The Rotary emblem, a symbol of the organization since 1924, has undergone several transformations since its inception in 1905. Initially sketched by Montague M. Bear, a member of the Rotary Club of Chicago, the emblem began as a simple wagon wheel with 13 spokes. Fellow members criticized the design as static, prompting Bear to add flourishes that gave the wheel a dynamic appearance, though some found the clouds he added resembled dust. To address feedback, Bear introduced a banner reading “Rotary Club” over the clouds. By 1911, the emblem’s design was formalized, with Secretary Chesley R. Perry advocating for a standardized wheel as the core of every club’s emblem. Clubs submitted designs ahead of the 1912 Duluth convention, where guidelines were established, including gears on the wheel’s edge to symbolize power and strength.
The emblem’s evolution continued through the early 20th century, with Charles Mackintosh and Oscar Bjorge leading efforts to standardize it. Bjorge’s 1919 design featured six spokes and 24 cogs, aiming to reflect a functional gearwheel rather than historical references. In