By Secretary of State Phil McGrane
Bringing Idaho’s Great Seal to Life
When Emma Edwards Green stepped off the train in Boise in the summer of 1890, she was simply visiting relatives. But the 34-year-old artist, fresh from art school in New York, saw something special here, and Idaho saw something special in her. She created the design selected as the Great Seal of our newly minted state. Idaho became the only state in the nation with a seal designed by a woman, and Emma never left.
A New Exhibit in Our Office
This holiday season, I invite you to visit our newly unveiled lobby exhibit, created in partnership with the Idaho State Historical Society. For the first time in our office, you can see a replica of Emma’s original 1891 seal displayed alongside the familiar Paul B. Evans version adopted in 1957. Seeing them side by side offers a rare glimpse into the seal’s evolution and the care taken to preserve its meaning.
The exhibit tells Emma’s remarkable story, including how she consulted with members of Idaho’s first Legislature to ensure her design captured the state’s resources and possibilities. It highlights the intentional symbolism she layered into the seal, from the protected elk and the syringa at the woman’s feet to the star representing “a new light in the galaxy of states.”
Connecting Past and Present
The exhibit also includes a nod to modern-day Idaho, connecting Emma Edwards Green’s legacy to the Spirit of Idaho Women monument on the Capitol grounds, and sharing the story behind its creation and artistic vision.
I hope you’ll visit our office during this season, or any time of year, to experience the exhibit and learn more about the Great Seal. We are fortunate to be stewards of such a rich history in a Gem State that truly lives up to its name.
Phil McGrane
About Phil McGrane
Phil McGrane was elected Idaho’s twenty-eighth Secretary of State and took office on January 2, 2023. McGrane served as elected Clerk of Ada County from 2019-2022. McGrane holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy, a juris doctorate, and a Master of Public Administration. As a fourth-generation Idahoan, Phil has dedicated his career to making elections in the state of Idaho accessible, secure and transparent.
