Flag of Arizona
Encyclopedia
The flag
of the state of Arizona consists of 13 rays of red and weld-yellow on the top half, the colors of the flag of Spain
, representing the 13 original states. The red and yellow also symbolize Arizona's picturesque sunsets. The copper star represents a once flourishing Copper mining industry in Arizona. The rest of the flag is colored blue, representing liberty.
Officially, the State of Arizona website, museum and official materials cite the following origins of the Arizona flag:
"Charles Wilfred Harris, Colonel in the Arizona National Guard, served as the captain of the unit’s rifle team in 1910. During the rifle competition at Camp Perry, Ohio, the Arizona team was the only team without an emblem of any kind. Colonel Harris was chiefly responsible for the creation of the rifle team flag that in 1917 became the Arizona State Flag. Blue and gold are the colors of Arizona. Red and gold are the colors carried by Coronado’s Expedition of 1540 to the Seven Cities of Cibola. The blue is “liberty blue” identical to the color in the United States flag field of stars. Since Arizona is a western state the rays of the setting sun seemed appropriate. There are thirteen rays representing the original “thirteen colonies.” The large copper star identifies Arizona as the largest producer of copper in the United States. "On February 27, 1917, the legislature passed the bill to adopt this flag as the official Arizona State Flag despite dissenting votes and Governor Campbell’s refusal to affix his signature to the bill."
While Colonel Harris is credited with the creation of the Rifle Team flag, several individuals appear to have played a role in the creation of the state's first official flag. WR Stewart of Mesa was working in conjunction with Colonel Charles W. Harris, who was the Arizona Adjutant General and head of the Arizona National Guard
. Stewart, as President of the Mesa Rifle Team, felt compelled to design a flag for competition. WR Stewart's wife (Mae) sewed the first flag for competition from a sketch that he had made on the back of an envelope. Carl Hayden, Arizona's first US Senator was reported to have been involved with Colonel Harris in designing the first state flag, and his wife, Nan Hayden was responsible for sewing the first state flag {3}. Rachael Berry, a leader in women's sufferage and the first woman elected to the State Legislator in Arizona in its first year of statehood in 1910 also is reported to have co-designed the Arizona flag with another woman (likely Nan Hayden) in the years preceeding statehood. It is likely that many individuals were involved in its conception, design and production, rather than one or two individuals working independently, the specific language used in official State of Arizona materials likely has merit.
The Stewart/Harris version of the competition flag's origin is due to Stewart dropping some copper dye and white material into boiling water and the result was the copper color that is now on the flag we see today. While some sources claim the rising sun of the earlier proposals was thought to resemble the Japanese flag and was therefore changed to the present star, most official sources (including official State documents) cite the Spanish flag and the influence of the early Arizona explorers Conquistadores Cabeza de Vaca and Coronado as they searched unsuccessfully for the lost (gold) City of Cibola as the inspiration for the colors.
The flag was adopted on February 17, 1917, by the third state legislature
. It was passed into law without the signature of Governor Thomas Campbell
. The governor did not officially state his reasons for taking no action on the bill.
In a 2001 poll conducted by the North American Vexillological Association
, the Arizona flag was identified as one of the "10 best flags on the continent," ranking sixth out of 72 North American flags for overall design quality.
To properly make the state flag, the height of the flag is two units high while the width is three units wide. The sun rays at the top are divided into thirteen equal segments, starting with red and alternating with gold until the thirteen rays are complete. In the center of the flag, the copper star will be one unit high, while the rest of the flag is covered by blue section measuring one unit high and three units wide. The colors of red and blue are the same shade that is used on the flag of the United States
. The specific colors of copper and gold have not been set down in law. The suggested flag size is four by six feet, with the star being two feet tall.
http://www.mesaaz.gov/planning/RobsonHistoricDistrict.aspx
Flag
A flag is a piece of fabric with a distinctive design that is usually rectangular and used as a symbol, as a signaling device, or decoration. The term flag is also used to refer to the graphic design employed by a flag, or to its depiction in another medium.The first flags were used to assist...
of the state of Arizona consists of 13 rays of red and weld-yellow on the top half, the colors of the flag of Spain
Flag of Spain
The flag of Spain , as it is defined in the Spanish Constitution of 1978, consists of three horizontal stripes: red, yellow and red, the yellow stripe being twice the size of each red stripe...
, representing the 13 original states. The red and yellow also symbolize Arizona's picturesque sunsets. The copper star represents a once flourishing Copper mining industry in Arizona. The rest of the flag is colored blue, representing liberty.
Officially, the State of Arizona website, museum and official materials cite the following origins of the Arizona flag:
"Charles Wilfred Harris, Colonel in the Arizona National Guard, served as the captain of the unit’s rifle team in 1910. During the rifle competition at Camp Perry, Ohio, the Arizona team was the only team without an emblem of any kind. Colonel Harris was chiefly responsible for the creation of the rifle team flag that in 1917 became the Arizona State Flag. Blue and gold are the colors of Arizona. Red and gold are the colors carried by Coronado’s Expedition of 1540 to the Seven Cities of Cibola. The blue is “liberty blue” identical to the color in the United States flag field of stars. Since Arizona is a western state the rays of the setting sun seemed appropriate. There are thirteen rays representing the original “thirteen colonies.” The large copper star identifies Arizona as the largest producer of copper in the United States. "On February 27, 1917, the legislature passed the bill to adopt this flag as the official Arizona State Flag despite dissenting votes and Governor Campbell’s refusal to affix his signature to the bill."
While Colonel Harris is credited with the creation of the Rifle Team flag, several individuals appear to have played a role in the creation of the state's first official flag. WR Stewart of Mesa was working in conjunction with Colonel Charles W. Harris, who was the Arizona Adjutant General and head of the Arizona National Guard
Arizona National Guard
The Arizona National Guard is the National Guard of the American state of Arizona. It consists of the Arizona Army National Guard and the Arizona Air National Guard.Both components are part of the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs...
. Stewart, as President of the Mesa Rifle Team, felt compelled to design a flag for competition. WR Stewart's wife (Mae) sewed the first flag for competition from a sketch that he had made on the back of an envelope. Carl Hayden, Arizona's first US Senator was reported to have been involved with Colonel Harris in designing the first state flag, and his wife, Nan Hayden was responsible for sewing the first state flag {3}. Rachael Berry, a leader in women's sufferage and the first woman elected to the State Legislator in Arizona in its first year of statehood in 1910 also is reported to have co-designed the Arizona flag with another woman (likely Nan Hayden) in the years preceeding statehood. It is likely that many individuals were involved in its conception, design and production, rather than one or two individuals working independently, the specific language used in official State of Arizona materials likely has merit.
The Stewart/Harris version of the competition flag's origin is due to Stewart dropping some copper dye and white material into boiling water and the result was the copper color that is now on the flag we see today. While some sources claim the rising sun of the earlier proposals was thought to resemble the Japanese flag and was therefore changed to the present star, most official sources (including official State documents) cite the Spanish flag and the influence of the early Arizona explorers Conquistadores Cabeza de Vaca and Coronado as they searched unsuccessfully for the lost (gold) City of Cibola as the inspiration for the colors.
The flag was adopted on February 17, 1917, by the third state legislature
Arizona Legislature
The Arizona Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Arizona. It is a bicameral legislature that consists of a lower house, the House of Representatives, and an upper house, the Senate. There are 60 Representatives and 30 Senators...
. It was passed into law without the signature of Governor Thomas Campbell
Thomas Jefferson Campbell
Thomas Jefferson Campbell was an American politician who represented in the United States House of Representatives.-Biography:He was born in Rhea County, Tennessee in 1786, and he attended the public schools. He was assistant inspector general to Major General Cole's division of the East...
. The governor did not officially state his reasons for taking no action on the bill.
In a 2001 poll conducted by the North American Vexillological Association
North American Vexillological Association
The North American Vexillological Association is a membership organization devoted to "vexillology as the scientific study of flags." Flag researchers, designers, collectors, activists, merchants, and other enthusiasts from the United States and Canada meet annually at NAVA meetings in order to...
, the Arizona flag was identified as one of the "10 best flags on the continent," ranking sixth out of 72 North American flags for overall design quality.
Design
Flag of the United States
The national flag of the United States of America consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton bearing fifty small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars alternating with rows...
. The specific colors of copper and gold have not been set down in law. The suggested flag size is four by six feet, with the star being two feet tall.
See also
- State of Arizona
- Symbols of the state of Arizona
- Great Seal of the State of Arizona
- Symbols of the state of Arizona
External links
http://www.mesaaz.gov/planning/RobsonHistoricDistrict.aspx