Kansas was admitted into the Union as the 34th state on January 29, 1861, about two-and-a-half months before the Confederate assault on Fort Sumter that marked the beginning of the Civil War. On July 4th of that year, the 34th star was added to the flag.
Throughout its history, the flag has taken a wide variety of sometimes whimsical and unusual forms. This flag is one such example. Its stars are hand-painted, a very rare feature present on fewer than twenty known flags from the 19th century. This was done to mimic the gilt-painted stars on the infantry battle flags of the period. It is homemade, most likely produced by local women for presentation to a Union army unit as it mustered into service. Units often carried such flags until they received their state-issued colors. At the discretion of the commanding officer, such presentation flags might be carried afterwards, either continuously or, more likely, on special occasions. In any event, it would certainly have been brought out after the war for reunions and parades.
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All flag images are used courtesy of Jeff R. Bridgman American Antiques, LLC, and remain © Jeff R. Bridgman American Antiques, LLC.
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