The State Seal of Idaho was adopted on March 14, 1891, shortly after Idaho became a state on July 3, 1890. The seal was designed by prominent artist and suffragette, Emma Edwards Green.
The design of the seal features a miner and a woman, representing Idaho’s mining and agriculture industries, respectively. The miner is depicted with a pick and shovel, while the woman holds a sheaf of wheat and a cornucopia, symbolizing the state’s abundant natural resources. The two figures stand on either side of a shield, which bears the state motto, “Esto perpetua” (“Let it be perpetual”), as well as images of mountains, a river, and a forest.
Above the shield is a banner that reads “State of Idaho,” and below the shield is another banner with the state’s Latin motto, “Salve,” which means “Welcome.” The entire design is encircled by 43 stars, representing Idaho’s status as the 43rd state to join the Union.
The design of the seal features a miner and a woman, representing Idaho’s mining and agriculture industries, respectively. The miner is depicted with a pick and shovel, while the woman holds a sheaf of wheat and a cornucopia, symbolizing the state’s abundant natural resources. The two figures stand on either side of a shield, which bears the state motto, “Esto perpetua” (“Let it be perpetual”), as well as images of mountains, a river, and a forest.
Above the shield is a banner that reads “State of Idaho,” and below the shield is another banner with the state’s Latin motto, “Salve,” which means “Welcome.” The entire design is encircled by 43 stars, representing Idaho’s status as the 43rd state to join the Union.
Emma Edwards Green
Emma Edwards Green (1855–1956) was a prominent American artist and suffragette, best known for her work designing state seals and other government emblems. She was born in New Haven, Connecticut and grew up in a family of artists and writers.
Green studied art in Paris, where she became interested in heraldry and the design of seals and emblems. In 1891, she was commissioned by the State of Montana to design its state seal, which features a miner, a plow, and the state motto, “Oro y plata” (“Gold and Silver”). The design was a success, and it is said that Green went on to contribute to the design of seals for several other states, including Montana, Wyoming, and Washington.
In addition to her work as a designer of state seals, Green was also an active supporter of women’s suffrage. She served as president of the New York State Federation of Women’s Clubs, and was a member of the National American Woman Suffrage Association. Her artwork often reflected her political beliefs, and she used her designs to promote the cause of women’s rights.
Green lived to the age of 101 and remained active in her art and activism throughout her life. She was recognized for her contributions to American art and culture with several awards and honors, including induction into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 2002.
