List of U.S. state and territory mottos
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
All of the United States' 50 states have a state motto, as do the District of Columbia and three US territories. A motto is a phrase meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of an organization. State mottos can often be found on state seals or state flags. Some states have officially designated a state motto by an act of the state legislature, whereas other states only have the motto as an element of their seals. The motto of the United States itself is In God We Trust, which was proclaimed by Congress and signed into law by President Eisenhower on July 30, 1956.[1]
South Carolina has two official mottos, both of which are in Latin.[2] Kentucky also has two mottos, one in Latin and the other in English.[3] All other states and territories have only one motto, except Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, which do not have any mottos, official or unofficial.[4] English and Latin are the most used languages for state mottos, used by 25 and 23 states and territories, respectively. Only six states and territories use another language, of which each language is only used once. Eight states and two territories have their mottos on their state quarter; thirty-eight states and four territories have their mottos on their state seals.
The dates given are, where possible, the earliest date that the motto was used in an official sense. Some state mottos are not official but are on the official state seal; in these cases the adoption date of the seal is given. The earliest use of a current motto is that of Puerto Rico, Johannes est nomen ejus, which was granted to the island by the Spanish in 1511.[5]
[edit] Notes
- ^ The motto was originally designated as Regnant populi in 1864. It was changed to Regnat populus in 1907[11]
- ^ Eureka first appeared on the state seal in 1849. It was designated the official motto in 1963.[12]
- ^ "In God We Trust" first appeared on the state seal in 1868. It was designated the official motto in 2006.
- ^ The motto of Hawaii was first proclaimed by King Kamehameha III in 1843. In May 1845 it first appeared on the coeat of arms of the Kingdom of Hawaii. It was made the official motto of the State of Hawaii on May 1, 1959.[21]
- ^ The unofficial motto of the Minnesota Territory was Quae sursum volo videre, I long to see what is beyond, chosen in 1849.[33]
- ^ Crescit eundo was added to the territorial seal in 1882. Ths change was officially adopted by the legislature in 1887.[41]
- ^ Labor omnia vincit was added to the territorial seal in 1893. It was specified as a feature of the seal in the 1907 State Constitution.[47]
- ^ The motto of Oregon was The Union form 1957 to 1987, when the original 1854 motto of Alis volat propriis was restored.[48]
- ^ The Spanish Crown gave Puerto Rico its coat of arms in 1511. The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico officially re-adopted it in 1976.[5]
- ^ The words "Agriculture" and "Commerce" appeared on the first state seal of 1802. "Agriculture and Commerce" was made the official state motto in 1987.[53]
- ^ "Industry" first appeared on the state seal of 1896. It was designated the official motto on March 4, 1959.[56]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "History of 'In God we Trust'". U.S. Treasury. http://www.treas.gov/education/fact-sheets/currency/in-god-we-trust.shtml. Retrieved on 2009-02-27.
- ^ a b "Seals, Flags, House & Senate Emblems". State of South Carolina. http://www.scstatehouse.gov/studentpage/coolstuff/seal.shtml. Retrieved on 2009-04-10.
- ^ a b "Kentucky's State Symbols". Commonwealth of Kentucky. 01/29/2008. http://kdla.ky.gov/resources/KYSymbols.htm. Retrieved on 2009-02-07.
- ^ a b c Shearer, Benjamin F. (2002). State Names, Seals, Flags, and Symbols (3 ed.). Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 24. ISBN 9780313315343. http://books.google.com/books?id=nCA0UuGlJG8C. Retrieved on 2009-2-15.
- ^ a b c "Escudo de Puerto Rico" (in Spanish). Government of Puerto Rico. http://www.gobierno.pr/GPRPortal/Inicio/PuertoRico/Simbolos/Escudo.htm. Retrieved on 2009-02-10.
- ^ "Official Alabama Motto". Alabama Emblems, Symbols and Honors. Alabama Department of Archives & History. February 13, 2008. http://www.archives.state.al.us/emblems/st_motto.html. Retrieved on 2009-02-06.
- ^ "State Symbols". State of Alaska. http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/oed/student_info/student.htm. Retrieved on 2009-02-07.
- ^ Sorensen, Stan; Theroux, Joseph. "The Samoan Historical Calendar, 1607-2007" (PDF). American Samoa Government. 57. http://americansamoa.gov/history/samhist_forweb.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-03-07.
- ^ "Arizona State Seal". State of Arizona. http://az.gov/webapp/portal/displaycontent.jsp?id=1963. Retrieved on 2009-02-07.
- ^ "History of the Arizona State Seal". Arizona Secretary of State. http://www.azsos.gov/Info/state_seal/history.htm. Retrieved on 2009-02-10.
- ^ a b "The Great Seal of Arkansas" (PDF). State of Arkansas. http://www.soskids.arkansas.gov/civics_curriculum/4th_Grade/Lesson-4-3/4-3-Att1-Great-Seal.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-02-14.
- ^ a b "History and Culture - State Symbols". State of California. http://www.library.ca.gov/history/symbols.html#Heading11. Retrieved on 2009-02-07.
- ^ "Colorado State Archives Symbols & Emblems". State of Colorado. http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/history/symbemb.htm. Retrieved on 2009-02-07.
- ^ "Sites, Seals & Symbols". State of Connecticut. 6/9/2008. http://www.ct.gov/sots/cwp/view.asp?a=3188&q=392608. Retrieved on 2009-02-14.
- ^ "Delaware Facts and Symbols". State of Delaware. 14-Aug-2008. http://portal.delaware.gov/delfacts/gov.shtml. Retrieved on 2009-02-07.
- ^ "About DC". District of Columbia. http://about.dc.gov/about.asp?portal_link=hr. Retrieved on 2009-02-07.
- ^ "What is the state motto of Florida?". State of Florida. http://myflorida.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/myflorida.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=682&p_created=1028703600&p_sid=9zkHj3Ri&p_lva=695&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9MSZwX3Byb2RzPTAmcF9jYXRzPTAmcF9wdj0mcF9jdj0mcF9wYWdlPTEmcF9zZWFyY2hfdGV4dD1tb3R0bw**&p_li=&p_topview=1. Retrieved on 2009-02-07.
- ^ "State Seal". State of Georgia. http://sos.georgia.gov/archives/state_symbols/state_seal.html. Retrieved on 2009-02-14.
- ^ "Georgia State Symbols". State of Georgia. http://www.sos.georgia.gov/archives/state_symbols/state_symbols.html. Retrieved on 2009-04-10.
- ^ "Hawaii, the Aloha State". State of Hawaii. 01-14-2009. http://hawaii.gov/dbedt/info/economic/library/facts/state. Retrieved on 2009-03-02.
- ^ a b "Hawaii State Motto". NETSTATE.COM. http://www.netstate.com/states/mottoes/hi_motto.htm. Retrieved on 2009-02-15.
- ^ "Idaho's State Motto" (PDF). Idaho State Historical Society. March 1970. http://www.idahohistory.net/Reference%20Series/0134.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-02-07.
- ^ "Seal of the State of Illinois". State of Illinois. http://www.sos.state.il.us/general/seal.html. Retrieved on 2009-02-15.
- ^ "Emblems" (PDF). State of Indiana. http://www.in.gov/history/files/Emblems.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-02-07.
- ^ "Iowa State Symbols". State of Iowa. http://www.legis.state.ia.us/Pubinfo/StateSymbols/. Retrieved on 2009-02-07.
- ^ "Kansas Seal". State of Kansas. http://www.governor.ks.gov/Facts/kansasseal.htm. Retrieved on 2009-02-07.
- ^ "Kids' Page". State of Louisiana. http://louisiana.gov/Explore/Kids_Page/. Retrieved on 2009-02-07.
- ^ "Emblems". State of Maine. http://www.maine.gov/legis/senate/statehouse/symbols/Emblems.htm. Retrieved on 2009-02-07.
- ^ "Maryland State Seal - Great Seal of Maryland (reverse)". Maryland State Archives. State of Maryland. April 21, 2005. http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/symbols/reverse.html. Retrieved on 2009-02-14.
- ^ "Maryland State Seal - Great Seal of Maryland". Maryland State Archives. State of Maryland. June 17, 2004. http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/symbols/seal.html. Retrieved on 2009-02-14.
- ^ "Massachusetts Facts". Commonwealth of Massachusetts. http://www.sec.state.ma.us/cis/cismaf/mf1a.htm. Retrieved on 2009-02-10.
- ^ "History of the Great Seal". State of Michigan. http://www.michigan.gov/som/0,1607,7-192-29938-22823--,00.html. Retrieved on 2009-02-14.
- ^ a b "Minnesota State Symbols". State of Minnesota. http://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/Symbols.asp. Retrieved on 2009-03-02.
- ^ "State of Mississippi Symbols". State of Mississippi. http://www.ms.gov/symbols.jsp. Retrieved on 2009-02-10.
- ^ "The Great Seal of Missouri". State of Missouri. http://www.sos.mo.gov/symbols/symbols.asp?symbol=seal. Retrieved on 2009-02-10.
- ^ "About the State Seal". State of Montana. http://sos.mt.gov/About_Office/State_Seal.asp. Retrieved on 2009-02-10.
- ^ "State Seal". State of Nebraska. http://www.sos.ne.gov/symbols/seal.html. Retrieved on 2009-02-10.
- ^ "Nevada Information" (PDF). State of Nevada. http://www.nv.gov/new_KidsHomework_StateSymbols.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-02-10.
- ^ "State Emblem". New Hampshire Almanac. State of New Hampshire. http://www.nh.gov/nhinfo/emblem.html. Retrieved on 2009-02-10.
- ^ "The Great Seal of the State of New Jersey". State of New Jersey. http://www.state.nj.us/state/home/seal.html. Retrieved on 2009-02-10.
- ^ a b "Great Seal of New Mexico". State of New Mexico. http://www.sos.state.nm.us/sos-seal.html. Retrieved on 2009-02-10.
- ^ "New York State Flag and Great Seal of the State of New York". State of New York. March 31, 2008. http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/emblems/flag.htm. Retrieved on 2009-02-10.
- ^ "The State Symbols". State Library of North Carolina. State of North Carolina. 01/22/2009. http://statelibrary.dcr.state.nc.us/NC/SYMBOLS/SYMBOLS.HTM#motto. Retrieved on 2009-02-07.
- ^ Motto "State Motto". State of North Dakota. http://www.nd.gov/content.htm?parentCatID=75&id=State Motto. Retrieved on 2009-02-10.
- ^ "5.06 State motto.". LAW Writer Ohio Laws and Rules. State of Ohio. http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/gp5.06. Retrieved on 2009-02-10.
- ^ "Oklahoma State Icons". State of Oklahoma. http://www.state.ok.us/osfdocs/stinfo.html. Retrieved on 2009-02-15.
- ^ a b "Oklahoma State Motto". Netstate.com. http://www.netstate.com/states/mottoes/ok_motto.htm. Retrieved on 2009-02-15.
- ^ a b "State Motto Timeline". State of Oregon. http://www.leg.state.or.us/history/motto.htm. Retrieved on 2009-02-10.
- ^ "Symbols". Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/pahist/symbols.asp?secid=31. Retrieved on 2009-02-10.
- ^ "Description". Welcome to Puerto Rico. March 16, 2009. http://www.topuertorico.org/descrip.shtml. Retrieved on 2009-04-10.
- ^ "State Symbols". State of Rhode Island. http://www.ri.gov/facts/factsfigures.php. Retrieved on 2009-02-10.
- ^ "Signs and Symbols of South Dakota". State of South Dakota. http://www.state.sd.us/state/sdsym.htm. Retrieved on 2009-02-10.
- ^ a b "Tennessee Symbols And Honors" (PDF). Tennessee Blue Book. State of Tennessee. http://www.state.tn.us/sos/bluebook/07-08/46-Symbols%20&%20Honors.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-02-10.
- ^ "Texas State Symbols". Texas State Library. http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ref/abouttx/symbols.html. Retrieved on 2009-02-10.
- ^ "Great Seal of the State of Utah". State of Utah. http://www.utah.gov/capitolbuilding/greatseal.html. Retrieved on 2009-04-05.
- ^ "Utah State Motto and Emblem". State of Utah. http://pioneer.utah.gov/research/utah_symbols/motto.html. Retrieved on 2009-02-07.
- ^ "491. Coat of arms; crest; motto and badge". The Vermont Statutes Online. State of Vermont. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/statutes/fullsection.cfm?Title=01&Chapter=011&Section=00491. Retrieved on 2009-02-10.
- ^ "State Symbols, Seals and Emblems". Commonwealth of Virginia. 11/12/2008. http://www.virginia.org/site/features.asp?FeatureID=138. Retrieved on 2009-02-10.
- ^ "Legislative Seal". Legislature of the Virgin Islands. http://www.legvi.org/LEGVI2007/history.htm#seal. Retrieved on 2009-02-15.
- ^ "Symbols of Washington State". Washington State Legislature. http://www1.leg.wa.gov/Legislature/StateSymbols/. Retrieved on 2007-03-11.
- ^ "State Seal of West Virginia". State of West Virginia. http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Educational/Kids_Page/5.html. Retrieved on 2009-02-14.
- ^ "Wisconsin State Symbols" (PDF). Wisconsin Blue Book. State of Wisconsin. http://www.legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/bb/07bb/pdf/961-966.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-02-14.
- ^ "Great Seal". Wyoming Secretary of State's Office. http://vote.wyoming.gov/SecretaryDesk/SD-GreatSeal.aspx. Retrieved on 2009-02-14.
[edit] External links
- Mottoes of the 50 States from Netstate.com
- State mottos from State Symbols USA
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