48 Star American G.A.R. Flag

 

48 Star American G.A.R. Flag,
Rectilinear Star Pattern
Arizona Statehood, early 1900’s

Flag size    (HxL) 12” x 17”
Frame size (HxL) 13” ”x 21 ½”

Rare American Civil War Veteran’s G.A.R. parade flag, displays 48 stars printed in a rectilinear star pattern, and bold overprint stenciled with the name and number of the G.A.R. post Martha Sever Post No.154, G.A.R. This flag represents a very rare instance, when a Grand Army Republic post is named after a female veteran.

This flag embodies the G.A.R. post in Kingston Massachusetts named in honor of Martha Sever born in Kingston MA in1839. Sever joined the union forces during the Civil War in 1861 as a volunteer army nurse tending to the sick and wounded soldiers at an army hospital in Beverly, New Jersey. During the course of her service she was stricken with influenza and lost her life on November 13, 1864. Sever was the only woman from Massachusetts to die while serving her country in the Civil War and became the only one or two women known to have been honored for their service having a G.A.R. Post named after them.

After the Civil War ended in 1865, many veteran’s who survived missed the fellowship and camaraderie they shared during the war. Veteran’s clubs began to form around the country and the Grand Army of the Republic aka G.A.R. was one of them. Most clubs did not last very long, however, the G.A.R. became a national organization, which had a chapter in every state in the country (except Hawaii). As it’s members aged, membership waned and chapter after chapter began to close until the last post closed its doors in 1956 when the sole remaining member passed away at 109 years old.

Condition is fair, cotton flag, staining and mothing throughout, fabric separation mainly on the left side where the staff was once attached.
Mounting: pressure mounted using an acid free backer board covered with a pre-washed 100% cotton (black) fabric; Oak frame, black with antique gold color trim.

The 48 stars represent Arizona, the 48th state to join the union on February 14, 1912, became official July 4th of that same year. On June 24, 1912 President Taft signed an executive order in which for the first time in history, specified an official star placement on the canton. The forty-eight star flag would be first under the new Executive Order dictating stars to be made in a rectilinear pattern.

 

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Item: 48-7-33