Abilene weekly reflector., 1921-07-14
KEEPING HISTORY STRAIGHT

refers to story that 1t was designed
by an Italian. J. X. Harrison mas
dug into history and says:
The article by Sol Miller In the
White Cloud Chief OF. June IL, 1854,
reads: "The following Is c0rrect
history of the motto Of the Kansas
State Seal and its meaning-'Ad
astra per aspera' When 1t was deter
mined to procure a seal, premium
was offered to the person who couid
furnish the best design. A great
many specimens were sent IN
among them was one from a 'skillful
italian designer and engraver In
New York named AdOlph Astra. The
design was accompanied by a NOTE
from the engraver, written by MS
clerk and bookkeeper, Andrea Spera.
The note concluded thus: trust the
design will prove acceptable; IN
which case would, If desired, pro-
nose an appropriate motto, 'Ad AS
pera per A. Spera.' The committee
were so delighted with the design,
which was that Of our present state
SEAL that they Immediately adopted
it. They mistook the signature 1or
a motto and also adopted that, think
ing IL had reference to the manner
i'm which the buffaloes on the seal
threw their tails
The present state seal Of Kansas
was adopted by the first session OF
the legislature that met under the
new state constitution. This session
met at Topeka on Tuesday, March
20, 1861. In his message to the leg
islature, Governor Charles Robinson
called attention to the requirements
of the state constitution with respect
to seal and recommended that the
legislature adopt one. This part OF
the message was referred to the SEN
ate committee on ways and means
ON April 3. On April 8, the senate
adopted a resolution that a commit
tee Of three be appointed to confer
with similar committee from the
house In recommending design fol
the great seal of the state OF Kan
sas. A similar committee was nam
cd by the house and these two COM
mittees had numerous conferences.
Various designs for seals and mot
toes were submitted to the two com
mittees. A design by John H. Nc
tDowell consisted Of a landscape very
similar to the one subsequently
adopted with the motto: "We WILL
This motto was amended to I'VE
won." John J. ingalls, was the sec
retary of the senate and he submit
ted a design that consisted "of blue
shield at the base Of cloud, out OF
which was emerging one silver stal
to toin the constellation In the frma-
ment, comprising the thirty four then
In the Union, with the motto: 'Ad
astra per aspera.'" The house and
senate journals show that the two
committees were unable to agree
and that conference committees were
finally appointed.
+ In the Leavenw0rth Cnservative oi
1 May co. 1851, letter from Topeka
'tappeafed that In part reads as fol
lows ."The yexed question Of a state
seal has at last received Its quietus
at the hands OF the conference com
4 mittee, The new design embraces q
prairie landscape with buffalo pur.
sued by Indian hunters. a settlers
cabin, n river with steamboat,
cluster Of thirty -four stars, surround
i ing the legend, 'Ad astra per aspera,
fthe whole encircled by the words.
i Great .seal of the State OF Kansas
1891" No name was signed to thii
letter. but D. w. Wilder, who wal
editor Of the Conservative. says II
his ANNALS of Kansas" that JohI
III. ingalls, wrote the letter. Forme
Governor John A. Martin Of Atchi
J son was a member OF the conference
committee and he gave ingalls,. credi
for submitting to the committee tn
motto that was finally adopted.
The design that was finally adopt
ed is a combination Of the design
submitted by Mcdowell and ingalls,
In a letter to f. d. Coburn. datet
October 10. 1888, ingalls, ciaimet
credit for the motto, "Ad astra re
aspera," and explained how his orig
inal plan was changed. The evidsnc'
available points to John ]. ingalls, a
entitled to the credit of selecting ou
state motto. The only other ,olain
that appears to have any suppor
i whatever is that of Judge Josial
Miller OF Lawrence, wholwas mem
Der of the senate committee to selec
, seal. The claim in behalf Of Judg
Miller was made by Rey.i Richar'
Cordley years after the death Of MIN
|. er. Miller may have bean, the fFs
one to think of tie motto, which q
Ingalls, says. D ~ old al :histofy, NJ
the evidence tends to show that In
gals suggestedsfhe motto tpsthe com
mittee. Az for Adolph Astra men
toned by Sol Miller, we have beeI
4 unable to fnd any mention. Of thi
lDago In the records In connsctioI
4 Sih % s1si. pf its adoption Tn
4 ftDort 6f John W. Robinson. ,sscrs
tary Of state, for 1861 says tina
"the state seal and seals for SOM
i Of the state officers were procure'
Ieariy after the adjournment Of tn
II legislature" which was IN June
1881. The report Of the state audi
j tor for 1867 contains this item 2
money paid: "H6tate OK o'shawnessy