Wide Awake Flag
MakerMade by
Annin & Co.
Date1860
MediumSilk, paint, wood, metal, brass nails
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineConnecticut Museum of Culture and History collection
Object number1950.531.0
DescriptionBlue silk flag containing a painted image of an eagle with a banner in its beak for the 1860 campaign of Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin.
The Eagle is holding a pink banner in its beak and looking towards the left where "LINCOLN" is written. On the banner to the right of the eagle is the name "HAMLIN". The eagle is holding an olive branch in his left talon and twelve arrows in his right talon. Below the eagle's beak and chest is a large shield containing 11 red and white vertical stripes, and an undetermined amount of five pointed white stars. The eagle is painted onto a white and grey cloud background with the sun rising up from behind the eagle.
The flag is tied to its original pole with blue silk ties and then nailed to the pole with brass nails. The top and bottom edges of the flag are selvages while the fly end of the flag is hemmed with a chain stitch. The pole is made from an undetermined type of wood and has a metal finial at the top. The finial is a long diamond shaped piece and it is flanked by two crescent moon shaped pieces of metal. There is a blue cord containing two blue tassels that is wrapped around the finial and hangs down. The tassels are made of blue cord and wrapped around a piece of wood for the shape. The reverse side of the flag contains a painted shield with an undetermined phrase.
NotesHistorical Note: This flag was carried by the Wide Awakes of Hartford, Connecticut during Abraham Lincoln's presidential campaign of 1860. It is reported to be a gift to the Hartford club from the Wide Awakes of Newark, New Jersey on 27 July 1860. The Eagle is holding a pink banner in its beak and looking towards the left where "LINCOLN" is written. On the banner to the right of the eagle is the name "HAMLIN". The eagle is holding an olive branch in his left talon and twelve arrows in his right talon. Below the eagle's beak and chest is a large shield containing 11 red and white vertical stripes, and an undetermined amount of five pointed white stars. The eagle is painted onto a white and grey cloud background with the sun rising up from behind the eagle.
The flag is tied to its original pole with blue silk ties and then nailed to the pole with brass nails. The top and bottom edges of the flag are selvages while the fly end of the flag is hemmed with a chain stitch. The pole is made from an undetermined type of wood and has a metal finial at the top. The finial is a long diamond shaped piece and it is flanked by two crescent moon shaped pieces of metal. There is a blue cord containing two blue tassels that is wrapped around the finial and hangs down. The tassels are made of blue cord and wrapped around a piece of wood for the shape. The reverse side of the flag contains a painted shield with an undetermined phrase.
Status
Not on view
