The flag of the United States of America was adopted 240 years ago on June 14, 1777. Throughout our nation’s history our flag has taken on many forms, growing with the country it so proudly represents. It has also taken on many affectionate monikers – the American Flag; the Stars and Stripes; Old Glory; the Red, White, and Blue; the Stars and Bars; and the Star Spangled Banner.
Within the holdings of Still Picture Branch, researchers can find depictions of the American Flag in a variety of formats ranging from photographic prints to artwork. Many of these images are digitally available in the catalog, and a smattering of those records have been collected for this post including examples from Record Groups 26-G, 80-G, 111-SC, 127-N, 165-SWS, 165-WW, 179-WP, 306-AP, 311-MAD, 330-CFD, and 406-SMP.
As early as the mid-1800’s, the American People were celebrating the anniversary of our flag’s adoption. This tradition has grown into the nationally recognized Flag Day celebration that we know today. So, in honor of Flag Day, Still Picture Branch presents the Flag of the United States of America in images.
330-CFD-DF-SD-02-03318: Close-up shot of an American flag.
44-PA-178: Remember December 7th
330-CFD-DF-ST-93-02527: Flags wave and confetti falls on the street as the people of New York welcome the heroes of Desert Storm during the Welcome Home parade.
330-CFD-DM-SD-03-06859: A 15 Star United States of America Flag flies over Headquarters United States Marine Corps, Marine Corps Barracks at 8th and I, Washington, DC, in commemoration of the 200th bicentennial anniversary of the establishment of the oldest USMC post. President Thomas Jefferson helped choose the current location in 1801.
330-CFD-DN-ST-82-02299: The bugle that was aboard the battleship USS ARIZONA (BB-39) on December 7, 1941, rests on the flag as a reminder of that fatal day at Pearl Harbor.
179-WP-249: Keep Old Glory Forever Free, Buy More Bonds For Victory
44-PA-143: “Guardian of the Colors – U.S. Army”
From Our Beginnings,
165-SWS-82112: Photograph of a Soldier Holding an American Flag (1898 – 1899)10464_2007_001
![111-SC-92968: Betsy Ross making the first flag, 1776 [according to legend]. Copy of painting attributed to Frank McKernan.](https://i0.wp.com/unwritten-record.blogs.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2017/05/28-0330a.gif?w=360&h=466&ssl=1 "28-0330a")
111-SC-92968: Betsy Ross making the first flag, 1776 [according to legend]. Copy of painting attributed to Frank McKernan.
through our wars.
![165-WW-127(106): [African American] color bearers of 15th Regiment Infantry, New York National Guard, New York City. . . .](https://i0.wp.com/unwritten-record.blogs.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2017/05/25-3100a.gif?w=274&h=345&ssl=1 "25-3100a")
165-WW-127(106): [African American] color bearers of 15th Regiment Infantry, New York National Guard, New York City. . . .
165-WW-240C-5: Liberty Bonds – Personnel: C – LIBERTY LOAN DRIVE OPENS WITH A RUSH. In less than three hours, New York subscribed $100,000,000 to the $6,000,000,000 Liberty Loan Drive. Mrs. Alma Clayburgh opening the Stage Women’s War Relief Booth at New York Public Library with singing the Star Spangled Banner
165-WW-167A-1: Flags – Largest flag in the world at Grand Central Terminal, New York
165-WW-176D-18: Funeral – Military – American – FUNERAL OF THE FIRST AMERICAN KILLED SINCE THE DECLARATION OF WAR BY THE U.S
165-WW-127(27): Overseas men welcomed home. Parade in honor of returned fighters passing the Public Library, New Y . . .
165-WW-167A-18: Flags – Only flag that ever flies above the stars and stripes. When this flag is hoisted above the Stars and Stripes it signals that it is time to attend Divine worship
![26-G-2399: [ORIGINAL CAPTION:] OLD GLORY MOVES TO NEW GLORY: Columns of Coast Guard LCI's, protected by barrage balloons against low flying Nazi strafers, advance upon the beaches of France in the wake of the Stars and Stripes. A Coast Guard combat photographer, going into the invasion on an LCI, caught this picture of the advance guard of the Liberation Fleet in the English Channel.](https://i0.wp.com/unwritten-record.blogs.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2017/05/26-g-2399-scaled.jpg?w=459&h=353&ssl=1 "26-G-2399")
26-G-2399: [ORIGINAL CAPTION:] OLD GLORY MOVES TO NEW GLORY: Columns of Coast Guard LCI’s, protected by barrage balloons against low flying Nazi strafers, advance upon the beaches of France in the wake of the Stars and Stripes. A Coast Guard combat photographer, going into the invasion on an LCI, caught this picture of the advance guard of the Liberation Fleet in the English Channel.
80-G-32853: Photograph of Funeral Services for 15 Officers and Men at NAS Kaneohe
127-N-A9345: Lieutenant Colonel John Hopkins, commanding officer of the First Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment, leads in singing the “Star Spangled Banner” during Memorial Services held in the field during the Korean campaign.
80-G-413988: Photograph of Flag Raising on Iwo Jima
In great changes,
406-SMP-15: Photograph of Martin Luther King Jr. Marching Arm in Arm with Civil Rights Activists
306-AP-A11F-40-5875: Photograph of Astronaut Edwin E. (Buzz) Aldrin, Jr. Posing on the Moon Next to the U.S. Flag
and great sorrows.
330-CFD-DN-SD-02-09108: Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry render honors as fire fighters and rescue workers unfurl a huge American flag over the side of the Pentagon as rescue and recovery efforts continued following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack. The flag, a garrison flag, sent from the US Army Band at nearby Fort Myer, Virginia, is the largest authorized (20Õ x 38Õ) flag for the military. Shortly after 8 AM on September 11, 2001 in an attempt to frighten the American people, five members of Al-Qaida, a group of fundamentalist Islamic Muslims, hijacked American Airlines Flight 77, a Boeing 757-200, from Dulles International Airport just outside Washington DC. About 9:30 AM they flew the aircraft and 64 passengers into the side of the Pentagon. The impact destroyed or damaged four of the five “rings” in that section that circle the building. That section of the Pentagon was in the finishing stages of a renovation program to re-enforce and update the building. Fire fighters fought the fire through the night. The Pentagon attack followed a similar attack, two hijacked passenger planes flown into the twin towers of the New York World Trade Center, on the same day, in what is being called the worst terrorist attack in history.
311-MAD-ny_wtc_001.jpg: New York City, NY, September 13, 2001 — The airplane alert antenna sits firmly in the ground amidst the rubble. Originally it was on the roof of the World Trade Center.Photo by Andrea Booher/ FEMA Photo News
330-CFD-DF-SD-02-10007: In defiance, a US flag is setup outside the Pentagon. Shortly after 8 AM on September 11, 2001 in an attempt to frighten the American people, five members of Al-Qaida, a group of fundamentalist Islamic Muslims, hijacked American Airlines Flight 77, a Boeing 757-200, shortly after it took off from Dulles International Airport just outside Washington DC. The hijackers herded up the 64 passengers toward the rear of the aircraft using knives and box cutters then flew a circuitous route that took them away then back toward Washington. At about 9:45 AM they flew the aircraft into the side of the Pentagon. The impact destroyed or damaged four of the five “rings,” in this section, that circle the building. The Pentagon attack followed an attack on the twin towers of the New York World Trade Center in what is now called the worst terrorist attack in history.
311-MAD-ny_wtc_090.jpg: New York, NY, September 19, 2001 — Two members of the National Guard stand beneath one of hundreds of American flags that have been hoisted or worn by rescue workers at the site of the collapsed World Trade Center.Photo by Andrea Booher/ FEMA News Photo
330-CFD-DD-SC-07-37680: American flags comemorating the one year anniversary of 9/11 are flown from the roof of the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., on Sept. 11, 2002. OSD Package No. A07D-00620 (DoD photo by Helene C. Stikkel) (Released)
330-CFD-DF-SD-02-09100: An aerial view, two days later, of the impact point on the Pentagon where the hijacked American Airlines Flight 77, a Boeing 757-200 entered, breaking up in the process. Shortly after 8 AM on September 11, 2001 in an attempt to frighten the American people, five members of Al-Qaida, a group of fundamentalist Islamic Muslims, hijacked Flight 77 from Dulles International Airport just outside Washington DC. About 9:30 AM they flew the aircraft and 64 passengers into the side of the Pentagon. The impact destroyed or damaged four of the five “rings,” in that section, that circle the building. That section of the Pentagon was in the finishing stages of a renovation program to re-enforce and update the building. Fire fighters fought the fire throughout the night. The Pentagon attack followed a similar attack, two hijacked passenger planes flown into the twin towers of the New York World Trade Center, on the same day, in what is being called the worst terrorist attack in history. The huge American flag visible to the right of the damaged area is a garrison flag sent from the US Army Band at nearby Fort Myer, Virginia. It is the largest authorized (20Õ x 38Õ) flag for the military. 3rd Infantry soldiers and fire fighters unfurled the flag over the side. Each night floodlights illuminated it. Search and rescue operations continue looking for survivors and casualties.
311-MAD-ny_wtc_064.jpg: New York, NY, September 18, 2001–New York City firefighters take a break amidst the rubble of the World Trade Center.Photo by Andrea Booher/FEMA News Photo
311-MAD-ny_wtc_050.jpg: New York, NY, September 17, 2001 — FEMA Urban Search and Rescue teams work to clear rubble and search for survivors at the World Trade Center.Photo by Andrea Booher/ FEMA News Photo
With depths of pride,
330-CFD-DF-SD-02-03319: Shot of of the US Capitol with an American flag flying over it.
330-CFD-DN-SD-06-09571: Sailors, assigned to the US Navy’s (USN) Ceremonial Guard, stand in formation in front of the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia (VA). The Tomb contains the remains of unknown American Soldiers from World War I (WWI) and II (WWII), and the Korean War.
330-CFD-DF-SD-04-12155: The reflection of a small American Flag placed on the Vietnam Memorial located in Washington, District of Columbia (DC), during the observance of Veterans Day 2002. Every year people from around the world pilgrimage to the Vietnam Memorial known by some as “The Wall” to etch from the wall onto a piece of paper a name of a departed loved one.
330-CFD-DF-SD-02-03316: The Washington Monument serves as a backdrop for an American flag.
330-CFD-DF-SD-06-14689: The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) salute the 40th President of the United States Ronald Wilson Reagan, as his flag draped casket is moved during his funeral procession in Washington DC.
330-CFD-DA-SC-85-00917: Artwork: “Military Funeral”. Artist: B. Keeler. Catalog Number: P.11.8.83.
330-CFD-DM-SD-05-09410: Funeral for Sergeant David P. Coleman held aboard MCB Quantico, Quantico National Cemetery, on November 5, 2003.
Happy Flag Day.
165-WW-72B-17: Ceremonies – Flag Day, 1918 – Flag Day Celebration held in Central Park, N.Y. The Greek standard bearer with the Stars and Stripes at the Flag Day celebration held in Central Park, N.Y
330-CFD-DF-SD-06-15818: The American Flag flies at half-mast, reflecting in fresh rainfall, in honor of President Ronald W. Reagan on the evening of Flag Day at Little Rock Air Force Base (AFB), Arkansas (AR). President Reagan passed away on June 5th and following a 24-hour lay-in-state in the US Capitol Rotunda and a State Funeral in the National Cathedral, President Reagan’s remains are being flown back to California (CA) for burial at his presidential library. (SUBSTANDARD)
165-WW-72B-3: Ceremonies – Flag Day, 1918 – Scottsdale, PA. War Activities. K of C float in Flag Day parade
330-CFD-DF-ST-82-04169: Boy Scouts and U.S. Air Force personnel honor the U.S. flag on Flag Day.
165-WW-167B-12: Flags – Flag Raisings – Flag raising at Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul R.R. shops, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
330-CFD-DM-SD-04-03317: United States Marine Corps (USMC), 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Color Guard, presents the colors on Flag Day at Fort Macon, Morehead City, North Carolina.
Thanks for sharing.