Frame Size (H x L): 8” x 10.5”
Flag Size (H x L): 3” x 5.5”

Offered is a thirteen star mourning flag, made following the assassination of President Willliam McKinley. This flag is printed on silk, and a border of black silk crepe is handsewn thereto. Per Victorian-era tradition, black was used to show mourning and grief. Following the assassination of McKinley in September of 1901, everything from buildings, to homes, to outfits, and flags were draped in black.

This flag is one of the only remaining examples of a McKinley mourning flag. We know that it is associated with McKinley’s assassination, rather than some other tragic event, as it was found with the following note, written on an envelope:

Worn on occasion of
McKinley Death
[ILLEGIBLE] flag
From Mrs. [ILLEGIBLE]

THE ASSASSINATION OF MCKINLEY
McKinley was the 25^th president of the United States, serving from 1897 until his death in 1901. His presidency saw the U.S. emerge as a world power following the Spanish-American War in 1898, with major events like the acquisition of overseas territories and the annexation of Hawaii. McKinley was known for his support of protective tariffs and the gold standard.

The man responsible for McKinley's assassination was Leon Czolgosz, an anarchist. Influenced by the political unrest of his era and the assassination of King Umberto I of Italy by a fellow anarchist, Czolgosz believed it was his duty to kill President McKinley. He saw McKinley as a symbol of oppression and thought his act would rally the working class against their capitalist oppressors.

On September 6, 1901, while attending the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, President McKinley was shot by Czolgosz at the Temple of Music. Czolgosz had concealed a .32 caliber revolver wrapped in a handkerchief and, as McKinley extended his hand for a handshake, shot him twice. One of the bullets deflected, causing minor injury, but the other critically wounded the president.

Although McKinley underwent surgery and initially showed signs of recovery, his condition worsened due to complications, leading to his death on September 14, 1901. At the time of the shooting, Vice President Theodore Roosevelt was hiking in the Adirondack Mountains. Following McKinley's death, Roosevelt was swiftly sworn in as the 26th president of the United States.

Czolgosz was immediately apprehended and was later found guilty of the assassination. He was executed in the electric chair on October 29, 1901.

The assassination of McKinley marked the third time a U.S. president had been killed while in office. This tragic event heightened concerns about presidential security, resulting in increased protective measures for subsequent presidents. Moreover, with Roosevelt's ascendancy to the presidency, a shift in U.S. policies began, leading to the dawn of the Progressive Era with its emphasis on reforms. The assassination also underlined the tensions between radical ideologies like anarchism and the established political systems of the time, spotlighting the challenges faced by societies undergoing rapid industrialization.

THIRTEEN STAR FLAGS GENERALLY
The original use of the thirteen-star flag dates to June 14th, 1777, the time at which the Continental Congress adopted a resolution creating the first official flag.  The resolution stated, “Resolved, that the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white, that the union be thirteen stars, white on a blue field, representing a new constellation.”  Thirteen-star flags were official from 1777-1795, but have been in use ever since. 

Small US Navy boats used it as the ensign from 1795 until 1916.  Thirteen-star flags were also flown at the time of George Washington’s death in 1799 and to celebrate the nation’s 50^th anniversary in 1824.  They were also flown in 1824 in honor of General Lafayette’s return to the US for his nationwide tour.  Celebrations for his Revolutionary War service were held in New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, along with many locations in the southern and western states. 

Further, thirteen-star flags were also common during the Mexican War in 1846-1848 and the Civil War in 1861-1865.  They were both relatively close in time to the revolution and were very patriotic times, particularly during the Civil War time period when flag use became much more common than had ever previously been the case. 

Conservation Process: This flag was hand sewn to hemp and a mounting board.  It is positioned behind Optium Museum Acrylic. 

Frame: This flag is in an antique Eastlake frame, dating to between approximately 1870 and 1880.

Condition Report: This flag is in excellent condition.   

Collectability Level: The Good – Perfect for Beginning Collectors and Gifts

Date of Origin: 1901  
Number of Stars: 13 
Associated State: Original 13 Colonies