By Evan Sage
Tomorrow, June 14, is Flag Day. Oftentimes questions arise as to whether Arizona had a territorial flag. An examination of documents in both Sharlot Hall Museum and the State Capitol archives yielded little on the subject. However, the story of flags over Arizona goes way back.
The first banner, the Spanish Castilian, was borne by Coronado and his conquistadors who traversed the Southwest in 1540, in their search for gold. Despite finding no immense treasure, his journey began to shape an understanding of the Southwest's economic potentials.
A new flag appeared over Arizona when Charles III was crowned monarch of Spain in 1759. Known as one of the "enlightened despots" of the era, he proceeded to reinforce Spain's colonial territories through expanded trade and additional garrisoning of troops in the Southwest. His ensign fostered two colors: gold representing temporal wealth and red denoting sacrificial blood. These two colors prevail in the upper part of Arizona's current state flag.
With Spain's decline in the Americas in the early 19th century and the ascent of Mexico's dominance in the Southwest, the Mexican flag replaced Spain's flag. However this standard would soon be replaced with that of the United States.
American explorers and other adventurers soon entered to the Southwest. Among these was John C. Fremont. In his usual flash of arrogance, Fremont entered Arizona under a flag he designed. It flaunted two rows of thirteen stars each with an eagle in the center . During the Mexican War, the United States Flag proudly entered Arizona. Upon Mexico's defeat in 1848, and the Gadsden Purchase in 1853, the United States began to reap its new bounty.
Another standard soon appeared. It was the "Stars and Bars" of the Confederate States of America. Southern Arizona, and especially Tucson, became a hotbed of Dixie sympathizers while the northern part of the territory remained staunchly Union. To safeguard U.S. interests, a military entourage under the command of Military Governor James H. Carleton entered Arizona flying a U.S. thirty- four star flag.
Abundant wealth with an increase in population stimulated an increasing desire for statehood, and perhaps a flag. The impendence of the Spanish-American War in 1898, called for an urgency for troops. The Arizona Territory added troops to the ranks of the "Rough Riders." A banner was procured from the women of the J.W. Owens Relief Corp. of Phoenix. The "Stars and Stripes" reached the former territorial capitol of Prescott and was presented to the troops at Ft. Whipple. The Arizona contingent was the first ashore in Cuba and when their flag was lifted it was greeted by cheers and a naval gun salute. Upon cessation of hostilities the flag was presented to the new territorial capitol at Phoenix.
By the advent of the 20th century, Arizonans clamored for statehood and a flag that would be self-defining. When invited to a competition in Ohio in 1910, Arizona's National Guard Rifle Team realized that theirs was the only one without a flag. The team's captain, C.W. Harris, designed a flag to embrace Arizona's past and present . To honor Arizona's traditional colors of blue and old gold, he added the Spanish hue of gold and red. Thirteen rays of alternating gold and red honoring the original colonies were placed in the upper portion of the flag above a field of solid blue. For a setting sun a copper-colored star was chosen to revere Arizona copper industry. Harris asked Nan Hayden, wife of Arizona legislator Carl Hayden, to sew the flag. Once finished she was endeared as the "Betsy Ross of Arizona."
The true test as to whether the flag would fly as is was in question with Arizona's statehood February 14, 1912. State legislators debated adoption of the Harris/Hayden flag for several years. House Bill No. 68 introduced in 1915, asked that the design be accepted. It called for the bottom half being blue and the upper half divided into thirteen analogous segments of seven yellow and six red rays. Objections annulled adoption. In 1917, the flag question rose again before state legislators. Most of the debate centered on the copper star that was thought "grotesque." One legislator suggested replacing the star with a gila monster, and another with the golden eagle.
Finally, Mr. J.L. Edwards, Yuma, said enough was enough and coerced the flag bill through the legislature in February. Despite Governor Thomas E. Campbell's refusal to sign the bill into the statutes, it became law after the five-day limit. The only design change was that now it contained seven red and six yellow rays. This flag was presented to the First Arizona Infantry on September 11, 1917, as it left for the front in World War I.
Evan Sage is a volunteer researcher at the Museum's Archives and Library.
Sharlot Hall Museum Photograph Call Number: (mil251pk). Reuse only by permission.
The Arizona National Guard encampment at Whipple Barracks around 1910. It was in 1910 that the Guard's rifle team captain, C.W. Harris asked Carl Hayden's wife, Nan, to sew together his design for an Arizona flag which is in use today.