ZFC Item Section - U.S. 13-Star Flag, Nathaniel Hall.

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	Exhibition History Chicago Meeting December, 2003 (ZFC0074) 13-Star United States Flag Date: Circa early 1900s Media: Sewn wool bunting with cotton stars Comment: After the Declaration of Independence was signed on 4 July 1776, American colonists realized they needed one flag to replace the assortment of flags used previously. Thus, on 14 June 1777, the Continental Congress adopted the following resolution: RESOLVED, that the flag of the 13 United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white: That the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation. Because the resolution was not specific there were a number of variations of the 13-star flag. Legend has it that Betsy Ross sewed the first flag from a design by George Washington, but this has not been substantiated. A strong case can be made that the designer of the first flag was Francis Hopkinson, a delegate from New Jersey to the Continental Congress and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He submitted a bill to Congress for currency designs, design for the great seal of the U.S., a treasury seal, a design for the flag ... Among the first documented U.S. flags was the staggered star pattern of 3-2-3-2-3 that you see on this flag. Star patterns like this would remain in use, both among the general public and the U.S. Navy until 1912. Provenance: This flag belonged to Mary Nettie Holland (nee Hall), granddaughter of Nathaniel Hall, a veteran of the War of 1812. It was given to the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House in 1961 and was acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0074) in 2000.

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

Exhibition History

Chicago Meeting December, 2003
(ZFC0074)
13-Star United States Flag
Date: Circa early 1900s
Media: Sewn wool bunting with cotton stars
Comment: After the Declaration of Independence was signed on 4 July 1776, American colonists realized they needed one flag to replace the assortment of flags used previously. Thus, on 14 June 1777, the Continental Congress adopted the following resolution: RESOLVED, that the flag of the 13 United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white: That the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.
Because the resolution was not specific there were a number of variations of the 13-star flag. Legend has it that Betsy Ross sewed the first flag from a design by George Washington, but this has not been substantiated. A strong case can be made that the designer of the first flag was Francis Hopkinson, a delegate from New Jersey to the Continental Congress and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He submitted a bill to Congress for currency designs, design for the great seal of the U.S., a treasury seal, a design for the flag ...
Among the first documented U.S. flags was the staggered star pattern of 3-2-3-2-3 that you see on this flag. Star patterns like this would remain in use, both among the general public and the U.S. Navy until 1912.

Provenance: This flag belonged to Mary Nettie Holland (nee Hall), granddaughter of Nathaniel Hall, a veteran of the War of 1812. It was given to the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House in 1961 and was acquired by the Zaricor Flag Collection (ZFC0074) in 2000.