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What is the Stewart Logo?
| In 1990, membership Chairman Monroe Stewart noted that some new members mistook the CSSA logo (the shield) for that of a Scottish parent organization or an authentic Stewart relic. In reality, it was crafted in 1980 by Chairman Donald Macleay and J.C. Thompson, a genealogist, heraldic specialist, and author of the prescriptive So You Want to Wear the Kilt? For the 1996 Annual General Meeting, member and professional artist Orby Walker added the belt and sword to the design. Subsequently, the society voted to adopt the new version of the logo. The cooperative effort by these three members is a testament to the thought and care that went into creating our logo. The logo's theme exemplifies the unity of Clan Stewart's ties between Canada, the United States, and Scotland. The maple leaves represent Canada, and the stars represent the United States of America. In heraldic terms, the blue and white checkered belt fesse chequy is widely seen in ancient and modern Scotland, from police cap bands to the Royal Stewart crest, creating a sense of connection and continuity. The checkered belt, a unique feature of our logo, is not used by any other clan organization in the United States. This distinctiveness has made it the identifier for Clan Stewart and the Stuart family, a source of pride and exclusivity for our society. The name of our society's newsletter, the Fesse Chequy, reflects this unique identification. You can spot the fesse chequy (Pron: fess checky) on various CSSA materials, including letterheads, tent signs, membership cards, brochures, and CSSA pins. Its widespread use in our branding ensures its visibility and recognition. |
What Does “Suas Stiubhart!” Mean?
Suas Stiubhart! (pron.: SOO-us SHTOO-urt) is Gaelic for “Up (with) the Stewarts!” It was the Stewart battle cry and sounds great when a couple dozen of us shouts it out at a Parade of Tartans.
Is CSSA Related to the British Stewart Society?
The short answer is “no”. While CSSA maintains cordial relations with the much older Stewart Society, the two organizations are not, and never have been, affiliated except in common interest. An expression of our regard for the Stewart Society is that its Presidents have been extended Honorary Membership in CSSA; and wherever possible, we provide publicity for their interesting activities such as their anniversary celebrations and their AGMs in Scotland. Membership requirements for the two Societies are markedly different. Many CSSA members, however, are also members of the Stewart Society and even hold regional offices.
The CSSA Badge…Or is It?
One of the first things many new members do is buy a “Galloway” pin to wear as proud identification. While Galloway is the senior of surviving branches of the Stuarts/Stewarts, we owe no allegiance to it or any other. The problem is that a badge has never been formally adopted by Clan Stewart for any official or identifying purpose. Moreover, the use of the Galloway pin for Stewarts unaffiliated with a particular sept seems to have “jist growed”, possibly encouraged by vendors and perhaps by veteran members who believed it had been adopted for official CSSA use. What then should be worn as a badge? Preference is certainly that it be the badge of any sept with which one prefers to be affiliated: Appin, Atholl, Bute, Galloway, or other smaller clusters. (The concept of sept, by the way, is strongly suspect.) We use it, although it has no historic heraldic validity, mainly because most other North American clan associations do. Perhaps it may help a little in that search for unity with our forebears we seek when we join a heritage organization. |
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Do Royal Stuarts still exist?
No. No matter what your family tradition. The last of the Royal Stuarts, the Cardinal Henry, brother of Charles Edward, “The Bonnie Prince”, died without issue in 1807. Several claims have been made to the lineage, but none has been substantiated, and none is accepted by Clan Stewart. Clan Stewart recognizes NO Chief of clan, nor Chief of the Stuarts.