Description The seal was described in its adoption as follows: The College is represented by a Lady sitting in a Throne or Chair of State, with Severall Children at her Knees to represent the Pupils, with I Peter II., 1, 2, &c., under them to express the Temper with which they should apply Themselves to seek for True Wisdom... One of the [New-born Babes] She takes by the hand with her left hand expressing her benevolent design of Conducting them to true Wisdom and Virtue. To which purpose She holds open to the a Book in her right hand in which is [in] Greek letters "", the living or lively Oracles, which is the Epithet that St. Stephen gives to the Holy scriptures—Acts. 7:38. Out of her Mouth over her left Shoulder goes a Label with these words in Hebrew Letters [אוּרִיאֵל], God is my light; alluding to Ps. 27:1. expressing her Acknowledgment of God the Father of Lights, as the Fountain of all that Light, both Natural and Revealed with which She proposes to enlighten or instruct her Children or Pupils; whereof the Sun rising under the Label is the Emblem or Hieroglyphic, alluding to that expression Mal. IV, 2., The Sun of Righteousness arising with healing in his Wings. Over her head is
Jehovah [יהוה] in a
Glory, the Beams coming triangularly to a Point near her head, with these words around her for her motto, In Lumine Tuo Videbimus Lumen—In thy light shall we see light Ps. 36:9. On the Edge around are engraved in Capitals, Sigillum Collegii Reg. Nov. Ebor. in America—The Seal of King's College at New York in America. The text around the seal has changed multiple times to reflect changes in the university's status. Following American independence, the name of the university was changed from King's College to Columbia College. Under the Regents from 1784 to 1787, when Columbia served as the state university of
New York, the text read , meaning "State University of New York". When Columbia reverted to being a private institution, the text was changed again to say , meaning "The Seal of Columbia College of New York". When Columbia was renamed again to Columbia University in 1896, however, the text around the seal was not changed. The seal of the
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons is identical to that of the university, but contains an extra outer ring of text which reads .
History plaque of the university seal at the
116th Street–Columbia University station The seal was adopted by the
Columbia University Board of Trustees on June 3, 1755, one year after the university's founding, making it Columbia's oldest symbol. It was designed by Columbia's first president,
Samuel Johnson. The use of the seal is restricted to the trustees, and is used to authenticate its official acts. The seal appears in several places on Columbia's campus, notably on the floor at the entrance of
Low Memorial Library, on the back of the statue
Alma Mater, and in several locations in
Butler Library. The depiction of the seal on the back of
Alma Mater is
supported by two infants holding torches, and has a King's Crown as a crest. Additionally, the seal is used as a decorative motif at the
New York City Subway's
116th Street–Columbia University station. The Columbia seal is noted for its intricacy, and was the first instance in which both Latin and Greek (as well as Hebrew) were used on a college or university seal. It may have served as an inspiration for the seal of
Northwestern University, in its use of an open book with Greek text on it to signify the spread of knowledge. == Coat of arms ==