William Crampton
Encyclopedia
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
, MEd
MED
-Medicine:* Medicine * Medication, often used in the plural "meds"* Title of Medic, the first Physician degree in Argentina* Medical Extrication Device, a device for extricating an injured patient from an accident site, such as the Kendrick Extrication Device* Minimal Erythemal Dose, the minimum...
(1936 - 1997) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
vexillologist. His chief legacy the Flag Institute
Flag Institute
The Flag Institute is a research and documentation centre for flags and flag information, founded on St George's Day, 23 April 1971 by William Crampton and Captain EMC Barraclough CBE RN. Although not an official body, it is the principal advisor and designer of flags to the government of the...
has hundreds of members in the UK and overseas. He was recognised as Britain's foremost authority on flags by government agencies, the flag trade, the media, publishers, librarians and vexillologists of all ages and backgrounds. He was also renowned internationally, and his status was recognised by his election as President of Fédération internationale des associations vexillologiques, the International Federation of Vexillological Associations.
When asked when he first became interested in flag
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...
s, Crampton responded that it was like being asked when he started breathing. He was fascinated by flags from an early age, and began research as a 14-year-old schoolboy, when he realised that some flags in his atlas were obsolete. Thereafter he devoured all the flag knowledge he could find, scouring libraries and bookstores for every available book. At university, in the army, and while working overseas, chances for flag research were limited but he nevertheless took every opportunity to gain more knowledge.
In 1963, while working in adult education, he was able to resume vexillology
Vexillology
Vexillology is the scholarly study of flags. The word is a synthesis of the Latin word vexillum, meaning 'flag', and the Greek suffix -logy, meaning 'study'. The vexillum was a particular type of flag used by Roman legions during the classical era; its name is a diminutive form of the word velum...
and contacted Whitney Smith
Whitney Smith
Whitney Smith is a professional vexillologist, i.e., scholar of flags. The term vexillology, which he coined in his 1958 article Flags of the Arab World, refers to the scholarly analysis of all aspects of flags. In 1961, Smith and colleague Gerhard Grahl cofounded The Flag Bulletin, the world's...
, the foremost American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
flag expert and "father" of the international vexillological movement. In 1967 Smith held a meeting in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
at which Crampton met others devoted to flags, including Ted Barraclough, then editor of the standard British reference book Flags of the World
Flags of the World
Flags of the World is an Internet-based vexillological association and resource. Its principal project is the Internet's largest website devoted to vexillology, containing comprehensive information about all kinds of flags, and an associated mailing list...
. The meeting was Crampton's launching pad. Active in the Flag Section of the Heraldry Society
Heraldry Society
There are several heraldry societies around the world. Some of the more notable ones include:*The Heraldry Society*The Heraldry Society of Scotland*The Royal Heraldry Society of Canada*The American Heraldry Society*The American College of Heraldry...
, he edited its newsletter from its introduction in 1969. In 1971 he formed the Flag Institute
Flag Institute
The Flag Institute is a research and documentation centre for flags and flag information, founded on St George's Day, 23 April 1971 by William Crampton and Captain EMC Barraclough CBE RN. Although not an official body, it is the principal advisor and designer of flags to the government of the...
and became its director, with Barraclough as chairman. The newsletter became the Institute's journal Flagmaster
Flagmaster
Flagmaster is a vexillology magazine published by the Flag Institute and edited by Michael Faul. Since November 2005, the magazine has been printed entirely in colour; it is the second periodical principally about flags to have been so printed .Flagmaster was mentioned prominently in a 30 September...
. In the same year, at the Fourth International Congress of Vexillology in Turin, Italy, the Flag Institute joined the FIAV and successfully proposed that the 1973 Congress be held in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
The Congress placed the Flag Institute firmly on the international map. Meanwhile Crampton was producing booklets and improving Flagmaster. He was invited to assist with editing The Observer's Book of Flags published by Warne
Warne
Warne may refer to:People*Baz Warne, , English musician*George Warne, , British politician*Ivor Warne-Smith, , Australian footballer*Jo Warne, British actress*John Warne, American musician...
. He worked with Barraclough on a new edition of Flags of the World
Flags of the World
Flags of the World is an Internet-based vexillological association and resource. Its principal project is the Internet's largest website devoted to vexillology, containing comprehensive information about all kinds of flags, and an associated mailing list...
, as well as providing information and advice on a wide variety of flag projects. The Flag Institute's services to the flag trade, its members and non-member bodies steadily increased.
At FIAV's tenth congress at Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, 1983, Crampton was elected Congress Secretary and at the 1985 Congress in Madrid, Spain, he was awarded a diploma by the Soviet Flag Society. In ensuing years he achieved a near monopoly in Britain as a flag-book editor, producing many new books and new editions of established titles. His tour of duty as Congress Secretary ended in 1989. In 1991 he was awarded the "Vexillon", an award for exellence in the promotion of vexillology. In 1993 he was elected President of the International Federation of Vexillological Associations
Fédération internationale des associations vexillologiques
The Fédération internationale des associations vexillologiques is an international federation of 55 regional, national, and multinational associations and institutions across the globe that study vexillology, which FIAV defines in its constitution as "the creation and development of a body of...
, a post which he held until his death from cancer in 1997.
Crampton early realised the potential of the internet. He acquired an email address]] in 1994 and started a website in 1996. In 1995 he gained a first-class Doctorate for his thesis Flags as Non-Verbal Symbols in the Management of National Identity, after ten years part-time work.
In 1995 the growth of the Flag Institute and the volume of business prompted the formation of a trading company, Flag Institute Enterprises, with Crampton as managing director. The approaching millennium and the bicentenary
Anniversary
An anniversary is a day that commemorates or celebrates a past event that occurred on the same day of the year as the initial event. For example, the first event is the initial occurrence or, if planned, the inaugural of the event. One year later would be the first anniversary of that event...
of the Union Flag
Union Flag
The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom. It retains an official or semi-official status in some Commonwealth Realms; for example, it is known as the Royal Union Flag in Canada. It is also used as an official flag in some of the smaller British overseas...
in 2001 stimulated other major projects including a campaign to have the Union Flag adopted as the UK's national flag
National flag
A national flag is a flag that symbolizes a country. The flag is flown by the government, but usually can also be flown by citizens of the country.Both public and private buildings such as schools and courthouses may fly the national flag...
, the establishment of a Flag Centre to house the Institute and the hosting of the 19th Congress in 2001 in York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
.
After his death, in 1999 the newly opened Library of the Flag Institute
Flag Institute
The Flag Institute is a research and documentation centre for flags and flag information, founded on St George's Day, 23 April 1971 by William Crampton and Captain EMC Barraclough CBE RN. Although not an official body, it is the principal advisor and designer of flags to the government of the...
in Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
was named in his honour as the William Crampton Library
William Crampton Library
The William Crampton Library, so named in honour of Dr William Crampton, founder of the Flag Institute, is the United Kingdom's largest single library devoted to the subject of vexillology....
.