Seals of Approval : VALLEY CITIES CAPTURE THEIR IMAGES

Often taken for granted as merely letterhead decoration, city seals say a lot about the diverse municipalities they represent. Over the years, cities of the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys have been symbolized with various images, from grapes and cantaloupes to hawks and antelopes.

Although not all seals are trademarks, permission is usually required to reproduce them. Santa Clarita obtained a trademark last year after a City Council member used a modified version of the seal in a campaign letter without obtaining permission.

For many years, Glendale even had two official symbols--the seal, which appeared on documents and stationery, and the emblem, which appeared on city vehicles. Complicating matters, the seal was part of the emblem, and many people believed the emblem was actually the seal.

San Fernando

The San Fernando Mission is technically situated in Mission Hills, under the jurisdiction of the city of Los Angeles. Despite not having the mission within their city limits, the members of the San Fernando City Council unanimously approved the city seal, showing the mission with a rising sun, on Sept. 5, 1911, just a week after incorporation.

Glendale

Glendale’s first city seal, a simple star encircled by the words “City of Glendale, Incorporated February 1906,” was adopted upon the city’s incorporation. In 1924, the city held a contest for a fancier design. The winning entry depicted an eagle perched on a shield above a scroll, with the shield showing the official city mascot, a peacock. (The bird was featured prominently in the city’s prize-winning 1923 Tournament of Roses Parade entry.) The scroll contained the words “The Jewel City.”

By the 1960s, the seal had all but faded from view, save for its appearance on city documents and the city flag. More commonly seen was the city emblem--a circle divided into quadrants depicting City Hall, a bear, a hillside home and a power plant. The city seal, along with its peacock, appeared right in the middle.

The emblem was designed in 1948, but was not considered an official insignia until 1970, when the City Council ended years of confusion and adopted it as the city seal.

Palmdale

If the city is named after the palm, why does it have a Joshua tree on the seal? The answer lies in the city’s past. In 1886, settlers from the Midwest mistook the desert’s Joshua trees for palms and named their town Palmenthal. In 1899, Palmenthal combined with a town nearby called Harold to form Palmdale. It finally incorporated in 1962.

A year later, the city hired a free-lance artist to design the seal. The “First City of the Antelope Valley” reference is said to be a poke at neighboring Lancaster, with which Palmdale had a fierce rivalry. Although Lancaster had more people, stores and clout with the county, it had not yet incorporated. Palmdale’s first city manager, Herb Lehfeldt, recalls, “That was our way of saying we were No. 1.”

Lancaster

Designed by then-Mayor Fred Hann and City Clerk Christine Walters Root, the seal was created shortly after the city’s incorporation in 1977.

The sun represents Lancaster’s typical 300 days of sunshine a year, and the airplane symbolizes the planes tested at nearby Edwards Air Force Base and developed at Air Force Plant 42. The leaping antelope represents the huge herds that used to range in the area, giving Antelope Valley its name. The California poppies are a reminder that Lancaster is home to the California Poppy Reserve, the only state facility dedicated to the state flower.

A train represents the Southern Pacific Railroad, completed in Lancaster in 1867, and Joshua trees, native to the Mojave Desert, celebrate the city’s high desert environment.

Los Angeles

In 1854, Los Angeles city leaders approved a seal depicting a cluster of grapes surrounded by the words “Corporation of the City of Los Angeles.” As it evolved into a place known for more than its grapes, city leaders decided they needed a more elaborate seal.

In 1905, the original seal was replaced with one that better depicted the history and culture of the area. The lion and castle are taken from the Arms of Spain, recounting Spanish rule of Mexico from 1542 to 1821; the eagle holding the snake is taken from the Arms of Mexico, representing the period of Mexican rule from 1822 to 1846; the Bear Flag stands for the California Republic of 1846, and the stars and stripes represent the United States.

The grapes, oranges and olives recall the city’s agricultural roots. A rosary encircling the seal represents the contribution by the mission padres during Los Angeles’ early years.

Calabasas

A red-tailed hawk in flight symbolizes the rural nature and free spirit of the city. The hills symbolize the semi-rural character of the community.

Agoura Hills

The seal is divided into quadrants to signify the four compass points. The key features: an oak tree; the Reyes Adobe, built in 1820 by Don Jose Reyes; Ladyface Mountain, overlooking the city, and Chumash sacred symbols--a drawing of the world that also is divided into the four compass points and, beside it, a Chumash power stick.

Five stars represent the five City Council members; oak leaves signify the present and acorns the future.

Santa Clarita

Adopted in 1988, the seal was created by a design and marketing firm after an earlier citywide contest failed to produce a design that satisfied the City Council. The oak tree, puffy cloud and rolling hills are accompanied by two modern elements of Santa Clarita--an industrial building and tract homes.

Of the contest’s 180 entries, the leading one featured an oak tree, a wagon wheel, a red-tailed hawk and hills. Its designer was awarded the contest’s $500, even though the council declined to use it. Among the whimsical entries: the image of a developer’s bulldozer knocking down an oak, and the image of Spanish settlers, clad in tall hats and bonnets that made them look like Pilgrims.

Burbank

Adopted in 1978, the seal shows City Hall beneath a banner. An airplane symbolizes the city’s aircraft industry, the strip of film and stage light represent motion picture production. The bottom portion depicts the sun rising over the Verdugo Mountains. The original city seal featured a cantaloupe, one of the prominent crops that saved the city during early, difficult years.

Sources: Individual cities.