Collection Highlights
Brandywine bowl (brandewijnkom)
ca. 1700
1911.38
Silver
Support the New-York Historical Society
Help us present groundbreaking exhibitions and develop educational programs about our nation's history for more than 200,000 schoolchildren annually.
Museum Collections
Luce Center
Flag
Object name
Flag
Date
1864-1867
Medium
Wool, cotton, linen, metal grommets
Dimensions
Overall: 38 1/2 x 75 in. ( 97.8 x 190.5 cm )
Description
Wool machine sewn U.S. flag with thirty-six cotton hand applied white stars (six rows of six stars) on each side of the blue canton; thirteen red and white stripes; natural linen hoist with metal grommets at each end.
Credit Line
Gift of Emma D. Wilcox, M.D.
Object Number
1949.188
Gallery Label
According to the donor, this flag was flown during the Draft riots of 1863. Several private homes along Fifth Avenue opened their doors to African-American refugees fleeing from Irish mobs who feared competition from newly freed blacks under the Emancipation Proclamation. This flag was flown over the Bushnell boarding-house from a top story window to notify those fleeing that a guard at the basement would give them admission. A tenant, wife of Maj. Gen. Solomon Merideth, preserved the flag.
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.