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Cherry and Silver
By Terry Gugliotta
The most common origin of New Mexico's school colors dates back nearly 100
years. Apparently, the school colors in the early 1890s were black and gold. Ms.
Harriet Jenness, a faculty member who taught drawing, delsarte (drama), penmanship
and music, suggested a change in school colors because black and gold did not give a
true feeling of New Mexico. She suggested the crimson evening glow of the majestic
Sandia mountains to the east. The silver came from when students and faculty took
picnics in the Sandias and noted the Rio Grande looked like a silver ribbon winding
through the valley below. Her ideas were enthusiastically adopted by the faculty
and staff. The crimson was later changed to cherry, the color of a Sandia sunset.
Miss Jenness died in 1895, two years before the colors were adopted as "official."
From 1973-79, turquoise was integrated into the official school colors, at
least, for the athletics teams. The football team wore turquoise jerseys at home
during those years. Cherry and silver returned as the predominant colors in 1980.
For the University's 100th birthday in 1989, a new logo was designed and turquoise (teal actually) was the main color. An array of blues were used until President Richard Peck began encouraging departments to use the University's traditional colors, Cherry and Silver. His encouragement had mixed results. In June 2007, University Communication & Marketing Published
University Identity Standards- A Manuel for Building a Stronger Identity. This booklet defined the University's standards and applications for the use of the University's seal and logo as well as the accepted "cherry" and "silver" palette. |
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