Celebrating Flag Day

by Sarah Bseirani, posted in Photographs, Still Pictures, U.S. Army, U.S. Marines, U.S. Navy, United States Information Agency (USIA), Washington D.C., World War I, World War II
Mrs. Laura B. Prisk, who is the originator of the Flag Day idea.
Mrs. Laura B. Prisk, who is the originator of the Flag Day idea. Local ID: 165-WW-429P-1247, National Archives Identifier: 45532768.

This post was created in collaboration with Heather Sulier, Archives Technician in the Still Picture Branch.

Flag Day celebrates the adoption of the official flag of the United States on June 14. “The Flag Act of 1777” was passed by the Second Continental Congress on June 14, 1777 and adopted the official design of the United States flag. The act itself is incredibly short and reads “Resolved, That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.” Two additional “Flag Acts” would pass in 1794 and 1818, each adding additional design choices for newer states admitted into the United States.

President Woodrow Wilson in Preparedness Parade, Washington, D.C.
President Woodrow Wilson in Preparedness Parade, Washington, D.C. Local ID: 165-WW-81C-14, National Archives Identifier: 23922795.

Throughout the years, the United States Flag has symbolized a variety of meanings to those who see it. After President Woodrow Wilson’s proclamation in 1916 established June 14 as “Flag Day,” the yearly observance further highlights the importance of the United States Flag. Included below is a selection of photographs of the United States Flag found within the holdings of the Still Picture Branch at the National Archives.

Photograph of American Flag Hoisted at Fort Malate.
Photograph of American Flag Hoisted at Fort Malate. Local ID: 111-AG-1(37), National Archives Identifier: 524380.
Photograph of a Soldier Holding an American Flag.
Photograph of a Soldier Holding an American Flag. Local ID: 165-SWS-82112, National Archives Identifier: 598582.
American flags flap in the breeze as holiday passengers arrive.
“Hot Springs Hotel, S. D.” American flags flap in the breeze as holiday passengers arrive. Local ID: 48-RST-8B-1, National Archives Identifier: 516370.
Theodore Roosevelt Campaigning from an open touring car decorated with American flags
“Col. Roosevelt, Reno, Nev.” Campaigning from an open touring car decorated with American flags, ca. 1912. Local ID: SHELL-M104-104, National Archives Identifier: 559373.
Photograph of Flag Raising on Iwo Jima
Photograph of Flag Raising on Iwo Jima. Local ID: 80-G-413988, National Archives Identifier: 520748.
Berliner With American Flags Wave Enthusiastically
Berliner With American Flags Wave Enthusiastically To President [Kennedy]. Local ID: 306-KF-3-36, National Archives Identifier: 6002346.
View American Flag on the moon.
Apollo 16 Mission image – View American Flag. Local ID: 255-AMP-AS16-107-17439, National Archives Identifier: 16709918.
The American flag is raised at the USS ARIZONA Memorial.
The American flag is raised at the USS ARIZONA Memorial. Local ID: 330-CFD-DN-ST-88-07742.jpeg, National Archives Identifier: 6434051.
United States Marine Corps Color guard presents the colors on Flag Day.
United States Marine Corps (USMC), 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Color Guard, presents the colors on Flag Day. Local ID: 330-CFD-DM-SD-04-03317.jpeg, National Archives Identifier: 6634596.

The photographs included in this post have no known copyright restrictions. If you have any questions about the images in this post or the holdings of the Still Picture Branch, please contact us at stillpix@nara.gov.

PUBLICATION OF PHOTOGRAPHS FURNISHED BY THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES STILL PICTURE BRANCH-RRSS

Generally, copies of photographic records held by the National Archives may be published without special permission or additional fees. The National Archives does not grant exclusive or non-exclusive publication privileges. Copies of Federal records, as part of the public domain, are equally available to all. A small percentage of photographs in our holdings are or may be subject to copyright restrictions. The National Archives does not confirm the copyright status of photographs but will provide any information known about said status. It is the user’s responsibility to obtain all necessary clearances. Any use of these items is made at the researcher’s or purchaser’s own risk.

Proper credit lines are encouraged in the interest of good documentation. They also help inform the public about government photographic resources that are available.

*Because so many of our requests for information cite credits and captions that appear in published works, the inclusion of a photo number in hard copy and electronic publications is of great assistance to both us and the public.

Examples of preferred credit lines are as follows:

  • National Archives photo no. 210-G-C241
  • Credit National Archives (photo no. 83-G-41368)
  • Courtesy National Archives, photo no. 83-G-41430
  • National Archives (210-G-A14)

If using a large number of our images, the National Archives will appreciate receiving copies of publications that contain our photographs. Such copies can be sent to the Still Picture Branch or the Library, National Archives and Records Administration.