Confronting Tradition and Whim: The Design of United States Civic Flags

Abstract

Vexillologists whose particular area of interest is American civic flags cannot help but feel a sense of dismay at times when they survey the field. As Dr. Whitney Smith points out in his perceptive article, “American Perspectives in Heraldry and Vexillology,” the vexillologist’s function is to maintain an objective point of view, observing, researching, recording; and the issue of whether the flag with which one is confronted is well designed or poorly done is more properly the purview of the vexillographer. The fact is, as people dedicated to the study of flags, we cannot help but “wear both hats”, often simultaneously, although professional ethics mostly prevent us from making any comment about a flag’s aesthetics. Of course, even in our vexillographic mode, we may well have a difference of opinion among ourselves as to whether a flag is attractive and effective; personal taste certainly enters into the picture. Nevertheless, we have, over the past several decades, come to agree for the most part about what constitutes a well designed flag. The characteristics of a pleasing design, among those set forth both by Steve Tyson in his article, “Tips on Flag and Banner Design”, and Henry Untermeyer in his monograph, “Don’t Litter or Letter Your City Flag”, seem to be simplicity, absence of lettering, a maximum of three colors (preferably bright), ease of recognition when flown, a shape that is consistent with