Seal of Rhode Island
{{short description|Official government emblem of the U.S. state of Rhode Island}}
{{seealso|Coat of arms of Rhode Island}}
{{Infobox Coat of arms
|name = Seal of the State of Rhode Island
|image = Seal of Rhode Island.svg
|image_width = 250
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|armiger = State of Rhode Island
|year_adopted =
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|motto = Hope
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The '''Seal of the [[Rhode Island|State of Rhode Island
]]''' features a blue field with a golden maritime anchor as its central image below the phrase "HOPE". The anchor has been used as a symbol for Rhode Island since the colony's founding in 1636, well before the region claimed statehood. The first seal of the Colony of Rhode Island, was drawn by William Dyer in 1647.
History
Rhode Island was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a Christian minister, Anne Hutchinson, and others seeking religious freedom from persecution in Massachusetts and Europe. The seal's words and emblems were likely inspired by the biblical phrase "hope we have as an anchor of the soul," found in Hebrews, Verse 6:18-19.Howard M. Chapin notes published in "Illustrations Of The Seals, Arms And Flags Of Rhode Island," (Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence: 1930) pg 4-5. After Roger Williams received an official charter in England in 1644, the word "Hope" was placed over the seal's anchor and still remains.Benjamin F. Shearer, State Names, Seals, Flags, and Symbols: A Historical Guide, (Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002), pg. 22 [https://books.google.com/books?id=nCA0UuGlJG8C&pg=PA22&dq=hope+seal+rhode+island+1644] The outer circle of the seal reads Seal of the State of Rhode Island 1636.
Besides the seal, Roger Williams also used Biblical virtues when he named Providence, Rhode Island, and the islands in Narragansett Bay: Prudence Island, Patience Island, Hope Island, and Despair Island.
Legal enactment
The seal has been adopted by successive Rhode Island government authorities since 1644. The current (2021) General Laws enactment asserts:
File:Recto Rhode Island 30 shillings 1786 urn-3 HBS.Baker.AC 1104480.jpeg
§ 42-4-2 State seal. – There shall continue to be one seal for the public use of the state; the form of an anchor shall be engraved thereon; the motto thereof shall be the word "Hope"; and in a circle around the outside shall be engraved with the words, "Seal of the State of Rhode Island, 1636".Rhode Island General Laws, § 42-4-2 "State seal."[http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/TITLE42/42-4/42-4-2.htm] (accessed January 25, 2021)
Historical seals
File:Rhode Island, 1647 seal-01.svg|Rhode Island Seal in 1647, used in the colonial records"Historic Seals of Rhode Island," Symbols & Emblems of Rhode Island[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rigenweb/symbols.html] (accessed January 5, 2008)
File:Seal of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.svg|The seal used on Rhode Island pounds in the late 18th century
File:Rhode Island Seal 1853.jpg|Rhode Island Seal variation used in 1853
File:Seal of Rhode Island (pre 2022).svg| Previous version before the state name change in 2021 referendum
File:Seal of Rhode Island (starburst).svg| Illustration of historical version with starburst
Government seals
File:Seal of the Governor of Rhode Island.svg|Seal of the Governor
File:Seal of the Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island.svg|Seal of the Lieutenant Governor
File:Rhode Island National Guard Seal.png| Seal of the Rhode Island National Guard
File:Seal of the Rhode Island Adjutant General.png| Seal of the Adjutant General of Rhode Island
File:General treasurer of rhode island logo.jpg|Seal of the General Treasurer of Rhode Island
See also
{{Portal|Rhode Island}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.sec.state.ri.us/library/riinfo/riinfo/knowrhode Origins of the Seal of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations]
- [https://archive.org/stream/sealarmsflagofrh00chaprich#page/n1/mode/2up The Seal, the Arms and the Flag of Rhode Island], 1913 booklet by the Rhode Island Historical Society
{{US state seals}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Seal Of Rhode Island}}