‘The American Flag: A Work In Progress’ At The Betsy Ross House

Appearing in a wide variety of styles and forms throughout the progression the nation, the American flag has served as a unique and powerful symbol representing the freedoms and liberties celebrated by its citizens for more than 200 years. An icon of its nation's history, the flag, until it was standardized in 1912, often possessed folk art qualities as the patriotic pride of its makers was expressed within the loose guidelines adopted by Congress in 1777.

In a celebration of the American flag, the Betsy Ross House is hosting the exhibition "The American Flag: A Work in Progress," on view through August 22. Consisting mostly of Nineteenth Century examples, all of which have been culled from the collection of Dr Jeffrey Kenneth Kohn, the flags on view serve to educate the public in regard to the numerous transitions that the Stars and Stripes have undergone, as well as to illuminate the folk art qualities of the various interpretations.

Kohn, a retired psychiatrist, has been involved in the antiques business since 1969, initially working his way through medical school cleaning out basements and attics and then selling the furniture and furnishings he found in an antiques shop he co-managed in Philadelphia until 1979. During the early years of his practice, he continued as an active collector of American illustration art and early period American military uniforms and equipment.

"My best friend collected flags, eagles and other patriotic material," stated Kohn, "and I would go to the flea markets, antiques shows and auctions and would buy him flags. After a couple years of doing that, I started looking at them as objects and began to realize that the flags are pretty neat. Then I started keeping them for myself, and I have been keeping them ever since."

Kohn's collection of flags now exceeds a thousand examples, and although he closed his antiques business, With All Due Ceremony, in December 2002, the consummate collector remains active in buying, trading and selling flags.

The story of the creation of the first American flag, sometimes debated, was first brought to public attention in 1870 by William Canby, the grandson of Betsy Ross, in a speech he made to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Canby and other members of Betsy Ross's family are said to have heard the story of the making of the first flag from Betsy Ross's own mouth.

According to the oral history, in 1777, three men — George Washington, Robert Morris and George Ross — visited Betsy Ross in an upholstery shop located at 239 Arch Street, now known as the Betsy Ross House. Washington pulled a folded piece of paper from inside his coat pocket and on it was a sketch of a flag with 13 red and white stripes and 13 six-pointed stars.