Academic Apparel
The Jewel and Chain of Office
The Jewel of Office of Indiana University is worn by the president of the university on ceremonial occasions. Presented to Indiana University in 1946 by the Pi Chapter of Beta Theta Pi, the Jewel of Office is handcrafted of gold-plated sterling silver and precious jewels. Each part of the design has a symbolic meaning that reflects Indiana University’s historic origin and educational mission.
The Jewel is bordered with leaves and flowers of the trailing arbutus, the Indiana University flower. The center background carries eight piercings in the shape of the arbutus leaf. The 22 lines engraved between these piercings represent the number of states in the Union at the time the university was founded in 1820.
Engraved on the front of the Jewel are the dates of the founding of the State of Indiana and of the university’s development from a seminary to a university: The State 1816; The Seminary 1820; The College 1828; The University 1838.
Three emeralds at the lower left of the Jewel represent the three states carved out of the Northwest Territory by 1820. Three sapphires at the upper left stand for the executive, judicial, and legislative branches of the State of Indiana. Three topaz stones at the upper right represent reading, writing, and arithmetic, and three rubies at the lower right symbolize the arts, the sciences, and the humanities.
At the center of the Jewel, bordered in red enamel, is the Indiana University seal. Eight fully cut diamonds encircle the seal to represent the eight colleges of Indiana University at the time the Jewel was presented.
The Jewel of Office is attached to the Chain of Office by an emblem of arbutus leaves encircling the seal of the State of Indiana. The Chain of Office, which was donated to the university in 1958 by the Lambda Chapter of Sigma Chi, is also handcrafted of gold-plated sterling silver and contains 44 linked panels. Eight of the panels are engraved with the names of those who have served as president of Indiana University since the Jewel of Office was first worn as the symbol of the presidency: Herman B Wells, Elvis J. Stahr Jr., Herman B Wells (interim), Joseph L. Sutton, John W. Ryan, Thomas Ehrlich, Myles Brand, and Adam W. Herbert.
