Exhibits Title information is available upon specific request. Additional information available upon request to researchers, writers and others demonstrating special circumstances. In some situations, information may not be available.

Exhibition Copy

First Presidio Exhibit (ZFC0422) Twenty-One-Star ("Grand Luminary") United States Flag Date: 1819-1820 Medium: Cotton; all hand sewn Comment: On December 3rd, 1818, Illinois was admitted into the Union as the 21st state. Hence, in accordance with the provisions of the Flag Act of 1818, on July 4th, 1819, a new United States flag with twenty-one stars became official. The makers of this flag evidently were unable to secure wool bunting for the field and "canton" of the flag they needed and made it entirely of cotton instead. Rather than beginning with a red stripe, they chose to commence the alternating stripes with a white stripe. (While this is heraldically proper, it is unlikely that the makers of this flag knew or cared about the intricacies of heraldry.) Although commencing and ending the United States flag with horizontal red stripes was fast becoming the tradition, nothing in the adoptive legislation specified that the red stripes took this precedence. The makers of this flag chose to arrange the stars in the form of a "grand luminary". This pattern, emphasizing the notion of "from many one" (the direct translation of our Latin national motto - "E Pluribus Unum") had been popularized during the debate over the 1818 Flag Act by Captain S.G. Reid, whose wife had sewn the first flag of the new design that flew over Congress. Mrs. Reid's flag bore its twenty stars in this same "grand luminary" pattern; however, Congress chose not to incorporate the star pattern as part of its legislation. Nevertheless, the "grand luminary" design remained popular among some flag manufacturers for another sixty years. Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0422) in 1997; ex-N. Flayderman Collection. Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 - Gallery II (ZFC0422) 21-Star "Grand Luminary" United States Flag Date: 1819-1820 21 Stars: July 4, 1819-July3, 1820 (Illinois statehood December 3, 1818) Media: Cotton; hand-sewn Comment: Following Illinois' admission into the Union, in accordance with the provisions of the Flag Act of 1818 a new United States flag with 21 stars became official. The makers of this specific flag evidently were unable to secure the usual wool bunting for constructing it and instead made it entirely of cotton. Rather than beginning with a red stripe, they chose to commence the alternating stripes with a white one. Although commencing and ending the American flag with horizontal red stripes was fast becoming the established practice, nothing in the relevant legislation specified that the red stripes were to take precedence. The flag makers chose to arrange the stars in the shape of a "Grand Luminary." This pattern emphasized the notion that the country formed a unity out of its many states and territories, as suggested by the nation's Latin motto "E Pluribus Unum." Captain Samuel C. Reid had popularized the star design during the debate over the 1818 Flag Act. His wife had sewn the first flag that flew over Congress. While Mrs. Reid's flag bore the Grand Luminary arrangement, Congress chose not to incorporate that star pattern into its legislation. Nevertheless, that distinctive design remained popular among flag manufacturers for another 60 years.

Publications Title information is available upon specific request. Additional information available upon request to researchers, writers and others demonstrating special circumstances. In some situations, information may not be available.

Publication Copy

Publication Copy: Crump, Anne, David Studarus, photographer, "A Grand Old Obsession." American Spirit: Daughters of the American revolution Magazine: July/August 2003: P.20. (see images below) Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p. 38. "21-Star "Grand Luminary" United States Flag Following Illinois' admission into the Union, in accordance with the provisions of the Flag Act of 1818 a new United States flag with 21 stars became official. The makers of this specific flag evidently were unable to secure bunting for constructing it and made it entirely of cotton. Rather than beginning with a red stripe, they chose to commence the alternating stripes with a white one. Although commencing and ending the American flag with horizontal red stripes was fast becoming the established practice, nothing in the relevant legislation specified that the red stripes were to take precedence. The flag's makers chose to arrange the stars in the shape of a "Grand Luminary." The star design had been popularized by Captain Samuel C. Reid during the debate over the 1818 Flag Act. His wife had sewn the first flag that flew over Congress. While Mrs. Reid's flag bore the Grand Luminary arrangement, Congress chose not to incorporate that star pattern into its legislation. Nevertheless, that distinctive design remained popular among flag manufacturers for another 60 years. This flag was fabricated during the presidency of James Monroe. Date: 1819 - 1820 Size: 76.5" hoist x 89" fly 21 Stars: July 4, 1819 - July 3, 1820 (Illinois statehood December 3, 1818) Media: Cotton; hand-sewn Provenance: Acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection in 1997, formerly in the Norm Flayderman Collection. ZFC0422

Title information is available upon specific request. Additional information available upon request to researchers, writers and others demonstrating special circumstances. In some situations, information may not be available.