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  45 STARS IN A "NOTCHED" DESIGN ON A SMALL SCALE FLAG OF THE 1896-1907 PERIOD, LEAVING SPACE OPEN FOR THE FUTURE ADDITION OF THREE MORE WESTERN TERRITORIES, OWNED AND POSSIBLY MADE BY ALVAH WOODBURY, A SHOEMAKER, OF BEVERLY MASSACHUSETTS

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): 42" x 64.25"
Flag Size (H x L): 31" x 54"
Description....:
45 STARS IN A "NOTCHED" DESIGN ON A SMALL SCALE FLAG OF THE 1896-1907 PERIOD, LEAVING SPACE OPEN FOR THE FUTURE ADDITION OF THREE MORE WESTERN TERRITORIES, OWNED AND POSSIBLY MADE BY ALVAH WOODBURY, A SHOEMAKER, OF BEVERLY MASSACHUSETTS:

45 star American national flag, made of cotton, with its stars arranged in what is known as a "notched" pattern, whereby three spaces are left open along the hoist end for the three additional Western Territories that were yet to be added. By this period it was well known that Oklahoma, Arizona and New Mexico would eventually gain statehood and some flag-makers were creatively accommodating for this fact and perhaps pushing for the final completion of westward continental expansion.

Utah became the 45th state in 1896. It had been attempting to gain statehood for many years, but remained a territory, primarily due to the fact that the Mormon Church and Utah authorities continued to be openly tolerant of polygamy. In 1890, Mormon Church President Wilford Woodruff published a manifesto that denounced the contract of “any marriages forbidden by the law of the land”. This gave way to Utah’s 1896 acceptance. The 45 star flag was generally used from that year until 1907, when Oklahoma joined the Union. Due to the Spanish-American War (1898) and Teddy Roosevelt’s famous world tour of the “White Fleet” (launched in 1907), this was an extremely patriotic period.

The canton and stripes of the flag are made of cotton that has been pieced by treadle machine. The stars are made of cotton and double-appliquéd (applied to both sides) with lineal treadle stitching. There is a binding along the hoist made of heavy cotton twill with two hand-sewn, whip-stitched grommets, along which the name "Alvah Woodbury" is written in penciled script. This would be the name of a former owner.

Most of the time the specific identity of the person who's name is inscribed on any given flag cannot be accurately identified, but that may not be the case here. A man by this unusual name was living in Beverly, Massachusetts in the appropriate period. A Civil War veteran, Alvah L. Woodbury was a shoemaker and gardener. Of the approximate 2 million men that fought for the Union Army during the war, he was the only one by that name and seems a very likely candidate. Born to Samuel H. Woodbury and Abigail T. Standley on Jun. 22, 1842, he enlisted at age 21 on April 28th, 1864 as a Private and on May 3rd of that year mustered into the 2nd Company of the 90th Massachusetts Unattached Infantry. Twenty Six such units were raised for the temporary defense of the state's eastern coast line to perform guard and garrison duty. Many were 100-day units and so this is why Woodbury served just three months, mustering out on the 6th of August.

On December 9th, 1868, following the war, Alvah married Anna Porter at Beverly, Massachusetts. On December 20th, 1900 he married a second time to Ida Roberts at Hamilton, Massachusetts. He passed on April 28th, 1928 at the age of 85, a resident of Beverly his entire life.*

The flag was made by highly skilled hands, but probably not by someone who regularly sewed flags. It is a reasonable possibility that Woodbury made the flag himself. As a shoemaker in a port town, he surely would have had access to sewing machines. He would also have had good access to fabrics. The cotton used in the construction of the stripes and canton is typical of homemade flags. Because cotton absorbs water, commercial flag-makers used wool bunting for flags intended for nautical or other long-term outdoor use. Pieced-and-sewn, plain weave cotton flags were available from some flag-makers, but these would have had metal grommets in most cases and the stars would have likely been appliquéd with their edges turned under. The sort of appliqué work seen here is what one might expect from a leatherworker. The hoist is made of a professional flag-maker's or sail-maker's fabric, but the grommets are hand-sewn in button hole fashion. This unusual combination of professional and semi-professional construction tends to support the theory that Woodbury was responsible for its manufacture, or perhaps it was his wife, as he was re-married in this period. In either case it is interesting to know something about the flag's specific history, because very seldom is information like this available.

Sources: FindAGrave.com, Bible record of Arthur Woodbury [1850], gravestone inscription, Marriage Records of Beverly, MA, Marriage Records of Hamilton, MA & Vital Records of Beverly, MA to the end of the year 1849.

Mounting: The flag has been hand-stitched to 100% silk organza for support on every seam and throughout the star field. It was then hand-stitched to a background of 100% cotton, black in color, which was washed to reduce excess dye. An acid-free agent was added to the wash to further set the dye and the fabric was heat-treated for the same purpose. The mount was then placed in black-painted, hand-gilded and distressed Italian molding. The glazing is U.V. protective Plexiglas.

Condition: There is minor water staining, soiling, fading and oxidation. There are a small number of tiny holes in the 4th and 9th stripes. Many of my clients prefer early flags to show their age and history of use.
Collector Level: Intermediate-Level Collectors and Special Gifts
Flag Type: Sewn flag
Star Count: 45
Earliest Date of Origin: 31" x 54"
Latest Date of Origin: 42" x 64.25"
State/Affiliation: Massachusetts
War Association: 1898 Spanish American War
Price: SOLD
 

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