Research and news of the North American Vexillological Association December 2018 No. Recherche et nouvelles de l’Association nord-américaine de vexillologie Décembre 2018 4 INSIDE Page Incorporating NAVA News and Flag Research Quarterly Editor’s Note 2 President’s Column 3 NAVA 52: Celebrating Les Drapeaux in Québec City 4 List of NAVA 52 presentations 6 Flag Design Merci Beaucoup 6 “Rules” NAVA 52 image montage 6 12 New Arms and Flags for Yale 8 The Ralph Spence Flag Collection 9 New Flags: Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Lessons from American City Metairie, Louisiana 10 Flag Design "Rules" 12 Flag Redesign Efforts Lessons from American City 18 Flag Redesign Efforts 18 NAVA 52 attendees and group photo 24 Raven—Call for Papers NAVA Election Results NAVA 52: Celebrating Raven 25 • Vatican Flags 24 Les Drapeaux in Québec City 4 Top: Flag of South Africa. Source: shutterstock.com Right: View of the Old City from the Citadelle. Source: Ted Kaye 2 | December 2018 • Vexillum No. 4 December / Décembre 2018 Number 4 / Numéro 4 Editor’s Note | Note de la rédaction NAVA is a non-political organization. That means that the association, regardless of the opinions of our officers and members, refrains from advocating on behalf of or against Research and news of the North American Vexillological Association / Recherche et any candidates or issues—even those related to flags. While our status as a 501(c)(3) nouvelles de l’Association nord-américaine organization merely prevents us from participating in political campaigns of individual de vexillologie. Published quarterly / Publié candidates, the association has a long tradition of refraining from any political activity. quatre fois par an. Please submit correspondence and In our publications, we strive to avoid political bias as well; when we publish works on submissions to / Veuillez envoyer toute controversial flags or flag-related practices, our aim is to report the facts as well as we can correspondance à l’adresse suivante: and to allow our readers to form their own opinions. Flags are often political symbols, and Vexillum, Post Office Box 55071 #58049, Boston, Mass. 02205-5071 USA; articles about them will frequently deal with political events. However, NAVA’s approach [email protected] will always be to analyze and understand the way that flags are involved in such events, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF / RÉDACTEUR EN CHEF rather than passing judgment on the events themselves. Should we err, we welcome your Steven A. Knowlton corrections at [email protected]. EDITORIAL BOARD / However, it’s clear there is another form of bias that is present in our pages—the bias COMITÉ DE RÉDACTION toward novelty. Our content largely derives from two main sources: research our readers John A. Lowe perform and submit, and attempts to expand upon information about flags that are in Christopher Maddish the news. In all news reporting, coverage emphasizes what is different today than it was David B. Martucci yesterday. “War Declared” is a headline, while “Peace Continues” is not. This, of course, Elijah Snow-Rackley gives readers an unbalanced sense of how life is lived for most people most of the time. Flag Peter A. Ansoff (ex officio) coverage is similar: “Judge Rails Against State Flag” is news, while “81 Judges Leave State PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE / Flag Untouched” is not. The stories of the many who cherish and honor existing flags and COMITÉ DE PUBLICATION participate in long-standing flag-related practices are often left untold in the haste to cover Steven A. Knowlton Chair / Directeur dramatic changes in flags. While such a bias toward the novel is understandable, we must Stanley Contrades do better if we are to present vexillology in all its aspects. To that end, I will endeavor to Anne M. Platoff include more stories of the persistence of old flags and practices. You can help, too—please Kenneth Reynolds send in your stories! Tell us how you practice flag-flying and other rituals, and what it Peter A. Ansoff (ex officio) means to you when you see a well-established flag that you revere. If you’re involved with community organizations that work with flags, let us know about that, too. NORTH AMERICAN VEXILLOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION-ASSOCIATION NORD- In this, the last issue of Vexillum for 2018, we are pleased to bring you a round-up of AMÉRICAINE DE VEXILLOLOGIE recent association happenings, such as a summary of the Annual Meeting in Québec City Founded / Fondée en 1967 and the results of our recent election. There is happy news of an expanded flag collection Peter A. Ansoff President / Président at a Canadian museum. Chris Maddish brings us up to date on the changes made to the Steven A. Knowlton symbolism of the colleges of Yale University since 1991, when Gus Tracchia performed First Vice President / Premier vice-président the research that we published in our last issue. New flags have been adopted in Tulsa, Stanley K. Contrades Oklahoma, and Metairie, Louisiana. Second Vice President / Deuxième vice-président As always, we welcome your contributions, criticism, and feedback. Wishing you a happy Edward B. Kaye new year filled with flags, I am Secretary / Secrétaire James J. Ferrigan III Yours truly, Treasurer / Trésorier Steve Knowlton © 2018 North American Vexillological Association- Association nord-américaine de vexillologie. All Editor, Vexillum rights reserved / Tous droits réservés. The opinions expressed by individual articles in this publication belong to their authors and do not necessarily represent those of the editor or the Association / Les opinions exprimées dans la présente publication n’engagent que leurs auteurs et ne sont pas nécessairement celles de l’éditeur ou de l’Association. Recherche et nouvelles de l’Association nord-américaine de vexillologie Vexillum No. 4 • décembre 2018 | 3 President’s Column | Chronique du président The “V” in “NAVA” It was great to see everyone at our recent meeting in Québec. editor of Flag Research Quarterly last year, it is appropriate for us It was everything that a NAVA meeting is supposed to be: a to “analyze the factors that distinguish a successful flag design, fine venue, a varied and interesting program of presentations, to encourage the public to incorporate those insights into their an inspiring (if chilly) tour of the historic Citadelle, dinner at flag-design efforts, and to provide impartial technical assistance the Parliament Building, and lots of camaraderie. You’ll find to such efforts when requested”. extensive coverage in this issue and on the NAVA website. On the other hand, those who are involved in flag design There were also some encouraging signs concerning the issues efforts must be careful not to cross the line into advocacy, or that have divided NAVA for so long. Two in particular stood even the out for me. One was Annie Platoff’s perception Toast to the Association at the of advocacy. Whitney Smith Dinner. One of the This may core sentiments in her toast was that involve some anyone interested in “flag design, rethinking flag history, flag law, or some other and revision aspect of flags” has a home in NAVA. (Annie’s original text is on our part. shown at right.) Her words reflect both an ideal and a reality: For example, we are, and should be, a “big tent” for all who share our strange the title of passion for symbols made of colored cloth. our signature The second point was an exchange at the end of the business publication, meeting on Sunday morning. Jim Croft spoke eloquently about Good Flag NAVA’s core mission, as stated in our Articles of Incorporation, Bad Flag, is “to promote vexillology as the scientific study of flags”. He catchy but recalled a conversation with our founder, Whitney Smith, unfortunate. in which Whitney made a distinction between vexillology Saying that a (studying flags) and vexillography (designing flags). Pete flag design is Loeser responded by noting that, while we honor Dr. Smith less likely to as the founder of our association and the coiner of the word be successful is “vexillology,” we must acknowledge that NAVA’s scope has not the same Above: Annie Platoff’s handwritten text of her Toast to the expanded considerably since 1967. He opined that our path to thing as saying Association at the Whitney Smith Dinner at NAVA 52. the future must be begin from where we are now, not where we it’s bad. This is were a half-century ago. particularly true when we use existing flags, especially national Annie’s toast, and the points made by Jim and Pete, bracket flags, as examples. Flags are touchstones of respect and pride, and a dilemma that NAVA faces as we begin our second 50 years. referring to one as “bad” can be offensive and counterproductive. Some argue that we should not be involved in flag design The bottom line is that we need to modify Dr. Smith’s activities (vexillography) because they do not fall within the dichotomy to reflect the reality of our association as we face the scope of “scientific study”. Others point to the reality that our future. The “V” in NAVA stands for vexillology, and it includes members have always been involved in flag design in various vexillography along with other aspects of flag study. We also ways, and that we’ve published guidelines and articles on various need to carefully review our current and future activities to make aspects thereof. Also, the flag design aspect of our activities is sure that we respect the “scientific” aspect of our stated mission. the one that has attracted the largest share of attention from the Annie, Jim, and Pete all laid down markers for us in Québec. general public, and is part of what the public associates with the Let’s continue the discussion.