48 Star U.S. Flag - "The Last 48"

48 Star U.S. Flag, 1959, The last 48 Star U.S. Flag to fly over the U.S. Capitol.
On July 3rd, 1959, after forty-seven years of unchanged service, the last of the forty-eight star United States flags was raised over the capitol building in Washington, D.C. On the next day, the new forty-nine star flag became the new official flag of the land. Senator John M. Butler, who brought it back from Congress to Maryland, presented this last of the old forty-eighters to the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House of Baltimore, Maryland. Butler Flag was flown over the Capitol before 49-Star flag. Last flag flown over U.S. capitol before rising of 49-Star flag. Washington's office of Senator John M. Butler. Flag is "Defiance" brand cotton bunting.

Provenance: Gifted to Ben Zaricor (ZFC0179) in 1996 from the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House Collection of Baltimore, MD, for recovering 3 fragments of the original Star-Spangled Banner Flag of 1814 that had been lost for 30 years.



View of the flag flying at the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. Photo courtesy of Jared Young, Oklahoma.

Exhibition History:
First Presidio Exhibit
(ZFC0179)
Last 48-Star United States Flag To Fly Over Congress

Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 - GALLERY VI
(ZFC0179)
Last 48-Star United States Flag to Fly Over Congress

Publication History:
Crump, Anne, David Studarus, photographer, "A Grand Old Obsession." American Spirit: Daughters of the American revolution Magazine: July/August 2003: P.20.

Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p. 130-131.

ZFC Significant Flag
Item is Framed

Provenance:
• Made by the Dettra Flag Company, Oaks, PA, 1959.
• Acquired by Purchase by Office of the Architect of the Capitol, 1959.
• Used on U.S. Capitol until 4 July 1959.
• Acquired by Senator John M. Butler, (R) MD, 1959.
• Presented to Star-Spangled Banner Flag House & Museum, Baltimore, MD, 1959.
• Gifted to Ben Zaricor from the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House Collection of Baltimore, MD, for recovering 3 fragments of the original Star-Spangled Banner Flag of 1814 that had been lost for 30 years, 1996.


Sources:

---

Madaus, Howard M.- Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict, VZ Publications, Santa Cruz, 2006.

John Marshall Butler, Wikipedia, 12 November, 2011, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Marshall_Butler

Capitol Flags, Architect of the Capitol, 12 November 2011, from:
http://www.capitolflags.gov/

48 Star Flag - (1912-1959) (U.S.), Flags of the World, 12 November 2011, from: http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/us-1912.html

Image Credits:
Zaricor Flag Collection

Hoist & Fly
Width of Hoist	60
Length of Fly	96

Union/Canton
Width of Union/Canton	38
Length of Union/Canton	32.25

Stars
Comments on Star Measurements	stars arranged 8,8,8,8,8,8.
Size of Stars	3

Stripes
Width of 1st Stripe	4.25
Width of 3rd Stripe	4.25
Width of 8th Stripe	4.5
Width of Last Stripe	5
Size of Hoist	1.5

Frame
Is it framed?	yes
Frame Height	66
Frame Length	96

Stars
Number of Stars	48
Are there stars on obverse?	yes
Are there stars on reverse?	yes

Stripes
Number of Stripes	13
Color of Top Stripe	Red
Color of Bottom Stripe	Red
Has a Blood Stripe?	no

Nationality
Nation Represented	United States

Fabric
Fabric	Cotton

Stitching
Stitching	Machine

Thread
Thread Material	Cotton

Attachment
Method of Attachment	Grommets

Applica
Applique Sides	Single Faced = Mirror Image Reverse

Documentation
Documents
Drawings
Research Documents
Public Copy & Signs

Condition
Condition	Excellent
Displayable	yes

Date
Date	1959

Exhibits

Exhibition Copy

First Presidio Exhibit (ZFC0179) Last 48-Star United States Flag To Fly Over Congress Date: 1959 Medium: Cotton; machine stitched Comment: On July 3rd, 1959, after forty-seven years of unchanged service, the last of the forty-eight star United States flags was raised over the capitol building in Washington, D.C. On the next day, the new forty-nine star flag became the new official flag of the land. This last of the old forty-eighters was presented to the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House of Baltimore, Maryland by Senator John M. Butler, who brought it back from Congress to Maryland. Provenance: Gifted to Ben Zaricor (ZFC0179) in 1996 from the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House Collection of Baltimore, MD, for recovering 3 fragments of the original Star-Spangled Banner Flag of 1814 that had been lost for 30 years. Second Presidio Exhibit, 2003 - GALLERY VI (ZFC0179) Last 48-Star United States Flag to Fly Over Congress Date: 1959 48 Stars: July 4, 1912-July 3, 1959 (statehood: New Mexico January 6, 1912; Arizona February 14, 1912) Medium: Cotton; machine stitched Comment: On July 3rd, 1959, after forty-seven years of unchanged service, the last of the forty-eight star United States flags was raised over the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. On the next day, the new forty-nine star flag became the new official flag of the land. This last of the old forty-eighters was presented to the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House of Baltimore, Maryland by Senator John M. Butler, who brought it back from Congress to Maryland. Provenance: Gifted to Ben Zaricor (ZFC0179) in 1996 from the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House Collection of Baltimore, MD, for recovering 3 fragments of the original Star-Spangled Banner Flag of 1814 that had been lost for 30 years. Display/Presentation History This flag's image was displayed in the presentation at the 6th Annual Flag Symposium sponsored by The Flag House and Star Spangled Banner Museum, in Baltimore, MD, April 9, 2005. The presentation was made by Howard Madaus on The Other 48s a look at the evolution of the 48 star US Flag and the various star patterns it engendered.

Publications

Publication Copy

Publication History: Crump, Anne, David Studarus, photographer, "A Grand Old Obsession." American Spirit: Daughters of the American revolution Magazine: July/August 2003: P.20. (see images below) Madaus, Howard M., Dr, Whitney Smith, The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict. Santa Cruz: VZ Publications, 2006, p. 130-131. Last 48-Star United States Flag to Fly over U.S. Capitol On July 3, 1959, after 47 years of an unaltered design, the 48-star United States flag was raised over the Capitol in Washington, D.C. for the last time. After being lowered at the end of the day this very flag, the last of the old forty-eighters, was obtained by Maryland Senator John M. Butler. He presented it to the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House Association in Baltimore. On July 4, 1959, the 49-star flag became the official new design. Dwight D. Eisenhower was president when both the 49-star and 50-star flags were introduced. Date: 1959 Size: 59" hoist x 96" fly 48 Stars: July 4, 1912 July 3, 1959 (statehood: New Mexico January 6, 1912; Arizona February 14, 1912) Medium: Cotton; machine-stitched Provenance: Gifted to Ben Reed Zaricor in 1996 from the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House Collection of Baltimore, MD, for recovering three fragments of the original Star-Spangled Banner of 1814 that had been lost for 30 years in the museums collection. ZFC0179