Exhibitions: Defenders of the Republic

April 19, 1941: The Brooklyn Museum has just made the announcement that it is gathering together from several sources military and naval uniforms for a comprehensive exhibition, to be on view all summer, staged in its large Entrance Hall and Entrance Gallery on the first floor. Historic examples will be shown together with elaborate and colorful uniforms of all periods and all possible branches of the armed services.

Uniforms are expected to be borrowed which are preserved in the armories now being used by the New York Guard, formerly the station of the New York National Guard, as well as examples from other Federal and State stations. The organizers of the exhibition state that they would welcome all information on uniforms which are not available officially and which might be borrowed. The exhibition will open with a special event on May 22, with an assemblage of military and naval people as guests of the Museum and its members.

Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1939 - 1941. 04-06/1941, 082. View Original

May 17, 1941: The large two-floor-high Entrance Hall of the Brooklyn Museum is being prepared for a comprehensive display of old and contemporary military and naval uniforms among masses of flags, an exhibition that will continue through the summer until September 14.

A visitor on entering the Museum will be immediately confronted by colorful uniforms on display on figures and on a special staging against the towering back wall of the Entrance Hall surmounted by a shield and eagle emblem. Flags will hang from the ceiling, from its supporting columns, and will be arranged in stands related to the stage.

In the exhibition gallery behind the Entrance Hall the show will be continued with a unique set of water color illustrations of the development of the regimental uniforms of New York State organizations, lent by the Museum of the City of New York; large color plates showing the insignia of all the branches of the United States armed services; uniforms on figures; and accoutrements and accessories in cases.

The uniforms are from the Museum’s own costume collection liberally augmented by loans from the Museum of the City of New York, the New York Historical Society, Newark Museum, New York Guard Armories, The Veteran Corps of Artillery of New York City, and Ridabock & Company and Russell Uniform Company, military tailors, and several anonymous naval and military lenders. The Fort Greene Chapter of the D.A.R., Brooklyn, has made available its well-known collection of replicas in silk and gilt of seventeen historic flags, which will be displayed prominently; and Annin & Company is lending pennants and other flags.

Invited guests for the preview on Wednesday, May 21, from 4:00 to 7:00 in the afternoon, are: The Commandants of the Third Naval District and of the Navy Yard and their staffs; Commanding Officers and their staffs from Governers Island organizations; the U.S. Marines, New York Navy Yard; U.S. Coast Guard in New York; Fort Hamilton; the New York Guard; Colonels and their staffs of the New York Guard Regiments in greater New York; members of the Veterans Corps of Artillery and the Old Guard; members of the Fort Greene Chapter of the D.A.R. and other patriotic societies; members of the Brooklyn Museum and Trustees of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences.

Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1939 - 1941. 04-06/1941, 102-3. View Original 1 . View Original 2

Date unknown, approximately 1941: OPENING OF EXHIBITION, “DEFENDERS OF THE REPUBLIC,” MILITARY AND NAVAL UNIFORMS, FLAGS, AND ILLUSTRATIONS OF UNIFORMS, BEFORE A LARGE ASSEMBLAGE OF GUESTS FROM MILITARY AND NAVAL STATIONS, THE NEW YORK GUARD AND MEMBERS OF THE FORT GREENE CHAPTER OF THE D.A.R.

A wide representation of officers from Federal and State military and naval branches of the various armed forces stationed in New York City, and members of the Fort Greene Chapter of the Brooklyn D.A.R., attended as guests of the Brooklyn Museum the opening of an exhibition of uniforms in the flag-decked Entrance Concourse of the Museum late yesterday afternoon, (Wednesday, May 21). The exhibition, called “Defenders of the Republic," is open to the public today and will remain on view through September 14. (See last page for invitation list.)

A special staging in two levels was built against the high back wall of the Entrance Concourse, on which uniformed figures are arranged on each side of the national colors, beneath a shield-and-eagle emblem flanked by flags. This is seen as the climax of a wide allee of large silk flags from the Memorial Collection of seventeen replicas of historic American standards lent by the Fort Greene Chapter of the D.A.R. in Brooklyn. In the adjoining gallery on the other side of the wall additional uniforms are shown on figures, with accoutrements and accessories in cases. On the walls are hung water-color plates of uniforms and insignia.

UNIFORM
The more than thirty uniforms begin with the Revolutionary War and include one of 1835, and others from the Civil War, the 1890’s, the Spanish-American War, the World War, and today. These are liberally interspersed with uniforms from New York National Guard Regiments, New York Guard, and private military companies authorized to continue as such after the passage of the Federal law creating State National Guards. In addition to the Museum’s own uniforms the exhibition was made possible by loans from the Museum of the City of New York, the New York Historical Society, the Newark Museum, National Guard Regiments, and the New York Armories, the Veteran Corps of Artillery of New York City, Ridabock & Company and the Russell Uniform Company, military tailors, and several anonymous naval and military lenders. Decorative flags were lent by the Annin Company.

ILLUSTRATIONS
Illustrations of uniforms and insignia are from four sources. There is an unique set of twenty plates personally prepared by the late Brigadier General De Witt Clinton Falls in his capacity of Trustee and Honorary Curator of the Military Collection of the Museum of the City of New York. These plates provide the only single complete record of the progressive development of the dress uniforms of twenty New York State Regiments.

A dozen plates are shown from the publication, well-known in military and naval circles, of facsimile plates from water color drawings by H. H. Ogden, of American uniforms from Revolutionary times to 1885. There are also seven plates of original drawings showing insignia as they are actually worn, from the book, “Insignia of the Services,” by Paul Brown, soon to be published by Charles Scribner’s Sons, the lenders.

There are also plates in water color of the insignia of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, prepared for the exhibition by the WPA Laboratory at the Museum. The Laboratory provided the Shield and Eagle emblem over the stage, and the posters for the show.

NEW YORK FLAGS
In the memorial collection of replicas of flags, which are all of heavy silk with blue, yellow, red, white, green, and striped fields, are many with important historic associations. The one relating to the earliest date is the blue flag carried by the “Mayflower” on her voyages to and from this continent. Four flags are connected with the history of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and New York state.

The standard of the First New York Regiment is basically the State Colors of today, bearing as it does the State arms which have hardly changed since the War for Independence. It was carried by the troops of Colonel Gansevoort, commander of the famous Forts Stanwix and Schuyler in northern New York, the first man to hoist the Stars and Stripes over a fort or garrison.

The white field flag of the Washington Life Guards was the Colors of a corps created when Washington’s Army was encamped on Manhattan after the siege of Boston. It has elaborate details. On a green ground the figure of a Guard in his blue-and-white uniform holds a caparisoned horse and is in the act of receiving a banner or pennon from the Genius of Liberty, a female figure in light blue leaning on a Union Shield with an American Eagle nearby. The Life Guard was formed as a personal protection for the Commander-In-Chief and was a battalion of 180 picked men chosen from soldiers of all the Colonies that sent troops to the Continental Army.

Another New York flag is known as the Beaver Flag, and was used by the New York Minute Men and flown by vessels of the New York Colony.

The only City flag in the collection is that of the old city of Brooklyn. It has a white field on which is shown a figure of a woman. Beneath her in blue lettering are the words “City of Brooklyn,” and above her is the motto of the United Provinces of Netherland, ”Eindracht Waakt Macht” (Unity makes Strength).

The four New York flags were presented to the Fort Greene Chapter, D.A.R., in the order described, by Mrs. Daniel K. de Buxedin, Mrs. Irving Chapman, Mrs. Anna Wickes Stephens, great-great-granddaughter of Washington, and by Miss Alice Driggs.

FEDERAL FLAGS
Replicas shown which have Federal significance are: the Continental flag, said to have been carried at Bunker Hill; a blue Bunker Hill flag; the white Washington Cruiser flag, the first naval colors; a John Paul Jones flag, one of those used by the “Father of the Navy”; the Grand Union or Cambridge flag, under which Washington assumed command of the Continental Army in Cambridge; and the Betsy Ross flag, the first with 13 stars and 13 stripes.

STATE FLAGS
Three states besides New York are represented. There is the yellow flag of Webb’s Connecticut Regiment, probably the 3rd; made up of the depleted 2nd and 9th; the red flag carried by the Connecticut Regiment shortly after Bunker Hill; and the striped flag of Tallmadge’s Dragoons which captured five hundred Tories at Lloyd’s Neck in 1779 without the loss of a man. New Jersey is represented by a blue standard displayed by Washington at the Battle of Trenton, and Pennsylvania by a dark green emblem of the Pennsylvania First Riflemen who served in each of the thirteen colonies during the War for Independence.

INVITED GUESTS (for the preview, Wednesday, May 21, 4 to 7 p.m.)
The Comnandants of the Third Naval District and of the Navy Yard and their staffs, Commanding Officers and their staffs from Governor’s Island organizations, the U. S. Marines, New York Navy Yard, U.S. Coast Guard in New York, Fort Hamilton, the New York Guard, New York Brigader General and Staffs, Colonels and their staffs of the New York Guard Regiments in greater New York, members of the Veterans Corps of Artillery and the Old Guard, members of the Fort Greene Chapter of the D.A.R. and other patriotic societies, members of the Brooklyn Museum and Trustees of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences.

STORIES OF THE FLAGS IN THE MEMORIAL COLLECTION OF REPLICAS OF THE FORT GREENE CHAPTER OF THE D.A.R., SHOWN IN THE EXHIBITION "DEFENDERS OF THE REPUBLIC" AT THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM, MAY 21 to SEPTEMBER 14, 1941

MAYFLOWER FLAG - 1620
The flag the “Mayflower” sailed under on her voyages. Field of blue with the red cross of St. George and the white cross of St. Andrew.
Presented by Mrs. Daniel K. de Buxedin.

FLAGS WITH NEW YORK STATE ASSOCIATIONS
NEW YORK’S FIRST REGIMENTAL FLAG - 1778 or 1779
One of the few regimental flags used in the War for American Independence. It bears the arms of the State, which have changed in design very little since that time. It was carried by the troops of Colonel Gansevoort, who was in command of Forts Stanwix and Schuyler in northern New York. He was the first to hoist a Stars and Stripes over a fort or garrison. This happened on August 3, 1777.
Presented by Mrs. Irving J. Chapman.

WASHINGTON LIFE GUARD FLAG - 1776
The Life Guard was organized while the Continental Army was camped on Manhattan in 1776, after the siege of Boston. It was a Corps of superior men, a battalion of 180 commanded by a Captain Commandant, formed as a personal guard for the Commander-in-Chief, and always composed of men from all the Colonies supplying troops to the Continental Army. The flag has a white field on which is one of the Guards holding a caparisoned horse and in the act of receiving a banner or pennon from the Genius of Liberty personified as a woman leaning on the Union Shield with an American Eagle nearby. The figures are on a green ground and overhead is a ribbon with the motto “Conquer or Die.” The uniform shown on the Guard is a blue coat with white facings, white waistcoat and breeches, black half-gaiters, cocked hat with blue and white feather, and sword and cross belt.
Presented by Anna Wickes Stephens, great-great-granddaughter of George Washington.

NEW YORK BEAVER FLAG - Revolutionary War
Used by the Now York Minute Men and flown by the vessels of the New York Colony.
Presented by Mrs. Susie Snyder.

THE BROOKLYN CITY FLAG
The flag of the old city of Brooklyn. White field with a life-size figure of a woman beneath which is the lettering “City of Brooklyn” and above the figure the Dutch motto “Eindracht Waakt Macht,” meaning “Unity Makes Strength.” It is the motto of the United Province of Netherlands.
Presented by Miss Alice A. Driggs.

FLAGS WITH FEDERAL ASSOCIATIONS
CONTINENTAL FLAG - 1775-1777
Said to have been carried at Bunker Hill. Probably formed from British ensign, omitting the St. George Cross and substituting a Pine Tree, symbol of Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Presented by Mrs. J. Duke Harrison.

BUNKER HILL FLAG - 1775
A replica is in Annapolis. English old blue ensign with canton of white and red cross of St. George; in upper left quarter of canton is a Pine Tree in green, symbol of Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Presented by Mrs. John Underwood.

WASHINGTON’S CRUISER FLAG - 1775
The first naval flag. Flown by Washington’s cruisers in 1775. A field of white with green Pine Tree and motto “An Appeal to Heaven.” Superceded by the Continental Ensign, 1776. Adopted April 29, 1776 as ensign of vessels of Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Presented by Miss Alice Driggs.

JOHN PAUL JONES FLAG - 1776
One of the flags used by the “father of the navy.” Combines the devices of the Liberty Tree Flag of 1776 and Commodore Gadson flag. The motto “An Appeal to God” and snake with motto “Don’t Tread on Me,” the snake being the emblem of vigilance, magnanimity and courage, on the theory that the snake never begins an attack, but once engaged never surrenders.
Presented by Sophia Warner Dauchy.

GRAND UNION (CAMBRIDGE) FLAG - 1777
Washington assumed command of the Continental Army in Cambridge under this flag, which was known in England as “the rebellious stripes.” In the canton the Union Jack of England (1776) with 13 alternating stripes of red and white.
Presented by Miss Alice Driggs.

BETSY ROSS FLAG - 1777
The first American flag with 13 stars and 13 stripes. Adopted June 14, 1777. A field of blue with a circle of 13 white stars and 13 alternating red and white stripes representing the 13 colonies.
Presented by Miss Alice Driggs.

FLAGS WITH CONNECTICUT ASSOCIATIONS
THIRD CONNECTICUT REGIMENT (WEBB’S) FLAG - Revolutionary War
The flag of troops under Colonel Webb, probably the 3rd Connecticut Regiment, made up of the depleted 2nd and 9th. A yellow field with the numeral “I” in black, a sword and laurel wreath.
Presented by Mrs. Robert S. Alexander.

THE CONNECTICUT FLAG - 1777-1781
Carried by the Connecticut Regiment shortly after the battle of Bunker Hill. Red field with motto “Im Transtulet Sustinot” (God Who transported us here will sustain us). In the center, State seal of three grape vines, symbolizing the three original Connecticut Colonies - Hartford, Windsor and Wethersfield.
Presented by Mrs. John Van Burm Thayer.

TALLMADGE’S DRAGOONS FLAG - 1779
Carried at Lloyd’s Neck, September 5, 1779, when without loss of a man Tallmadge leading a Connecticut regiment, captured 500 Tories. Also carried at Brandywine, Germantown and Monmouth. The canton is trade by sewing six strips of white ribbon to the silk of the flag. The design is two wings of silver on a center disk with golden rays.
Presented by Mrs. Edward Everett Read.

FLAGS WITH PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW JERSEY ASSOCIATIONS
WASHINGTON OR SECOND NEW JERSEY REGIMENT FLAG - 1779-81
Displayed by Washington in the Battle of Trenton, December 26, 1776. Blue field with a circle of 13 six-pointed white stars.
Presented by Mrs. Jefferson R. Edwards.

FIRST RIFLEMENT FLAG - 1775
Used from 1775 to 1783. The original flag is now at the Pennsylvania Historical Society. This Pennsylvania organization served in each of the thirteen colonies during the Revolution. Dark green, with the device of a tiger partly enclosed by trees, attempting the pass defended by a hunter with a spear in white on a crimson field.
Presented by Mrs. Robert B. Honeyman

LIST OF UNIFORMS IN EXHIBITION “DEFENDERS OF THE REPUBLIC” AT THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM, May 28 to September 14, 1941

[Category; Date; Lender]

CONTINENTAL ARMY
Coat worn by Colonel William Taylor, Connecticut Regiment - red and green; 1776; Brooklyn Museum Collection
Officer’s coat - red and yellow; Revolutionary War; Brooklyn Museum Collection
Officer’s coat - blue and buff; Revolutionary War; Brooklyn Museum Collection

CIVIL WAR
Officer’s overcoat and cape - blue; Museum of the City of New York
Officer’s New York State dress uniform - blue; New York Historical Society
Officer’s uniform - blue with red sash; New York Historical Society

1890
Regular Array officer’s infantry cape - dark and light blue; Miss Mimi Blaker

SPANISH AMERICAN WAR
Regular Army, Rough Rider’s uniform - khaki; New York Historical Society

WORLD WAR
Regular Army enlisted man’s uniform - olive drab; Russell Uniform Co.
United States uniform worn by Admiral Plunkett - olive green; Brooklyn Museum Collection

CONTEMPORARY
Regular Army Signal Corps enlisted man’s uniform; Ridabock & Co.
Regular Army officer’s full dress coat - dark blue and gold (Major’s uniform); Ridabock & Co.
United States Navy officer’s evening dress, blue; Anonymous
United States Navy officer’s boat cape, blue and black; Anonymous
West Point uniform, blue gray; Newark Museum

NEW YORK NATIONAL GUARD
Officer’s full dress coat, 7th Infantry, dark blue and black; 1835 to present; Museum of the City of New York
Officer’s dress uniform, 9th Infantry, dark blue, red and light blue; 1883; Museum of the City of New York
Enlisted man’s coat with cape, New York State Militia, blue, white and red; 1890; Museum of the City of New York
Officer’s full dress uniform, 12th Infantry, dark blue and gold; 1895 to 1906; Museum of the City of New York
Officer’s uniform, 23rd Regiment, light blue, black and gold; Museum of the City of New York
Enlisted man’s uniform, Squadron “A”, 101 Cavalry, light blue and yellow; Museum of the City of New York
Officer’s mess jacket, Squadron “A”, 101st Cavalry, light blue, yellow and black; 1st Lt. Gerald Farrelly, New York Guard
Officer’s dress uniform, 102nd Medical Regiment, mulberry; Museum of the City of New York
Enlisted man’s band uniform, 106th Infantry, light blue and white; Present; 23rd Regiment, New York Guard
Enlisted man’s uniform, 106th Infantry, light blue, black and white; Present; 23rd Regiment, New York Guard
Coat, 258th Field Artillery, light blue; Present; Ridabock & Company
General Officer’s evening dress uniform; Present; Museum of the City of New York
Quartermaster uniform; Present; Brooklyn Museum Collection
Enlisted man’s dress blouse and trousers; Present; Brooklyn Museum Collection

CONNECTICUT NATIONAL GUARD
Full dress uniform, 1st Company, Governor’s Foot Guards, red, black, and white; Present; Ridabock & Company

PRIVATE MILITARY COMPANIES
Officer’s uniform, Veteran Corps of Artillery, dark blue white and gold; Present; Veteran Corps of Artillery
Uniform of the Troy Citizens Corp, red and black; 1893 to 1917; Ridabock & Company
Coat, Troy Citizen’s Corps, red and black; 1893 to present; New York Historical Society
Trooper’s Uniform, 1st Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry; 1774 to date

ILLUSTRATIVE PLATES
Set of 20 water color plates prepared by the late Brigadier General De Witt Clinton Falls in his capacity of Trustee and Honorary Curator of the Military Collection of the Museum of the City of New York showing the progressive development of dress uniforms of the New York State Regiment.

Name of Organizations Illustrated With the Date of the Original Uniform and Date of Latest Change:
258th Field Artillery 1784-1930
Veterans Corps of Artillery 1790-1927
107th (7th) Infantry 1806-1927
244 Coast Artillery 1812-1929
Old Guard (Tompkins Blues and Pulaski Cadets) City Guard 1826-1868
105th (2nd) Field Artillery Field Artillery
165th (69th) Infantry 1839-1925
245th (13th) Artillery 1847-1906
212th Artillery (12th Infantry) 1852-1906
Headquarters, Divisions and Brigades 1855-1926
71st Infantry 1855-1926
14th Infantry 1860-1930
27th Train Division (47th Engineers) 1861-1906
102nd (2nd) Engineers 1861-1926
106th (23rd) Infantry 1863-1896
104th (1st) Field Artillery 1867-1906
Squadron “A”, 101st Cavalry 1885-1897
101st Signal Battalion 1888-1906
102nd Medical Regiment 1906-1929
369th (15th) Infantry 1917-1926

Plates selected from the water color fac-similes of American Army and Navy uniforms from colonial times to 1885 by H. H. Ogden, covering the years:
1776-1797
1787
1796-1799
1799-1802
1802-1810
1810-1813
1813-1821
1821-1832
1841-1850
1851-1854
1858-1861
1866

Original drawing form Paul Brown’s forthcoming book “Insignia of the Services” to be published by Charles Scribner’s Sons, lenders.

Colored renderings of insignia of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps prepared by the WPA laboratory at the Brooklyn Museum.

Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1939 - 1941. 04-06/1941, 108-15. View Original 1 . View Original 2 . View Original 3 . View Original 4 . View Original 5 . View Original 6 . View Original 7 . View Original 8