The ideas include testing, administration, and five divisions of classes.

	Ideas for an SCA heraldry college
	Updated: Feb 9, 2003

Home > SCA > Heraldry > here
 

CONTENTS

> Class categories/divisions
> Class logistics — Teachers, Testing, Rank, Archives
 

Class categories/divisions

  I - Blazonry and Display (a.k.a. "Books and Banners")
 II - Protocol and Precedence
III — Announcements and Lists
 IV - SCA Heraldic Office (a.k.a. "Reports and Research")
  V - Philosophy and History

BLAZONRY AND DISPLAY

• BL100 — tinctures, ordinaries, location names, common charges
• BL105 — furs, vairs, subordinaries, less common charges, lines of division, fimbriation
• BL110 — default characteristics and proper coloring: inanimate charges
• BL115 — default characteristics and proper coloring: animate charges
• BL120 — proportions: defaults for furs, vairs, size of charges with different common arrangements
• BL130 — basics of design: placement, countercharging, balance, weight
• BL135 — SCA heraldry for personas of non-heraldic societies
• BL140 — Oriental heraldry for SCA personas
• BL145 — Grammar of blazonry
• BL150 — Local sumptuary laws and achievements
• BL170 — Heraldic display on banners, flags; could also include vexillography basics
• BL175 — Heraldic display on clothing and possessions: surcoats, badges

PROTOCOL AND PRECEDENCE

• PR100 — basic etiquette: manners, ethics, courtesy, reverence
• PR200 — diplomacy: political channels, secrets, tact, humility
   
• PR110 — awards, regalia and titles
   
• PR140 — helping a court herald
• PR240 — basics of court heraldry
• PR340 — advanced topics of court heraldry, example: court as theatre
• PR440 — interkingdom courts
   
• PR160 — SCA ceremonies (associate, peer, investiture, coronation, etc.)
• PR260 — herald as master of ceremony: grand ball, march of precedence
• PR360 — ceremony design and organization
   
• PR170 — Alliances in the SCA (household, group, kingdom)
• PR180 — Treaties in the SCA (example: White Scarf)

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND LISTS

• AL100 — making announcements
• AL200 — organizing heraldry for local events
• AL300 — organizing heraldry services for wars
   
• AL110 — helping a field herald
• AL210 — basic field heraldry
• AL310 — advanced topics of field heraldry
   
• AL120 — helping a list herald
• AL220 — basic list heraldry
• AL320 — advanced topics of list heraldry
   
• AL130 — being a support herald for a pas d'armes
• AL230 — being the main herald for a pas d'armes
• AL330 — advanced topics on heraldry for a pas d'armes
   
• AL140 — being a support herald for an equestrian activity
• AL240 — being the main herald for an equestrian activity
• AL340 — advanced topics on heraldry for an equestrian activity
   
• AL150 — pronunciation tips: tricky SCA names, blazonry terms
• AL155 — non-English name pronunciation (Germanic, Celtic, Latin/Romance, Baltic/Slavic, Greek, 'Persian', Uralic, Turkish, 'Oriental', Hebrew, Coptic, etc.)
   
• AL170 — voice projection
• AL175 — American Sign Language for SCA

SCA HERALDIC OFFICE

• HR100 — basic duties of the group herald
• HR105 — doing better paperwork, how to write a letter of introduction
   
• HR110 — names: submission, sources, research
• HR210 — advanced topics on name submissions (languages, countries)
• HR310 — name research tips, foreign lang. sources
   
• HR130 — devices: submission, sources, research
• HR230 — advanced topics on device submissions
• HR330 — device research tips, foreign lang. source
   
• HR150 — running a consultation table
• HR160 — SCA College of Arms: how it works
   
• HR170 — basic conflict checking (prereq: blazonry)
• HR270 — advanced conflict checking, COA commenting
   
• HR180 — basic computer-based conflict checking (prereq: blazonry
• HR280 — advanced computer-based conflict checking

PHILOSOPHY AND HISTORY

• Badges, crests, mottos
• Blazonry in (other language)
• Cadency and marshalling
• Ceremonies (coronation, funeral, grand march, wedding)
• Civic heraldry (cities, guilds, schools, etc.)
   
• College of Arms in England
• CoA equivalent in (other country)
• Ecclestical/religious heraldry
• Etiquette, forms of address
• Famous heralds
   
• Fealty, treaties, alliances
• Genealogy, nobility, peerage
• "The Herald as Fair Witness" (a version of this is taught by Alexander Ravenscroft)
• "The Herald Inviolate" (ditto...)
• Heraldic attire
   
• Herald's duties, privileges
• Heraldry in "Bayeux Tapestry"
• Heraldry in (country)
• Heraldry in scrolls
• How to teach heraldry to children (idea: Irene von Schmetterling)
   
• Livery
• March of precedence
• Regalia
   
• Rolls of Arms
• Titles of heraldic officers
• Titles of nobility
   
• "Heraldic X" in Period
    - what they used/did, when, where, who, why, how
    - why we don't, can't, shouldn't

Below are "extracurricular" classes. Given that credit may be earned for an adult-level class of about 45 minutes or more, these would not count for University credit:

"Heraldic X" for Children (could count for child's education, such as Pages' School)
"Heraldic X" (the quick version, say ten minutes or less)

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Class Logistics

Much of heraldry is visual. Teachers should provide copious visual aids and examples. Teachers should strive to get the students involved and enthusiastic about learning more.

TEACHERS

No certification. The SCA works on the volunteer system. Anyone with guts to teach a class should be allowed to do so.

TESTING FOR CREDIT

The last 5-10 minutes of a class should be saved for a written test of perhaps 8-16 questions that represent a good cross-section of the topic. The answer to each question must be part of the class lecture.

A panel of heralds could review and approve (or reject) the class outlines and tests. Just like with A+S judging, the review should have several positive comments for every negative one, especially if the class is not approved.

A student must score at least 80% correct to receive credit. Notes from any source may be used on the test. Test questions should be true/false or short answer. Other types of questions, such as essay and "problem solving" (such as for blazonry) may be suitable for certain topics.

RANK

Official degrees and honorifics are not recommended, but a simple generic ranking system is offered below.

Rank 0:	Student.
Rank 1:	A teacher has developed a "basic" class, had it approved, and has taught it at least once -OR- has simply taught several basic classes ... preferably with the supervision of a herald with Rank 2 or 3.
Rank 2:	A Rank 1 herald who has developed an "advanced" class, had it approved, and has taught it at least once -OR- has simply taught several advanced classes... preferably with the supervision of at least two heralds with Rank 3.
Rank 3:	Administration panel appointed by the kingdom herald or people the Kingdom Herald designates.

 

ARCHIVES/DATABASE

Someone on the panel could maintain an archive (class database) of approved classes, outlines, and ranking heralds. Class database could include: class ID, class name, class developer (name and contact info). The folder with the class could have an outline, handout, pool of test questions and answers, and descriptions of visual aids (if any).

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Your feedback is most welcome!

 

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Original page posted: August 14, 2002. Last tweaked: July 1, 2006.

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