 From left to right: Marilyn Zoidis, Sally Johnston, Stephen W. Hill, Fenella France, Earl P. Williams, and Christopher T. George |
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| March went out in "vexillological triumph" as The
Star-Spangled Banner Flag House Association, Inc., held their fourth
annual symposium at the Clarion Hotel in historic Baltimore,
Maryland. This year's conference concentrated on Flag Making in
the Early Republic, and participants heard expert opinion on a wide
range of issues related to the topic. One of the highlights of the
symposium was a short side-trip to the Maryland Historical Society to
view the Pulaski Standard (both sides!) - a special treat, as the flag is
seldom displayed. A short synopsis of each speaker follows (in the
order they appeared):
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 Earl P. Williams: Flag historian and author
of "What You Should Know about the American Flag"
looked at the development of the earliest official and unofficial flags
of the United States, from 1775 through 1818. Earl, a supporter of
Francis Hopkinson as the original designer of the US national flag, brought modern interpretations
of these early flags as visual aids.
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 Fenella France: A textile expert from New
Zealand, Fenella discussed the history and importance of (wool) bunting,
a lightweight fabric used to make the Star-Spangled Banner. Her
presentation included valuable information about the widths of flag
bunting, the dyes used, and even the business of selling English bunting
in America.
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 Sally Johnston:
Director of the Flag
House, Sally presented information about early flag makers.
Sally's informative handout included detailed information about the
business life of America's first fabricators, included billing records
and client information.
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 Stephen W. Hill:
Nationally known for
his flag artwork, Stephen shared insights on the techniques of 19th
century flag painting, including some "tricks of the trade"
concerning detailing and highlighting. His comments concerning the
manufacturing and painting of US Civil War Union flags were particularly
well received.
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 Christopher T. George: Founding Editor of
the Journal of the War of 1812, Christopher examined the origins of
militia flags in the colonial period, discussed their use in battle, and
highlighted the condition of surviving militia flags preserved in the
US, Canada, and Great Britain.
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 Marilyn Zoidis: Marilyn is the Curator of
the Star-Spangled Banner Project, Smithsonian Institution. Her
presentation concentrated on the patriotic roles of eighteenth and
nineteenth century women flag makers. Through flags women often
expressed their desires to participate in the American republic in ways
beyond the limited roles afforded them. |