Image by Rick Wyatt
Image by Dave Martucci

Flag Collections On This Website

Other Flag History Websites To Visit

"A moth-eaten rag on a worm-eaten pole,
It doesn’t look likely to stir a man’s soul;
‘Tis the deeds that were done ‘neath the moth-eaten rag, when that pole was a staff
and the rag was a flag."

- British General Sir Edward Bruce Hamley (1824-1893)

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Welcome to My website!

Flags that played their part in North American history

Why This Site

        My name is Peter Loeser. I was a history teacher for 32 years. I started this site because I'm a compulsive collector, I collect everything I get interested in, much to the frustration of my wife. Once I begin collecting something, I usually go overboard. Hence, I now own a whole bunch of flags that I really don't have any logical reason for except I simply collected them. As a history teacher and somebody who needs to organize things, a website like this is a natural solution.
        Please understand that although I've researched the histories of these flags to the best of my abilities, and have consulted with persons far more knowledgeable than myself, it is only as accurate as history makes possible. It continues to be an on-going process. I won't even begin to try and explain what happens when I see flags mis-identified on other websites. (I've been known to e-mail those sites to try correct their mistakes, and you can imagine how well that goes over!) Since turn about is fair play, please e-mail me if you spot any mistakes you think I have made.
        My identifications have less to do with specifics of each flag's design ( I'll leave that to the experts at Flags of the World ), but is rather an attempt to give a little of the history that makes each of the flags unique. Thus, for the vexillologist, this website will be a disappointment, because it is more about the history that was happening while the flags were being used, rather than the flags themselves. Nevertheless, at last count, there are over 1800 historical flags divided into historical categories, illustrated, and identified on this site. How's that for compulsive?

Background

        While working with students, I found they were as fascinated as I was about historic flags and their origins. I began putting together flag learning kits for different historical periods that included the actual full size replica flags and lessons to use with them. Since these kits were too costly to put together in any commercial manner, I eventually decided to share the information I gathered on this website to help others learn more about the flags and their stories. As you look through the site, look for ( hidden links ) in light gray for more interesting details and information about certain flags or certain flag myths.

Why These Particular Flags

        Some of you may wonder why this site has such a strange combination of flags. Since some of my ancestors came from an area in Poland known as East Prussia, while others came from England, and since I live in the United States, I've included flags from all of these places. A Prussia page grew into a Germany page, etc. Then as I developed my flag history units, I began to expand into periods of U.S and World History and the collection kept growing. As the site grew, certain vexillologists contacted me and helped build on to the site, and it just continues to grow. So basically, there is no real logical way to explain why some flags are included and some are not. It basically is just what I found or got interested in.

Giving Credit for Flag Images and Research

         If you desire to use any of the flag images used on this site, I've added an "Artistic Credit & Contact Information" page. (You will find that if you place your cursor over any image on this site the artist's name will be revelled.) Most of the artist just want to be given credit for their excellent creations and give it freely as long as you are not using their work for commercial reasons.
         My research and text is also based largely on the expertise of others, and you may also use it as I have done, for educational or non-commercial projects.

        Important Note: If an image ever fails to appear - refresh your page - they are all really there, but sometimes fail to load the first time because of computer timeouts.

Click on my name below if you wish to e-mail me

Site designed and maintained by Last site update: 7/25/2010