38 Star Grand Army of the Republic Flag, Gen Meade Post No. 1, Philadelphia, PA, 1870's
This 38 star wool United States flag, marked "GAR 1" was flown by the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Meade Post #1 at their Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA headquarters. The Meade Post #1 was the first accredited GAR Post in Pennsylvania. It was founded at the Union League of Philadelphia by prominent Civil War veterans of Philadelphia in October 1866.

Meade Post garnered the recognition of being the first post in Pennsylvania on October 16th 1866. Their rivals at Post #2 were offended at its own charter date of October 17th . The rival GAR Posts tried to take on the most prominent veterans they could, and both had attractive post halls and first-rate programs for their members. But Post #2 members began to feel that they would lose status to the more socially prominent Post #1.

Post #2 tried to name itself after General George Gordon Meade, who was perhaps the most distinguished Civil War General from Philadelphia. But again, Post #1 outdid them by enrolling the president of the Unites States, General Ulysses S. Grant.

Post #1 had close ties with the Union League. The Union League Hall served as their initial venue, but later the Post moved to a new home on Chestnut St. and later purchased the Concert Hall for use as the Meade Post #1.

The Union League of Philadelphia, where the Meade Post # 1 first assembled, was founded in 1862 as a patriotic society to support the Union and the policies of President Abraham Lincoln. It set the philosophical tone of other Union Leagues in the US during the Civil War. After the war, Philadelphia became a hub for veterans' organizations, such as the Loyal Legion and the Grand Army. These veterans' groups were active in initiatives for the widows, orphans, memorial to the fallen, and pensions for wounded and debilitated veterans.

In the end the rivalry went to Post # 2, when in 1918 membership aged had dwindled at Post #1, and most of its members were immersed in Post #2. In 1926, the aging veterans of the combined membership of the two posts incorporated in Pennsylvania as the "Philadelphia Camp Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War." Their descendants were designated governing members. Later, the Board of Directors decided to use the name "G.A.R. Civil War Museum and Library." They are dedicated to preserving the heritage and history of the Civil War, and they offer educational programs, exhibits, and forums that promote a better understanding of American history.

This flag is typical of large institutional flags utilized by fraternal patriotic organizations in the halls for meetings and social events.

Provenance:
• Grand Army of the Republic Flag, Gen Meade Post No. 1, Philadelphia, PA, 1870's
• Acquired by Richard H. Keller who sold it to the Crow Art Partnership Collection, 1985.
• Acquired at auction from the Crow Art Partnership Collection, Dallas, Texas, via Heritage Auction Inc., at the 24 June 2007, Civil War Grand Format Auction, in Gettysburg, PA.

ZFC Significant Flag

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