Descriptions originally written by Richenda du Jardin, updated by the College staff.
The College of Arms is run by the Laurel Sovereign and their staff, listed below. Each job description is followed by the name of the current office holder and their contact information.
Laurel is the highest ranking herald in the SCA. The primary deputies of Laurel are the Pelican Sovereign of Arms (Pelican) and Wreath Sovereign of Arms (Wreath). Other deputies are Chancellor of the Exchequer, Clarion Herald, Codex Herald, Morsulus Herald, Palimpsest Herald, Ragged Staff Herald, Sign Heraldry Deputy, and the Archivist. Laurel is also assisted by the other members of the College of Arms.
Laurel Sovereign of Arms
The Laurel Sovereign of Arms (usually called Laurel) is responsible for fostering the study and practice of heraldry, and for establishing rules and making determinations regarding names and armory, royal and noble titles, and geographical designations to be approved for use in the Society. Laurel supervises and assists the various kingdom colleges of heralds to do all of the things heralds do, including providing voice heraldry services to the Crown and populace, keeping orders of precedence, and dealing with submissions. Not surprisingly, submissions are an important part of Laurel’s job, since submissions are processed at the Society level. Laurel determines what name and armory submissions (both for individuals and for groups) are appropriate for the SCA and helps develop heraldic customs throughout the SCA. This is a huge job for just one person, so Laurel has a staff of dedicated heralds to help get it done.
Magistra Birgitta Lulli (mka Unni Leino)
laurel@heraldry.sca.org
Phone: +358 400 812 354 (note: Eastern European Time/EET)
Pelican Sovereign of Arms (Names)
The Pelican Sovereign of Arms (Pelican) reviews all name submissions for individuals and groups in the SCA and determines if they should be accepted or returned for further work (though Pelican has had other duties in the past). To make these decisions, Pelican relies on commentary supplied by the College of Arms. Once the decisions are made, they are recorded in a Letter of Acceptances and Returns.
Viscountess Elisabetta Tommaso di Carduci
pelican@heraldry.sca.org
Wreath Sovereign of Arms (Armory)
The Wreath Sovereign of Arms (Wreath) reviews all armory (device and badge) submissions for individuals and groups in the SCA and determines if they should be accepted or returned for further work. To make these decisions, Wreath relies on commentary supplied by the College of Arms. Once the decisions are made, they are recorded in a Letter of Acceptances and Returns.
Daunt Iago ab Adam
wreath@heraldry.sca.org
Chancellor of the Exchequer (Finances)
The Laurel office has its own exchequer, which reconciles the payments received from each kingdom to the payments due from each kingdom. In addition, this office tracks all expenditures for the Laurel office.
Master Þorkell Palsson
exchequer@heraldry.sca.org
Address mail to:
Trent le Clair, 928 Frazier Dr., Walla Walla WA, 99362
Clarion Herald (Education)
Clarion Herald (Clarion), Laurel’s education deputy, works to create educational materials about heraldry, including soliciting articles and classes to help educate heralds and the populace on period heraldic design, heraldic use, and naming practices and to help educate heralds and the populace on the SCA application of this knowledge. The primary venues for this information is the Laurel web site, though they also work to assist Known World Heralds and Scribes Collegiums, kingdom collegia, and the Known World Heralds and Scribes Proceedings.
Wu Yun daren (Mistress)
education@heraldry.sca.org
Codex Herald (IT & Website)
Codex Herald (Codex) is the herald responsible for updating the Laurel web site.
Barwn Reis ap Tuder ap Wyn, OP
codex@heraldry.sca.org
Morsulus Herald (Armorial Database)
Morsulus Herald (Morsulus) is the herald responsible for maintaining and updating the Ordinary and Armorial (O and A). The Ordinary is the listing of all SCA-registered and SCA-protected armory organized by charges and field division. The Armorial is the listing of all SCA-registered and SCA-protected items organized by owner’s name. The O and A is kept in a printed document and a searchable online database.
Master Herveus d’Ormonde
morsulus@heraldry.sca.org
Palimpsest Herald (Rules)
Palimpsest Herald (Palimpsest) is the “rules herald”. Palimpsest is responsible for coordinating discussions about changes to the Administrative Handbook, Glossary of Terms, and the Standards for Evaluation of Names and Armory (formerly the Rules for Submission). Changes to these documents are usually proposed by a member of Laurel staff in response to changes in our understanding of period practice or changes in our methods for processing submissions.
Dame Jeanne Marie Lacroix
rules@heraldry.sca.org
Ragged Staff (File Clerk)
Ragged Staff Herald (Ragged Staff) is the file clerk for the Laurel office. Ragged Staff ensures that all submission paperwork from each kingdom’s submissions herald is present in OSCAR, follows up with kingdom submissions heralds for omissions or discrepancies, checks forms for consistency with LOIs, assists with uploading additional material, and summarizes forms for Pelican and Wreath meetings (at the behest of Pelican or Wreath as needed).
Lady Lilie Dubh inghean uí Mórdha
ragged-staff@heraldry.sca.org
Sign Herald (Sign Language)
The Sign Heraldry Deputy is the herald who coordinates efforts and communication among sign heralds throughout the SCA.They are a resource for sign herald programs. In doing so, they work with Kingdoms to improve the organization of sign heraldry and its integration with other court and event heralds and also to improve education regarding sign heraldry, both for sign heralds themselves and the general populace. Sign Heralds in the Society are heralds who express auditory information into visual and/or tactile information used by deaf and hard-of-hearing people.
Maestra Magdalena Lucia Ramberti
signherald@heraldry.sca.org
Archivist (Legacy Records)
The Laurel Archivist maintains the historical files of the Laurel office, especially from the era when submissions were processed through postal mail.
Lady Helena de Argentina
archivist@heraldry.sca.org
College of Arms
Members of the College of Arms support Laurel and Laurel’s deputies in their duties. This support consists of providing reports on the state of heraldry in each kingdom, forwarding kingdom submissions, and providing commentary about submissions to Laurel, Pelican, and Wreath so that appropriate decisions can be made. Members of the College of Arms include the principal heralds of each kingdom, the submissions herald of each kingdom, and commenting heralds nominated by the principal heralds.