A symbol of authority and order, the Meredith College Mace is traditionally carried at the head of an academic procession, most notably at commencement exercises. The Mace was a gift of Egbert L. Davis Jr. in memory of his wife, Eleanor Layfield Davis. Eleanor Davis was a 1932 graduate of Meredith College, a college trustee and an artist.
The Mace was first used during graduation in May, 1989.
Commissioned by Mr. Davis from Schiffman's, Inc., a North Carolina jeweler, the Mace was designed by Rebecca Allmendinger Schiffman. The Mace is capped by a Meredith Iris atop the Lux seal, enameled in white, maroon and gold. The Lux is wreathed by gilded silver oak leaves and acorns, which along with the natural oak staff, represents the college's long identification with Raleigh, the "City of Oaks." Hand-engraved on one side of the ellipse-shaped bowl are the Main Building (1899) on the original downtown campus, and on the other side, the Johnson Administration Building (1926) on the current campus.
Dr. Rosemary Hornak and donor Egbert L. Davis with the new ceremonial mace (1990.)
Eleanor Layfield Davis, as she appeared in the 1932 Oak Leaves.
In 1991, Dr. Jean Jackson carried the Mace during the 1991 celebration of the centennial of the Meredith College charter.
Dr. Garry Walton (1992) and Dr. Jean Jackon (1995) head the commencement processions.
Carlyle Campbell Library
Meredith College
3800 Hillsborough St.
Raleigh, NC 27607
919-760-8532
