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Cambridge, Massachusetts (U.S.)

image from www.state.ma.us/bsb/images/Cambridge.jpg
(obverse)

Description of the flag
Reverse of the flag
Harvard University

See also:

State of Massachusetts

Description of the flag

A white flag with the city seal in the center. It consists of an outer yellow-lined ring with the text LITERIS ANTIQVIS NOVIS INSTITVTIS DECORA and CIVICO REGIMINE DONATA A.D. 1646. The center of the seal is divided blue over white, with an illustration of a blue building and tree, with a gold garland above, and a red ribbon below. On the ribbon is written CANTABRIGIA (Cambridge in Latin) in yellow, and below on the white field in yellow CONCITA A.D. 1636. Cambridge is in Middlesex County.
Dov Gutterman, 27 November 2002

Reverse of the flag

image by Dave Martucci

The obverse of a variant of the flag I studied at City Hall in 1972 shows a single tree on a blue field, with a red ribbon stating CANTABRIGIA.
Dave Martucci, 1 December 2002

Harvard University

image by Joe McMillan

The oldest university in the United States, founded in 1636 as Harvard College, named for its principal early benefactor, John Harvard. Harvard coat of arms is Gules three open books proper inscribed VE, RI, and TAS (spelling out "veritas," Latin for "truth." The coat of arms first appears in a sketch in the records of a meeting of the college's Overseers in 1644. A version with a white chevron between the three books (now used as the arms of Harvard College as the undergraduate element of Harvard University) appears on the institution's 1650 charter from the Massachusetts Great and General Court (legislature). However, the arms fell out of use and were lost to memory thereafter until they were rediscovered and returned to use as a result of research in preparation for Harvard's bicentennial celebrations in 1836. For that event a white banner was made with the shield on it. Harvard now uses a banner of the arms for both daily flying and ceremonial use. In addition, the components of the university including Harvard College, specialized schools, and undergraduate residential houses have their own arms as well as flags that mostly consist of the escutcheon on a crimson or other solid field.
Joe McMillan, 11 March 2004