A recognized authority on flags and their history is Whitney Smith, who runs
the Flag Research Center in Winchester, Massachusetts. (He was featured in
Smithsonian Magazine, June 1997.)

You can reach him at:

Whitney Smith
Executive Director
Flag Research Center
Box 580
Winchester, MA 01890-0880
ph: 781-729-9410
fax: 781-7214817
email: [log in to unmask]



-----Original Message-----
From: Ann Marie Przybyla [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, June 23, 2003 11:28 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: old flag


Good morning!

I've recently come across an old flag in a town hall in northwestern
St. Lawrence County that I am trying to identify and also provide some
advice regarding its care and preservation.  The flag measures 14' by 7'
and has 13 stars, 9 in a circle with 1 star in each corner.  Suggestions
I've received on its probable identify include:  1) It's from the War of
1812; 2) It's a naval flag, because apparently the pattern of stars is
characteristic of the admiralty; 3) It could have belonged to a group of
Canadian farmers who wanted to be annexed to the
U.S.; 4) It could have been carried by American farmers who invaded
Canada to annex it to the U.S.

Can anyone provide me with the name of an organization that can give me
a definite answer?  Does anyone have a definite answer?  Also, which
agency, state or federal, provides advice or support for preserving
flags?

Thanks.


Ann Marie Przybyla
New York State Archives
Region 4 Office
Northway Plaza, Suite 1308-A
Route 9, Quaker Road
Queensbury, NY   12804

Tel.:  (518) 798-5717 or 798-5759
Fax:  (518) 798-6119
email:  [log in to unmask]