The Heraldry Society is a British organization that is devoted to studying and promoting

heraldry Heraldry is a discipline relating to the design, display and study of armorial bearings (known as armory), as well as related disciplines, such as vexillology, together with the study of ceremony, rank and pedigree. Armory, the best-known branch ...

and related subjects. In 1947, a twenty-year-old

John Brooke-Little John Philip Brooke Brooke-Little (6 April 1927 – 13 February 2006) was an English writer on heraldic subjects, and a long-serving herald at the College of Arms in London. In 1947, while still a student, Brooke-Little founded the Society of He ...

founded the Society of Heraldic Antiquaries. This name was changed to The Heraldry Society in 1950. It was incorporated in 1956 and is now a registered educational

charity Charity may refer to: Giving * Charitable organization or charity, a non-profit organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being of persons * Charity (practice), the practice of being benevolent, giving and sharing * Ch ...

, with the registered charity number 241456. The principal object of the society is to extend interest in and knowledge of heraldry,

genealogy Genealogy () is the study of families, family history, and the tracing of their lineages. Genealogists use oral interviews, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kins ...

, precedence, and related disciplines. The society also offers qualifications for heraldists: in conjunction with the

Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies The United Kingdom's Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies (IHGS) was founded in 1961 at Canterbury, Kent (its current location) by Cecil Humphery-Smith. Its library was created by donations from Humphery-Smith, Aylmer Buesst and others. ...

three examination levels are offered – Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced – which when taken successfully in sequence lead to an award of the Society’s Diploma and the post-nominal DipHS. For fifty years, John Brooke-Little served as the chairman of The Heraldry Society. In 1997, as he was ending his career as an

officer of arms An officer of arms is a person appointed by a sovereign or Sovereign state, state with authority to perform one or more of the following functions: * to control and initiate coat of arms, armorial matters; * to arrange and participate in ceremo ...

, he changed roles in the society to become its president. He served in this role until his death in February 2006. In addition to being chairman and president of the society, Brooke-Little served as the Honorary Editor of the society's scholarly journal, ''The Coat of Arms''. From the first publication of the journal until the middle of 1965, his mother, Constance Egan, served as the managing editor of ''The Coat of Arms'', though Brooke-Little always had a guiding influence on the publication. It was not until 2005 that Brooke-Little finally handed complete control of the journal to two young officers of arms,

Peter O'Donoghue Peter O'Donoghue may refer to: * Peter O'Donoghue (athlete) (born 1971), New Zealand distance runner *Peter O'Donoghue (officer of arms) Michael Peter Desmond O'Donoghue (born 1971) is a British officer of arms who currently serves as York H ...

(then

Bluemantle Pursuivant Bluemantle Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is a junior officer of arms of the College of Arms in London. The office is reputed to have been created by King Henry V to serve the Order of the Garter, but there is no documentary evidence of this. ...

) and

Clive Cheesman Clive Edwin Alexander Cheesman (born 1968) is a British officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. He is currently Richmond Herald, having been appointed to that position on 7 April 2010. Cheesman was formerly a curator in the Department o ...

(then

Rouge Dragon Pursuivant Rouge Dragon Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is a junior officer of arms of the College of Arms, named after the Welsh Dragon, red dragon of Wales. The current Rouge Dragon Pursuivant is Adam Tuck, who was appointed on 12 June 2019. The office ...

). Although based in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

, the society has an international membership. In December 2006, the Patron of the society, The 18th Duke of Norfolk, became President of the society, leaving the post of Patron vacant. The Heraldry society also publishes reference works about Heraldry and Coat of Arms, notably ''The Illustrated Book of Heraldry'' by member Stephen Slater.

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External links

The Heraldry Society
{{DEFAULTSORT:Heraldry Society Heraldic societies Organizations established in 1947 Learned societies of the United Kingdom Charities based in Surrey 1947 establishments in the United Kingdom

See also

Notes

External links