Herff Jones has a rich history – a history that is also one of growth. Harry Herff and Randall Jones, who began their business in an old fire engine building on Capitol Avenue in downtown Indianapolis, founded Herff Jones in 1920. The company started out manufacturing class rings, medals, pins and other emblematic jewelry. Back in the 1940s, Herff Jones manufactured bullet dies for the war effort and was later commissioned to produce the Bronze Star.
Over the years, the company has added yearbooks, graduation announcements and accessories, diplomas, caps and gowns, diploma frames to the list of products it manufactures. Although both publicly and privately held throughout its history, the company became 100% employee-owned in 1995.
With manufacturing facilities across the United States, Herff Jones serves thousands of colleges and high schools across the country, along with countless grade schools, middle schools, churches, commercial firms, sports teams, movie and photography studios and even courtrooms.
In addition, Herff Jones has had the distinctive honor of manufacturing some of the nation’s most prestigious recognition products, including the Naismith® Award, the Spirit Award, robes for many federal and state Supreme Court Justices and numerous collegiate championship rings and awards. Recently these have included the NCAA championship rings at the University of Florida and the Super Bowl XLI rings for the Indianapolis Colts.
Celebrating achievement was always the company’s blueprint, and the corporation grew focusing on recognition, motivation and education. Today Herff Jones has joined with Varsity Spirit and BSN Sports under the larger umbrella of Varsity Brands.
With a mission to inspire achievement and create memorable experiences for young people, Varsity Brands elevates the student experience, promotes participation and celebrates achievement through three unique but interrelated businesses: Herff Jones, A Varsity Achievement Brand; BSN SPORTS, a Varsity Sport Brand; and Varsity Spirit.
Our experience in the industry makes us fully qualified to preserve and build traditions, whether we initiate them, whether they were initiated in the last decade or whether they were started over 100 years ago.