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 The
character and charm of certain rare American Flags are
often attributed not only to an unusual design or rare
star count, but also to having a well documented tie to the hands that made and cared
for the
flag over many years. In the case
of this extraordinary flag, its rarity and beauty are
attributed to a fascinating design and extraordinary
documented provenance. In order to create this
bold, large, beautiful flag, the maker, Miss Emma McNutts, apparently pulled various fabrics from her rag
bag and pieced them together to form her creation. Made
entirely of cotton, the flag is so thoroughly patched
and repaired that it's difficult to determine which
portions of the red stripes are original. The bold
center star of the flag is surrounded by what appears
initially to be a random scattering of stars upon the
blue field. Only after more than a year of owning
the flag did I realize the presence of
three
concentric wreaths of stars with four corner stars, a
rare triple medallion hidden in what originally seemed to be a
random arrangement.
 Written
upon the flag itself is an incredible patriotic history
of its creation and
use.
The first
entry, inked upon the center white stripe, reads "Emma
McNutts Flag made for Grant & Colfax 1868" followed
by a narrative of events that spans more than 30 years:
New
Center for Hayse
[sic]
1876
Garfield 1880
Blain 1884 was beaten but waved my colors for him just
the same
Patched for Harrison & Morton 1888
See this German Day Aug
16th 1893 I wave for the Dutch
with a list of women's names:
Missis Nickles, Pearl
Woodruff, Grace Smith, A. Lewis, A McKimm
Decoration Day 1898 I
waved my colors as of old but under difference
Maude McGee "The way we do in Paulding"
"That is what I thought"
New Patch for Dewey Day, July 4th 1899, Extra patch
to wave for Geo. Sampson
I must swing for the brave Sidney Boys Company L 3rd
O.V.I. before I go in the rag bag.
Am 30-years-old this year, But will wave for victory
over Spain
Hip! Hip! Hurrah!
For Dewey and our Boys
Memorial Day 1902
with another list of women's names
Overall, the flag is a
wonderful demonstration of the attachment that Americans
develop for their homemade family flags. It is the only
flag that I've ever encountered that provides such a
rich context to where, when, and why a flag was flown,
spanning the Reconstruction Period following the
devastation of the Civil War, to the great optimism and
promise of the early 20th Century.
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