Bristol student history society drops university’s logo from fleeces over links to slave trade

The University of Bristol History Society has dropped the university's crest from its fleeces over links to the slave trade.

The student society said it will use its own logo instead of the unviersty’s on its fleeces as the latter “glorifies” family names who profited from the slave trade. 

The university has already announced plans to remove Edward Colston’s dolphin emblem from its logo - but the sun symbol of the Wills family and the horse emblem of the Frys will remain.    

In a post on X announcing their new fleeces, the history society said: “We have chosen to use our society's logo instead of the university's, due to the glorification of family names who profited from enslaved trafficking, labour, and products.  

“We decided this as a committee before the university announced they would remove the Colston dolphin from their logo.

“This is not limited to just Colston. The Wills (sun) and Fry (horse) families also have problematic histories regarding the trafficking of enslaved persons. 

“We do not want to exhibit the crest, knowing this history, as it is at odds with the values of our committee and also the wider community.”

In November last year, the University of Bristol said it will alter its logo to remove the dolphin emblem of slave trader Edward Colston. 

But the university also said it will not change the name of its buildings named after people with slave trade links - despite calls to do so.

A spokesperson for the university said previously: “Colston was a 17th century investor in the slave trade whose statue was toppled into Bristol Docks during a Black Lives Matters protest in 2020.    

“The University received no funding from Colston, who died nearly 200 years before the University was founded, but his personal emblem – the dolphin – formed part of the institution’s crest and modern logo.” 

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He added: “The Wills and Fry families helped found the university in the early 20th century through substantial financial gifts. 

“While the families did not own or traffic in enslaved people, the products that their 18th and early 19th century predecessors dealt in - such as tobacco, sugar and cocoa - were connected to enslaved labour.” 

In response to the history society's decision, a university spokesperson said: “The University of Bristol Students’ Union, democratically led by students, is home to over 350 sports clubs and societies, including the History Society, and it is their choice how they use their clubs and societies logo.    

“We announced last November, following a public consultation with students, staff and local communities, Edward Colston’s dolphin emblem will be removed from the university logo. The sun symbol of the Wills family and the horse emblem of the Fry’s will remain reflecting the wider decision around retaining building names.   

“We understand that not everyone will agree with our decision. But we cannot forget our connection to our founders - even if that connection is uncomfortable. Because it is through education and awareness that we create positive change.”