About the College of Arms

The College of Arms is the governing body of the heralds in the Society for Creative Anachronism.

What Do Heralds Do? Heralds in the Society for Creative Anachronism have many jobs. We are book heralds, helping to research period naming and armorial practices for the registration of names and armory for the populace. We are voice heralds, calling announcements, proclaiming who is fighting upon the field, and acting as the voice of nobility in court. We are protocol heralds, recording awards and honors bestowed, drafting ceremonies, and determining precedence and other period legal niceties in all sorts of situations. We also work closely with our good friends in the College of Scribes, whose art and artistry with pen and brush make what we do beautiful. Anyone can be a herald. You can be a herald!

(We use the term College in the classical sense of a learned group gathered to further a common purpose, rather than in the narrower sense of an academic institution, although we certainly endeavor to educate our members and the public at large about the topics we study.)

Leadership and Contacts

The Laurel Sovereign of Arms is the chief heraldic officer of the SCA. The office is filled by a volunteer, appointed by the SCA's Board of Directors. They are assisted by a number of staff and by the members of the College at large.

Leadership and Staff of the College of Arms: Contact information and job descriptions for the sovereigns and deputies.
Society-Level Heraldic Mailing Lists: Discussion and notification lists for heralds.

Kingdom Colleges of Heralds

The Society's College of Arms is supported by the separate Colleges of Heralds in each of the twenty kingdoms.

Kingdom Heraldic Contacts: Officers' email addresses and heraldic web resources.

Members of the College

Heralds Extraordinary: The rank of Herald Extraordinary recognizes senior members of the College.

Administrative Policies

Administrative Handbook: Defines responsibilities of heraldic officers in the SCA.
Financial Policies (PDF): Governs how the College manages funds and financial reporting.

History of the College

Past and Present Sovereigns of Arms: List of the chief heraldic officers of the Society.
A Timeline of the College of Arms, 1966-1996 by Bruce Draconarius (1998)
A Poem Dedicated to Scribes by Iulstan Sigewealding (1989)
Wise Guys Get Lenited (PDF): by the Hard-Boiled Members of the College of Arms (1997-2004)