Newton Group Invites You To Take A Closer Look At The City Seal

NEWTON, MA — The group looking into whether the symbol visitors to Newton City Hall have been stepping over for the past eight decades is still relevant in the 21st century is presenting some findings on the seal's history Thursday.

This summer, Mayor Ruthanne Fuller appointed a working group to look into the seal. The move comes as municipalities across the country are taking closer looks at the symbols that represent them, from the state flag to team mascots to statutes such as Christopher Columbus amid greater awareness of just how those symbols can affect marginalized populations.

The city symbol, created in 1865, depicts a white man fully dressed with his hand out, as if making a point, facing a group of Native Americans all with feathers in their hair. Two Native Americans are sitting or crouching and one is leaning against a tree, all appear to be partially clothed. The words "liberty and union, Nonantum" are written in an inner circle around the symbol and an outer circle has the words "Newton Founded 1630 Incorporated A Town 1688 A City 1873."

According to Historic Newton this is depicting something that is believed to have actually happened in Newton.

"The seal depicts the scene of Rev. John Eliot proselytizing to Native Americans in 1646. Eliot was an English minster who felt called to convert indigenous people to Christianity, which aligned with the Massachusetts Bay Colony's charter mandate," according to Historic Newton.
The preaching scene is said to have happened at Eliot Memorial park near today's Newton Commonwealth Golf Course.

The working group, made up of 16 people, including residents and historians, began meeting twice a month in September 2020. The group will report back to Fuller with recommendations about whether to change the seal, and, if so, what that design might look like. The city council will then vote on any final changes.

On Thursday evening will share their findings about the seal's history.

The presentation, "A Closer Look at Newton’s City Seal" will begin at 5 p.m. and answer questions like: Why did city leaders in 1865 choose an image of Christian missionary John Eliot proselytizing to Waban and other native people in the 1640s? What does the image convey? Register here.

The group is also asking for community input on two key questions: If you were to talk about the City in three words, what would they be? And what would you like Newton to be known for?

There's also a community meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19 where residents can share 3-minute responses to those questions. Or you can send your answers to cityseal@newtonma.gov.

As part of the community input process, the group is also reaching out to invite representatives from local Native American communities to hear their contemporary perspectives on the city emblem.

Read more: Newton To Rethink City Seal, Flag

• Also: Cambridge Removes 'Offensive' State Flag
• Newton Votes To Change Columbus Day To Indigenous Peoples' Day

Jenna Fisher is a news reporter for Patch. Got a tip? She can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna). Have a something you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how .