Flashback
50 years ago
The mace
John T. Horton carries the mace on June 10, 1962. Photo: UB ARCHIVES
UB’s mace is carried at the head of academic processions as a symbol of enlightened authority. It was first used at the general commencement ceremony on June 10, 1962. Why no mace before 1962? It could be that no one had asked for one.
In December 1960, UB Chancellor Clifford C. Furnas wrote to John T. Horton, professor of history, informing him of a decision to transfer the responsibility for commencement exercises from the faculty to the administration, while continuing the tradition of having a faculty member head the academic procession. Horton was invited to fill that role for the next two years.
Horton’s response was both prompt and positive. In his letter to Furnas, Horton suggested that his assignment would be more enjoyable if he could be provided with a “massive silver mace” to carry. In his letter, Horton provided a sketch of the envisioned mace.
After some delay, Horton’s suggestion was accepted. California silversmith Hudson Roysher was selected to design and craft the mace. Horton and art professor Philip C. Elliott were to serve as consultants.
The mace was designed to tell the story of the university and the Niagara Frontier, and the words “University and city: community” are lettered in Latin around the knob of the shaft.
Quoting from the description provided in current commencement programs, “The mace is silver with accents of lapis and howlite to represent the university’s colors. It is topped by a miniature walled structure representing the city of Buffalo.
“A band of alternating jewels of lapis and howlite encircles the head of the mace and bears the founding dates of the 13 divisions that composed the university in 1962.
“The UB arms appear on the front of the head. On the back are the arms of the United States, encircled by the name Millard Fillmore and the dates during which he was president and UB chancellor.
“The discovery of Lake Erie in 1669 by Louis Joliet and early explorations by Robert de LaSalle are symbolized on the left side of the head. A crest on the right side symbolizes the university’s role as a dynamic center of human growth and welfare.”
The mace was shipped from California on June 1, 1962, arriving in Buffalo only a couple of days before it was to be used at the 1962 general commencement.
The chair of the UB Faculty Senate now serves as mace bearer.
—John Edens, University Archives
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