The flag of
Missouri was designed and stitched in Jackson, Missouri, by Marie
Elizabeth Watkins Oliver (1885-1959), the wife of former State
Senator R.B. Oliver. Her design was adopted in 1913 and remains
unchanged to this day.
The flag consists of three horizontal stripes of red, white and
blue. These represent valor, purity, vigilance, and justice. The
colors also reflect the state's historic status as part of the
French Louisiana Territory. In the center white stripe is the Seal
of Missouri, circled by a blue band containing 24 stars,
symbolizing Missouri's admission as the 24th U.S. state.
Design
The original flag design was painted on paper by
classically-trained artist Mary Kochtitzky of Cape Girardeau, and
Marie Oliver’s friend. In 1908 the flag was taken to the state
capitol in Jefferson City for viewing.
Marie Oliver’s husband, Robert—A former Missouri Senator—drafted a
bill to make the Oliver Flag the official flag of Missouri and
sent the bill to his nephew Sen. Arthur L. Oliver, who introduced
the bill in the senate on March 17, 1909. The bill passed in the
senate but failed in the house. The General Assembly was
considering the design of another flag created by Dr. G.H.
Holcomb, known as the "Holcomb Flag".
Voting on the flag designs stalled, and then the Missouri State
Capitol burned in 1911, destroying Oliver’s original paper flag.
Artist Mary Kochtitzky, who had painted the first flag was out of
state, so Oliver and Mrs. S.D. MacFarland worked together to
duplicate Kochtitzky’s artwork on a second flag made of silk.
On January 21, 1913, the Oliver Flag Bill was introduced in the
House of Representatives. The Missouri DAR and the Colonial Dames
approved, supported, and urged their legislators to vote yes on
the design. It passed on March 7 and was quickly signed by the
Senate, which sent it to the governor. Governor Elliott Woolfolk
Major signed the bill, making the Oliver flag the official flag of
Missouri on March 22, 1913.
Sterling Silver Charm of Missouri |
