^{This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website}

The George Washington University (U.S.)

District of Columbia

image by António Martins-Tuválkin, 25 May 2009

Description of the flag
Burgee
Seal
Logo
Supporters flags

See also:

Description of the flag

Founded as Columbian College in 1821; took on its present name in 1904. Although originally established as a Baptist institution with the main mission of training clergymen and missionaries, GWU has long since lost any noticeable denominational identity; it now operates as a non-sectarian private university with an enrollment of about 15,000 students. The flag formerly flew outside the old university hospital--recently razed after the construction of a new building. It was also displayed inside the university's Lisner Auditorium, traditionally one of the main performing arts venues in Washington.

The flag--buff with a dark blue cross bearing the university seal on the center--was designed by Frederick D. Owen and officially displayed for the first time on 22 February 1905. Owen also designed the seal, which shows a shield bearing the bust of George Washington below a book inscribed with the first four verses of the Gospel of John in Greek. The shield is surrounded by the motto "Deus nobis fiducia," which is essentially a Latin translation of the U.S. national motto "In God we trust." Unfortunately, traditional symbols of the university have largely been displaced in recent years by advertising-agency style "wordmarks" and logos, so neither the seal nor the flag are very visible these days.

Sources on history of flag and seal:
http://www.gwu.edu/gelman/archives/almanac/essays/firstwinterg.html
http://www.gwu.edu/~newsctr/newscenter/guide/1_tour/armsandseal.html

Joe McMillan, 9 January 2004

The flag flies in at least two places on campus, officially in front of the University's administrative building, Rice Hall on I Street, and in the University Yard.
Joe Bondi, 15 May 2009

Photo of flag archived here.
Branding: https://creativeservices.gwu.edu/color-palette
Dave Fowler, 11 September 2022

Burgee

image by António Martins-Tuválkin, 25 May 2009

I am the advisor to the sailing team and recently have overseen the development of the team's official burgee, based on the University flag.
Joe Bondi, 15 May 2009

Seal

image located by Paul Bassinson, 26 February 2017
Source: trustees.gwu.edu

Logo

image located by Dave Fowler, 11 September 2022

Supporters flags

image located by Paul Bassinson, 6 December 2023
Source: https://m.media-amazon.com

image located by Paul Bassinson, 6 December 2023
Source: https://m.media-amazon.com/

image located by Paul Bassinson, 6 December 2023
Source: https://cdn.printerval.com

image located by Paul Bassinson, 6 December 2023
Source: https://m.media-amazon.com