Seal of Charlotte, North Carolina

The Seal of Charlotte was first established during the tenure of mayor Charles A. Bland, and was designed over a period stretching from 1911 to 1915. It was adopted on the city's first flag in 1929, which still remains in use today. This seal itself was rescinded at an unknown date and replaced with the present one.[1] In its current form, it is the city's logo on a golden seal, and it is used to authorize executive documents from the city, including, but not limited to, mayoral proclamations and resolutions from the city council. Based on the adoption of the crown logo in 1985 with the current flags, it is possible the current seal could have been adopted at that time as well, however, this is unknown, and city archives from the era do not depict any seal.

Official Seal of the City of Charlotte
Versions
Seal of 1911-unknown
Corporate Seal of the City of Charlotte. In use today.
ArmigerCharlotte, North Carolina
AdoptedUnknown
Other elementsThe official logo of the City of Charlotte
Earlier version(s)1911, 1929
UseOn executive documents from the city

Description and meaning

Original seal

Symbolizing growth is a tree in the center, with rays radiating from behind it, symbolizing hope for the future. Hanging on the tree is a hornet's nest, a Revolutionary War-era symbol, symbolizing the role the city played during the time period. This is explained in a pamphlet produced by the city, reading:

... in the American Revolution, her citizens fought so fiercely that a British general compared being in Charlotte to being in a hornet’s nest.

More symbolism related to the era can be found within on seal, with a Liberty Cap present, hanging on the tree besides the nest. Beneath the tree are two hands clasped. The date "1775" is found below the hands, the year the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence was supposedly adopted, a year before the Continental Congress adopted their declaration.[2]

Current seal

The current seal is much simpler in design, simply featuring the city's service mark atop a golden seal. On official documents, a green ribbon is typically found below it. The crown references the city's nickname of The Queen City, which references its namesake, Queen Charlotte. It also represents unity of the city's agencies as they work in unison for the good of its residents.[2]

Corporate seal

The corporate seal shares design elements with the original seal, such as the text surrounding the seal, as well as the dates, and two five-pointed stars. It is the simplest of all the designs, consisting of only text and dashed lines, aside from the stars.

Use

The custodian of the seal is Charlotte's city clerk, who keeps it and all records and official documents bearing the seal.[3] The City Clerk uses the corporate seal of Charlotte to certify that city records are authentic, exact reproductions of the originals.[4]

References
  1. "City Government in Charlotte | Charlotte Mecklenburg Story". www.cmstory.org. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
  2. Purcell, John M.; Kaye, Edward B.; Monahan, Rich. American City Flags (PDF). North American Vexillological Association. pp. 68–69. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  3. City of Charlotte. "About Us – The Office of the City Clerk". City of Charlotte. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  4. Charlotte, City Council (August 24, 2015). 24, 2015.pdf "City of Charlotte – Meeting Agenda – August 24, 2015" Check |url= value (help) (PDF). charlottenc.gov. Retrieved May 9, 2020.


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