SMITH (DR. WHITNEY) FLAG RESEARCH CENTER COLLECTION, c. 1700's - 2013 [BULK 1957 - 2011]. See TARO record at http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utcah/03571/cah-03571.html. A portion of this collection is open for research. For preservation concerns, some original materials may be restricted. This collection is stored remotely. Advance notice required for retrieval. Contact repository for retrieval. Access to portions of this collection are restricted. Contact repository for more information. Cite as: Dr. Whitney Smith Flag Research Center Collection, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin. [AR 2013-160; 2013-205; 2014-244; 2014-40; 2014-200] ________________________________________________________________ BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Whitney Smith (born February 26, 1940) conceived of the term vexillology in 1957, synthesizing the Latin word vexillum (flag) and the Greek suffix -logia (study). Vexillology, originally a sub-discipline of heraldry, is the scientific study of the history, symbolism, and usage of flags or, by extension, any interest in flags in general. In 1961, Smith cofounded The Flag Bulletin, the first journal in the world devoted to the study of flags. The following year in 1962, Smith founded the Flag Research Center in Winchester, Massachusetts. Smith received his Bachelor's degree from Harvard University (1961) and his Ph.D. from Boston University in 1968, completing his dissertation, "Prolegomena to the Study of Political Symbolism," the same year. After graduating from Harvard, Smith served as professor of political science at Boston University. Smith worked with the international community to organize the First International Congress of Vexillology in 1965, then cofounded and the International Federation of Vexillological Associations (FIAV) in 1969. The North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) was founded two years prior in 1967. Smith is Secretary- General Emeritus of FIAV and President Emeritus of NAVA. Smith has written 27 books on the subject of flags, notably Flags through the Ages and Across the World and the Flag Book of the United States. Smith was the designer of the national flag of Guyana, adopted in 1966, and also known as the Golden Arrowhead. SCOPE AND CONTENTS: The Dr. Whitney Smith Flag Research Center Collection reflects Dr. Whitney Smith's professional and personal activities throughout his lifelong interest and career in vexillology. The collection documents Dr. Smith's early vexillological research through the founding of the Flag Research Center and the North American Vexillological Association (1962 and 1967 respectively), and his later work as one of the world's foremost flag experts. The collection is arranged in eight series: Flag Research Center Subject Files; Flag Research Center Archives; Books and Periodicals; Ottfried Neubecker Heraldry Collection; Vexillologists Collection; Flag Charts; Printed Material and Ephemera; and Artifacts and Flags. Whenever possible, the original order of the collection was maintained but in some series there was no discernable order; detailed information regarding the order and arrangement of each series can be found in the Scope and Contents for each individual series. The Flag Research Center Subject Files are comprised mostly of articles, fact sheets, original research, images, correspondence, and clippings from various sources relating to flags of the world and topical subjects. The files are largely organized by geographical location, first by continent or region, then by country, and so on. Materials in the folders are in a variety of languages and include flag specifications, correspondence about flag design, sketches, photographs, newspaper clippings, periodical articles, and photocopies from archival collections, pamphlets, booklets, reproductions of rare books, and small banners or flag examples. This series largely reflects the order of the collection received by the Briscoe Center and all efforts were made to maintain the existing order. As a result, the series reflects broad categories and similar information can be found in different files. When clarification of order is needed, an archivist's note can be found. This inventory provides a detailed folder-level list of the contents of the Flag Research Center Subject Files. The Flag Research Center Archives are comprised mostly of correspondence on the behalf of the Flag Research Center and Dr. Whitney Smith, a full run of The Flag Bulletin, inventories, and business documents. The Archives are also comprised of the personal and professional materials of Dr. Smith. For much of the Flag Research Center's existence, Dr. Smith was the only curator and scholar, so the distinction between some of the series in minimal. As a result, similar (and sometimes identical) information can be found in the multiple series. This is especially present in the arrangement of the Correspondence series. When clarification of order is needed an archivist's note can be found. This series also contains the extensive collection of "ready reference" style notecards Dr. Smith maintained on various topics and lectures as well as bibliographies and shelf-lists. The Books and Periodicals Collection contains a small sampling of books and periodicals from Dr. Smith's library. The vast majority of books and periodicals are currently unprocessed and thus closed to research. This Collection does not include books written by Dr. Smith or The Flag Bulletin; information regarding those titles can be found in the Flag Research Center Archives and the University of Texas Catalog. The Ottfried Neubecker Heraldry Collection contains the vast research materials of German vexillologist and heraldist, Ottfried Neubecker. Biographical Notes and the Scope and Contents for the collection can be found below. The Vexillologists Collection contains the papers of John Purcell, donated by Mr. Hugh Brady, and Robert J. Goldstein. The Flag Charts Collection is comprised of charts depicting historical and contemporary world flags. Within their respective subseries, the charts are largely organized by geographical location, region, and country. For the purpose of this collection, a flag chart is defined as a graphic document primarily designed to provide information on a multitude of flags at once by displaying images of flags with identifying captions. Charts of other representational materials such as emblems, crests, coats of arms, and heraldry are considered flag charts. This definition of a flag chart makes a distinction between a graphic document created for informational or research purposes and a graphic document created for presentation, advertisement, and decoration. These types of materials are organized within the Printed Material and Ephemera series. Often the distinction between these two types of information is slight and/or subjective and as a result, similar information can be found in different series. An archivist's note is included whenever possible. The Printed Material and Ephemera Collection is comprised of mostly visual documents depicting or referencing flags in many varieties; this includes- pamphlets; lithograph prints; song sheets; trade cards; paper dolls; posters; broadsheets; and more. This series contains the most images of flags throughout history. The series is divided by material type and then by country of origin or subject matter. In support of the Briscoe Center's mission, materials related to the United States are described to the most specific level whenever possible. Loose printed material may be found in the Flag Research Subject Files in addition to this series. These items were not removed in order to best preserve the original order and intention of the collection. Often distinction between material type and form is minimal or subjective and as a result similar items can be found in different subseries. Related material notes are provided whenever possible to avoid confusion. In addition to the printed material cataloged by this project, additional printed material will be cataloged at a later date. The Artifacts and Flags Collection contains items such as flags, memorabilia, miniatures, buttons and pins, and other kitsch materials. This collection is extensive and is largely unprocessed and thus closed to research. All of the flags listed in Series 8, Subseries E: Miscellaneous Flags are restricted and thus closed to research. Please contact the repository for more information. Materials are in numerous languages, mostly comprised of English, German, and French. Other languages are noted. ORGANIZATION AND ARRANGEMENT: I. Flag Research Center Subject Files 1. The United States of America a. United States Department of State, Core Data Fact Sheets b. United States of America, General c. Historical Flags d. United States Military and National Service Flags e. United States Flag Etiquette f. United States of America, Symbols 2. The United States of America, State and Territory Flags a. United States Civic Flags and Symbols 3. Foreign Country Files a. United States Department of State, Core Data Fact Sheets b. North America c. Europe d. Middle East e. Asia f. Africa g. Central America and the Caribbean h. South America i. Oceania and Australia j. Foreign Country Civic Symbols and Flags 4. Topical Subject Files a. Symbols, General b. Usage and Etiquette c. Topics, Alphabetized i. Miscellaneous Back Office Files d. Organizations e. International Symbols II. Flag Research Center Archives 1. Dr. Whitney Smith Personal and Professional Records a. Publications b. Miscellaneous