President's Welcome Message, July 2024

On 19 June 2024, the College of Arms Foundation held its Annual General Meeting in the Garter House at the College of Arms, and special thanks to David V. White, Garter Principal King of Arms, for allowing our meeting to take place in his office and for hosting the wonderful reception afterwards.

Now would be an excellent moment to update our activities.

The conservation of Norfolk 3, which the Foundation funded, was completed in June, and we were able to display it at the reception. This important 19th century pedigree manuscript is one of the many historical records in the library of the College. Its conservation, done using centuries-old traditional methods, guarantees continued future use in genealogical and heraldic research.

As announced last year, the College published A Catalogue of Manuscripts in the College of Arms, Records Volume I, a project the Foundation helped to fund. I am very pleased to announce that the Foundation leadership unanimously approved funding of a new grant request received in June from the College that will partially fund the salary of an Editor to be hired for the research and collation work needed for a planned Volume II.

Earlier in the year, the Foundation approved a special grant to American Ancestors / New England Historic Genealogical Society to help offset publication costs of a facsimile of The Gore Roll, The Earliest Known Roll of Arms in America, due to its deep connections to English heraldry. When it was initially created in the mid-18th century, the English heralds still held full authority over our shores. Many of the arms therein also appear in the records and manuscripts of the College. The facsimile has been published and is available for purchase from American Ancestors’ website. It is an invaluable historical record and a joyous addition to any American armiger’s library.

In late September, American Ancestors will be hosting the 36th International Congress of Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences in Boston, the first time this important conclave has been held in the United States. The Foundation will be represented with a vendor table in the Old South Church, so please swing by and say hello if you attend. And you should attend.

You can learn more about these projects and other projects we have undertaken on our Services & Projects page.

Please reach out to me directly at president@coafus.org for more information.

Cheers!

Paul D. Campbell – President