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USMA Class RingsThe tradition of class rings at American colleges and universities is believed to have originated at West Point when members of the class of 1835 designed their own rings, which were purchased at private expense and made to individual order. In 1836, no ring was adopted, but in the following year the custom was taken up again, and has been consistently observed ever since. Because most officers rode, many of the rings show wear from the rubbing action of the reins. In 1881, the rings began to show some uniformity of design. Prior to 1897, the stone was an engraved seal or signet with the class motto, although occasionally personal initials were also used. 1897 saw the change from an engraved seal to a purely ornamental stone. After 1898, the Academy motto "Duty, Honor, Country" was the only motto to be placed on the ring. By 1917, it had become customary to place a class crest on one side of the ring and the Academy crest on the other; a standard die design was instituted for each class, so that individual preference was limited to the stone, which is selected by the owner. Here, only the rings of deceased graduates are displayed. The rings of three of the Academy's most famous graduates are featured in the center of the case:
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur (USMA 1903) |