History of the Ohio Battle Flag Collection
The Ohio Battle Flag collection is one of the largest collections of
battle flags in the country. It includes nearly five hundred flags, three-quarters of which are from the Civil War. For the soldiers who carried them, the flags served as symbols of the state and country they were fighting to
protect. Historians view the collection as a physical representation
of Ohio's military history. Families and local historians see the
flags as tangible links to the members of their families and communities
who participated in the Mexican War, Civil War, Spanish-American War, World
War I and World War II.
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Ohio Statehouse rotunda with furled flags. Photo courtesy
Grandview Heights Public Library and the Scripps-Howard Newspapers.
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The history of the flag collection begins in the mid 19th century and continues to evolve as new efforts to preserve the collection are undertaken. Because the battle flags are a cherished link to Ohio's military past the State of Ohio, its veterans and citizens, have always been deeply concerned about the flags care and display. This summary of the collection's history discusses flag manufacturing, the state's acquisition of the flags, use of the flags by veterans, and efforts to preserve the flags.
of the flags, use of the flags by veterans, and efforts to preserve the flags.
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