which
appears each term. It is edited by Derek Palgrave.
See also
References
External links
Wikis
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