Descriptions originally written by Richenda du Jardin and updated by 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, the Archivist and Silver Staple Herald. Laurel is also assisted by the other members of the College 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
+358 400 812 354 (note: Eastern European Time/EET)
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.
Baronesa Sara al-Garnatiyya
pelican@heraldry.sca.org
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
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 (mka Trent le Clair)
exchequer@heraldry.sca.org
Address mail to:
Master Þorkell Palsson, 928 Frazier Dr. Walla Walla WA, 99362
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 (Codex) is the herald responsible for updating the Laurel web site.
Barwn Reis ap Tuder ap Wyn, OP
codex@heraldry.sca.org
Morsulus Herald (Morsulus) is the herald responsible for maintaining and updating the Society's database of armorial registrations. Originally published as a printed book, the data is now distributed through the searchable Ordinary and Armorial website ("the 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.
Master Herveus d'Ormonde
morsulus@heraldry.sca.org
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 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).
Autrou Ollivier Le Floch
ragged-staff@heraldry.sca.org
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 Argentoune
archivist@heraldry.sca.org
Silver Staple Herald is responsible for editing, production and distribution of the Letter of Acceptances and Returns including consulting a team of proofreaders as well as collating changes from the various Sovereigns of Arms.
Magistra Emma de Fetherstan
postmeeting@heraldry.sca.org
Quarterstaff Herald (Quarterstaff), works with Wreath to provide redraws to address concerns with submitted armorial artwork as part of the pend-for-redraw process.
Ragna stórráða Úlfsdóttir
redraw@heraldry.sca.org
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.