The Brandeis University Women’s Committee, now known as the Brandeis National Committee (BNC), is a membership organization founded in 1948 to support Brandeis University through philanthropy, learning, and community. The organization was known as the Brandeis Women’s National Committee from 1948 to 2008, and its local chapters have supported the university since its founding.[1][2]
Design and History
The committee’s visual identity is attributed to Joseph Selame, a prominent American logo designer who founded Selame Design in 1960 with his wife, Elinor.[3] Selame served as graphics consultant to Brandeis University from 1962 to 1970, a period that overlaps with the committee’s early decades.[4] A logo database listing Selame’s work includes a mark for the Brandeis University Women’s Committee, confirming his connection to the organization’s identity.[5]
The committee’s logo appeared on printed materials, including a card illustrated with the Brandeis University National Women’s Committee logo held in the Tulane University Digital Library.[6] A commemorative pin from 1998, marking the organization’s 50th anniversary, features the number 50 encircled by the text “Brandeis University National Women’s Committee,” suggesting the organization’s name was a central element of its identity at that time.[7]
Meaning and Symbolism
Documented symbolism for the committee’s logo is limited. The organization’s mission, as stated by Brandeis University, is to support the university through philanthropy, learning, and community, and its programs reflect ideals of social justice and academic excellence.[2][8] However, no primary source provides a detailed explanation of specific symbolic elements within the logo itself.
In 1988, artist James Rosenquist created a color lithograph titled “In Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Brandeis University National Women’s Committee, 1948-1988,” held in the collection of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.[9] This commemorative artwork, while not the committee’s official logo, reflects the organization’s practice of marking milestone anniversaries through commissioned visual works.
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