Spotlight: Flag Day

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.

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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.

through our wars.

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.

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.

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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.

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