Illustrated Case Inscriptions From the Official Catalogue of the Trophy Flags of

ed States ensigns side by side with the ensigns of the Confederate States, their age, their faded colors. and the security of their repose as they hang ill draped folds behind the glass of their exhibition cases, are significant reminders that we are at peace with those rho in the past were eneniies. The old bunting is treasured for its story of brave deeds and noble sacrifice, the heritage of both the victors ant1 the vanquished. The bitterness of the conflicts over ivhicli the flags n7ere flow11 is lost in the peaceful silence of their resting place. Since 1847, the gradually increasing collection has been kept at the Saval Academy, vl ere, for inany years, tlie flags were eshibited in the old Saval Institute Hall. In 1901. vhenth is building was about to be torn down, the trophies were packed in sealed boxes, to await the day vheii they should be properly preserved and placed in the new buildings of the Saval Academy. It was known that the flags, when packed away, were in poor condition, and it vas feared that, in spite of all precautions, they would be damaged by moths. Efforts to have thein put in a permanent state of preservation were, lio vever, unsuccessful until 191 1. To Commander LVilliam Carey Cole, U. S. S., more than to any other individual, is due the credit for the accomplishment of their restoration. Early in 191 1, Coinrnander Cole, then officer in charge of buildings and grounds at the Saval Academy, began a corres ondence, vliicl included tlie naval committees of Congress, patriotic societies, and the custodians of flag collections. The Hon. Curtis Guild, es-governor of lIassacliusetts, named as his choice of an espert on flag preservation. Mrs. Anlelia Fo vler, o i Boston. At the request of Commander Cole, 111-5. Fonler esa 11-ined the flags in April, 1911. She four tlth em 40 qeriously dzm-1 aged by the ravages of moths, as well as the decay of age, that no ordinary method of preservation would suffice to insure their pertnanent existence. Her special process consisted in spreading the tattered remnants of each flag upon a backing of heavy Irish linen of neutral color. This delicate work was guided by the original measurement of the flag, by a knowledge of its design, and by placing in vertical and horizontal lines the warp and woof threads in-the fragments of buntiiig. hat remained of tlie original flag , as then sewn firmly to the linen backing by needlewomen, under . l rs. Fowlers instruction and guidance. The stitcl eso, f silk or linen tllread, cover the entire surface of the flag ancl its backing, with a very strong, yet hardly visible tlet vork, of circular t leshes about half an inch in diameter. The thread is carefull. tlyed to match the colors of the old flag. ho veverf aded or stained in varying degrees. liere re there are gaps or missinq parts in the original, the stitches, dyed to match the adjacent edges of the old bunting. complete the design of the flag, and tell graphically the story of the pieces that al-e gone. On April S, 1912, Congres5 passetl an act ap xol riating 30,000 for the . orli of preservation ant1 preparation for exhibition...