Collaborative site for collectors, dealers, & anyone interested in our history.
National Geographic Society Flag
PLEASE NOTE CAPTIONS PER PHOTOS, where applicable.
---> Also see:
http://ngscollectors.ning.com/forum/topics/125-years-1888-2013-the-society-s-flag
http://ngscollectors.ning.com/photo/exploreriistratomail2-1/next?context=user
http://ngscollectors.ning.com/photo/dowmetalmedal-1/prev?context=user
thank you,
~ Scott T. Shier, Michigan
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Comment by Frances Payne on June 12, 2024 at 3:57pm
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Dear Scott,
How very kind of you to respond to me regarding the NGS flag mystery. Has it really been ten years since we last corresponded? Hard to believe, but it has been a busy time with many changes. Not to mention I seem to have a difficult time successfully navigating (or navigating at all) the NGS Collectors site. There may have been a couple of photos erroneously sent in my last attempt on the site. You are my only “lifeline” to cracking the code at all. I am so grateful you responded to me, especially as this mystery flag may be quite significant and I have no resource for discerning that. After my mother passed away in 2010, there were many tasks to be accomplished in settling her estate. As “the last man standing” within my family of five, it was up to me to address them. It took a great deal of time to bring things to completion. My mother remained in the family home until she died, so up to that point, there had been no sorting out or discovery of the many things that had accumulated since my parents moved in 60 years prior. Among the things I discovered was the very unique and seemingly aged NGS flag. I am hoping to have more success in sending you the photos to clarify my description of same. The flag is the traditional tri-color of brown, green and blue. It measures 5 ft by 7 ft. But from that point, it does not resemble any such flag that I have been able to find in an online search. Firstly, the letters (white) are a bold slab serif font, which became popular in the late 19th century. The letters are not printed on, but are pieced into the bands of color as separate pieces of fabric, attached by dense zig-zag (or satin) stitching into their background. Thus on the reverse side of the flag, they are backwards. Close-up, it is easy to see that this flag was not factory made, as the stitching quality is variable throughout the lettering, as well as on some of the general areas of the flag. It does not appear that the letters were satin-stitched onto the background and then the background was cut away. As such, it was a challenging example of piece-work and very well-accomplished. As I hope will be evident from the photos, the flag is in very good condition.
I was so pleased to find your previous correspondence with me still available online. I realize there are a number of questions that you posed that still remain unanswered. I would like to go back to that in the future and tell you what I can about them, although it may not be very extensive. I moved to Warrenton, Virginia in 2016, and brought with me many papers, photos, and items from my Dad’s time at the Geographic. Hopefully I will be able to find the time to share some of those with you. One of my Granddaughters just presented me with Gil Grosvenor’s recent book “Man of the World”. There are a number of references to my Dad (fortunately the book is extraordinarily well-indexed). I hope to hear from you once again. Perhaps you may have contact with other members who may have information about same. In the meantime, please accept my warm regards, Fran Payne
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