Many people like flags, but some take their interest to the nth degree. Those people are called vexillologists, meaning those who study the history, lore and meaning of flags. One such person is Scot Guenter, a professor of American Studies at San Jose State University. He agreed to answer some questions about his fascination with flags…. continue
This year marks the 450th birthday of William Shakespeare (see last week’s posting for examples of his use of flags in his plays). Besides being a writer, he was a co-owner of the Globe Theatre, located across the Thames River from London. The site used flags to attract play-goers. The pennants were necessary because communication… continue
This year marks the 450th birthday of William Shakespeare. No one is sure in what month and on what date he was born, but tradition has placed it in late April because he was baptized on April 26, 1564. He spent his life writing, and his writing often turned to flags. Take this passage from… continue
This year marks the 225thanniversary of the New York City inauguration of George Washington as the first president of the United States of America. Later in 1789, Washington visited Boston, where he was greeted by jubilant citizens waving an endless array of flags.
As the ongoing sesquicentennial of the Civil War rotates through its succession of battles, from Bull Run to Gettysburg and the Wilderness, regimental flags and banners are being remembered as an important part of that history. But who designed and painted the gallant standards that were carried into hellish gunfire and wicked shelling? … continue