Two Washington University graduates have installed sixteen rare and historically important American flags for the debates at Washington University in St. Louis.
With different star and stripe patterns, methods of manufacture, and uses, the flags show how the U.S. grew and developed throughout the 19th century. Revealing not just how the flag changed over time, but also how political campaigns evolved, the flags provide an enlightening historical context in which to view the debates.
Included in this collection is an extremely rare and original 13-star flag from the early 19th century with blue stars on a white star field. This unusual and visually striking flag was later modified for the 1880 presidential campaign when Democrats Winfield S. Hancock and William English placed their names prominently on the flag. Also on display is a large flag associated with Abraham Lincoln’s funeral. The flag flew over the Albany railroad station in New York when Lincoln’s body arrived to be placed in the State Capitol rotunda on April 25, 1865.
The flags are part of the much larger collection of Washington University alumni, Louise Veninga (MA 72) and Ben Zaricor (LA 72), founders of Good Earth® Teas of Santa Cruz, CA. The Presidential Debate display was made possible through the efforts of Washington University in St. Louis, Good Earth® Teas, and The Flag Center, a national, nonprofit educational organization.
The Flag Center was formed following the popular success of its highly acclaimed exhibition, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict, in 2003 at The Presidio of San Francisco. The exhibit featured over 120 original, historic American flags from the last 200 years of the country’s history.
Historic American flags displayed
• 13-Star, 12-Stripe United States Flag, Early 19th Century; Modified for the 1880 Presidential Campaign
Location: Hallway Outside Media Center, North Wall (ZFC0624)
• 13-Star United States Flag (1876) Commemorative Centennial Flag
Location: Media Center, East Wall (ZFC0605)
• 26-Star United States Flag (1837-1845), Political Campaign Parade Flag
Location: Lobby East of the Debate Hall, Framed (ZFC0634)
• 26-Star United States Flag (1837-1845) “Grand Luminary Star Pattern”
Location: Media Center, South Wall (ZFC0696)
• 26-Star United States Flag (1837-1845) “Great Comet Flag or Shooting Star Flag”
Location: Media Center, South Wall (ZFC0606)
• 30-Star United States Flag (1848-1851) Wisconsin Admitted
Location: Media Center, North Side (ZFC0608)
• 31-Star United States Flag (1851-1858) California Admitted
Location: Media Center, West Wall (ZFC0233)
• 33-Star, 10-Stripe United States Flag (1859-1861) The Dodge Family Flag
Location: Media Center, East Wall (ZFC0629)
• 33-Star United States Flag (1859-1861) The American Civil War Begins
Location: Media Center, West Wall (ZFC1403)
• 34-Star United States Flag (1861-1863) “Our Policy: The Will of the People”
Location: Alcove, South of Debate Hall (ZFC0692)
• 34-Star United States Flag (1861-1863) Abraham Lincoln Funeral Flag
Location: Media Center, South Wall (ZFC1241)
• 35-Star United States Flag (1863-1865) “The General Thomas Flag”
Location: Media Center, North Side (ZFC0142)
• 36-Star United States Flag (1861-1863) John Spargo’s Flag – One of the First Historians of the U.S. Flag
Location: Media Center, East Wall (ZFC0647)
• 37-Star United States Flag (1867-1877) “Equal Taxation”
Location: Media Center, North Side (ZFC0619)
• 39-Star United States Flag (1875-1888; Unofficial) “The Flag That Never Was”
Location: Hallway outside Media Center, East Wall (ZFC0688)
• 48-Star United States Flag (1912) First “Peace Flag”
Location: Lobby East of the Debate Hall, Framed (ZFC0635)