Flag of Missouri

The flag of Missouri, often referred to as the Missouri flag, is the state flag of the U.S. state of Missouri. It consists of three equal horizontal tribands of red, white, and blue stripes, with the arms from the Great Seal of Missouri in the center. Designed by Mary Elizabeth Oliver, the red and white stripes, as is traditional, represent valor and purity, respectively. The blue represents three things: the permanency, vigilance, and justice of the state. The three colors also highlight the French influence on the state in its early years. The Missouri flag was established on March 22, 1913, when governor Elliot Woolfolk Major signed the State flag act making it official.

Missouri
Flag of Missouri
UseCivil and state flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagSmall vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagReverse side is mirror image of obverse side
Proportion7:12
AdoptedMarch 22, 1913 (1913-03-22)
DesignA horizontal tricolor of red, white, and blue, with the arms from the Great Seal of Missouri centered on the three bands. The Seal is bordered by a wide band of blue with 24 white stars.[lower-alpha 1]
Designed byMarie Elizabeth Oliver

History

The design of the state flag has been modified officially once since 1861. The current version is the longest-used and has been in use for more than 110 years.[1]

First flag
Missouri
Flag of Missouri
UseState flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagSmall vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag
Proportion5:6
AdoptedJune 5, 1861 (1861-06-05)
RelinquishedMay 11, 1865 (1865-05-11)[lower-alpha 2]
DesignArms of Missouri in gold centered on a blue field.
Designed byRobert Wells (arms only)

Missouri did not have an official flag until Major-General Sterling Price, commander of the Missouri State Guard,[2] ordered on June 5, 1861:

Each regiment will adopt the State flag, made of blue merino, 6 by 5 feet, with the Missouri coat-of-arms in gold gilt on each side.[3]

Flag Act of 1913

The Missouri state flag was designed and stitched in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, by Marie Elizabeth Oliver,[4] the wife of former State Senator R. B. Oliver. She began her flag project in 1908 as part of her volunteer activities with the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) when she was appointed chairperson of the DAR committee to research and design Missouri's flag. Oliver researched state flags extensively. She wrote each state's secretary of state for information about how their state's flags had been designed and officially adopted. Her original design incorporated Missouri's coat of arms and was rendered as a painted paper flag by her friend Mary Kochitzky.[4]

The flag was brought to the Missouri State Capitol in 1908 and bills to adopt the flag as the official flag of Missouri were introduced by Senator Arthur L. Oliver, her nephew, in 1909 and 1911. Both bills failed to pass in the House. A competing flag design, by G.H. Holcomb and referred to as the "Holcomb flag", was opposed due to its resemblance to the flag of the United States and its lack of Missouri symbolism.[1] Oliver's original paper flag was destroyed when the Missouri State Capitol burned in 1911. With Mrs. S.D. MacFarland, Oliver sewed a second flag out of silk. Her design was adopted on March 22, 1913, when governor Elliot Woolfolk Major signed the Oliver Flag Bill.[5] The flag design remains unchanged to this day. The silk flag was kept by Marie Oliver until 1961 when her son Allen gave it to the state of Missouri. The flag was displayed until it began to deteriorate and was put into storage. In 1988, Secretary of State Roy D. Blunt issued a challenge to elementary students to raise money to restore the flag. The campaign was successful and the restored flag has been displayed in the James C. Kirkpatrick State Information Center in Jefferson City ever since.[4]

The Oliver-Leming House, also known as the Home of the Missouri State Flag, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.[6]

  • The Holcomb Flag
    The Holcomb Flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag

Design

The flag is a tricolor consisting of three horizontal stripes of red, white and blue which resembles the flag of the Netherlands. These represent valor, purity, vigilance, and justice. The colors also reflect the state's historic status as part of French Louisiana. In the center white stripe is the seal of Missouri, circled by a blue band containing 24 stars, symbolizing Missouri's admission as the 24th U.S. state.[1] The seal itself also contains 24 stars, and incorporates the Great Seal of the United States, which contains a further 13 stars, bringing the flag's grand total to 61 stars. The seal further includes the state motto, Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto, which translates from Latin as "The health (welfare, good, salvation, felicity) of the people should be the supreme law." The flag is described in Section 010.020 of Missouri's Revised Statutes. There are no known examples of mass-produced Missouri state flags in compliance with the RSMo due to the 7:12 proportions.

It is one of two U.S. state flags to feature a bear, the other being that of California. It is also one of ten U.S. state flags to feature an eagle, alongside those of Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah and Wyoming.

In 2001, the North American Vexillological Association surveyed its members on the designs of the 72 U.S. state, U.S. territorial and Canadian provincial flags. The Missouri flag ranked in the bottom 25, 48th out of the 72.[7]

See also

Notes
  1. There are a total of 61 stars on the flag, including the 37 on the state seal: 24 stars in the cloud above the helmet, and 13 stars in the included Great Seal of the United States.
  2. On this date, Missouri Brig. Gen. M. Jeff Thompson surrendered the State Guard’s forces in Arkansas to Lieut. Col. Charles W. Davis, assistant provost marshal general for Maj. Gen. Grenville M. Dodge.

References
  1. "Kids Page". mo.gov. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  2. Cannon, Devereaux D., Jr. (2005) [1st pub. St. Lukes Press:1988]. "Chapter 7: State Flags". The Flags of the Confederacy: An Illustrated History. Cover design by Larry Pardue. Gretna: Pelican Publishing Company. p. 48. ISBN 978-1-565-54109-2. OCLC 970744690.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. War Department; Davis, Maj. George W.; Perry, Leslie J.; Kirkley, Joseph William (1898). The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. I. Vol. LIII. Washington: Government Printing Office. pp. 694–695 – via Internet Archive.
  4. "Marie Watkins Oliver - Historic Missourians - The State Historical Society of Missouri". umsystem.edu. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  5. "[H. B. 329.] An Act to provide for an official flag for the state of Missouri and to provide a design for the same". Missouri Session Laws: 349–351. 1913.
  6. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  7. "2001 State/Provincial Flag Survey - NAVA.org" (PDF). nava.org.
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