Collections record Beta
Collection Record Detail
Object Name
American Flag
Object Number
1919-27-0
Description
Homemade American Flag. Body of flag made from piece of linen cloth. Red stripes painted with vermillion paint and the blue square painted with indigo paint. The 36 stars were hand cut from silver tinsel paper and glued onto flag.
Comment
This flag was made by Mrs. Chester Smith with assistance from her two children - Helen and Earl. The flag was made in the fall of 1864 just prior to Lincoln's reelection. Mrs. Smith stretched the linen and painted the stripes and square and Helen cut the stars out of tinsel paper. Earl Smith carried the flag to the Litchfield Green from South Farms for a political rally that was being held in supportive of Lincoln. He hitched a ride on a wagon filled with Watertown residents in exchange for allowing them to display his flag on their wagon as it road through town.
Category
Maker
Date Made
1864
Dimensions
53" long x 30" wide
Social Tags (experimental)
