“James L. Bixby Photographic Collection”, Northwestern University Archives, Evanston IL

“Ralf–Finn Hestoft (Photographer) Photographs of Students, Faculty, Staff, Campus Events, and Scenes on and Off Campus”, Northwestern University Archives, Evanston IL

          The seal’s usage has evolved over time. At one point, in the early 1900’s it was praised as a symbol of prestige, respect, and tradition. It was implemented heavily in many building designs and was valued as an architectural element during these years. Today, the seal does not play the same architectural role as it used to. The design of the university’s campus has seen continual evolution towards futuristic architecture. Buildings feature glass facades, minimalist elements, and flat rooftops which often do not leave room for the seal. The seal’s main purpose now is arguably a simple logo sported on school apparel and as letterheads on paper. This is not to say that the seal is no longer respected, it simply asks the question: how does Northwestern as a university identify with its traditional symbol that represents its history? Some say that the seal should not be plastered everywhere as it takes meaning away from its prestigious identity. Others believe that the seal has lost its meaning and by not featuring it on important edifices, it will continue to lose its meaning and be nothing more than a cool design on a sweatshirt. The Marjorie Wienberg garden, featured in this portfolio, seems to have been an attempt at reassociating the seal's true meaning to its graphic symbol. It is ever more significant because the surrounding campus buildings have very futuristic design elements that leave out the seal as a contributing architectural element.