Last modified: 2024-03-23 by rick wyatt
Keywords: galveston | texas | galveston county |
Links: FOTW homepage |
search |
disclaimer and copyright |
write us |
mirrors
See also:
Voting begins on several finalists for a new flag for the City of Galveston:
https://sunny99.iheart.com/featured/dana-and-jay-in-the-morning/content/2021-01-14-vote-for-the-new-official-city-flag-of-galveston/
The City of Galveston wants residents to vote on the design of the new flag.
You choose from ten designs.
Dave Fowler, 18 January 2021
![[finalist flag]](../images/u/us-txgal-d.gif)
image located by Dave Fowler, 11 February 2021
![[finalist flag]](../images/u/us-txgal-f.gif)
image located by Dave Fowler, 11 February 2021
![[finalist flag]](../images/u/us-txgal-g.jpg)
image located by Dave Fowler, 11 February 2021
Three finalist designs chosen:
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2021/02/10/galvestons-new-flag-see-the-3-finalist-designs/
Galveston City Council and the Galveston Cultural Arts Commission voted
to send three potential flag designs for a final vote to occur later this month.
Residents voted for the top three flag designs submitted by the Cultural Arts
Commission, which ended Sunday, 7 February 2021. Flag choices D, F, and G (shown
here) were advanced to the final vote, according to the city.
Dave Fowler,
11 February 2021
![[City seal]](../images/u/us-txgal).gif)
image located by Paul Bassinson, 31 December 2019
Source:
http://blog.carnivalneworleans.com/wp-content/uploads/20070419-galveston-texas.jpg
Paul Bassinson, 31 December 2019
An article about the 1916 flag of Galveston, Texas:
https://www.galveston.com/blog/1024/rosenberg-treasure-of-the-month-may-2019-the-galveston-municipal-flag/
Dave Fowler, 5 May 2019
Rosenberg Treasure of the Month: May 2019 - The Galveston Municipal Flag
![[Flag of Galveston, Texas]](../images/u/us-txgal-1916.jpg)
image located by Dave Fowler, 6 May 2019
During the month of May [2019], Rosenberg Library will exhibit items related
to a city-wide flag design competition held in the spring of 1916.
During
the early 20th century, a national movement prompted many cities across the
United States to adopt their own distinct municipal flags. These flags were
flown at public buildings alongside the flags of the state and nation. By 1916,
approximately 40 cities of 30,000 or more residents had adopted municipal flags.
To celebrate the opening of Galveston’s new City Hall building on 25th
Street, the YWCA and E.S. Levy and Co. co-sponsored a design competition which
was formally announced in March 1916. H.H. Levy would furnish a $5.00 cash prize
to the winner, and members of the YWCA would sew the flag based on the winning
design. The flag was to be flown in front of City Hall during its grand
unveiling. When the competition was advertised in the Galveston Daily News, much
interest was generated among both school-age student artists and professional
adult artists.
A panel of respected local artists including Boyer
Gonzales, E.B. Harris, J.M. Maurer, and Frances Kirk were chosen to serve on a
selection committee. Designs were to include symbols related to the island’s
colorful history. Additionally, the designs could incorporate local interests
and activities unique to Galveston. The selection committee narrowed the field
to twelve finalists, and these designs were presented to the city commissioners
for their consideration.
The winning design was announced on April 20,
1916. It was co-submitted by Perry Luth and D.K. Bowie, and the pair split the
$5.00 cash prize. Luth was a mechanical engineer who worked as a manufacturer’s
agent, and Bowie was a draftsman employed by North American Dredging Company.
Their design featured the coat of arms of Bernardo de Galvez at the center
framed by a wreath of oleanders. Surrounding it were the flags of the six
nations flown over Texas at various times in its history—Spain, France, Mexico,
the Republic of Texas, the Confederate States of America, and the United States
of America.
![[Flag of Galveston, Texas]](../images/u/us-txgal-1916h.jpg)
image located by Dave Fowler, 6 May 2019
One of the finalists was local artist Percy Holt. Holt
provided a written explanation of his design which is now preserved at the
library. According to Holt, his design featured a fearless female figure rising
from the Gulf with golden wings. In one hand, she holds an anchor to symbolize
shipping and cotton to symbolize the Port of Galveston. Above her head is the
Lone Star of Texas. The coat of arms of Bernardo de Galvez appears below her
other hand.
The dates 1836, 1861, 1885, and 1900 are inscribed on the
four quadrants of the flag and represent the courage of the people of Texas and
of Galveston. 1836 is the year that Texas won independence from Mexico; 1861
marks the beginning of the Civil War; in 1885, a fire burned more than 40 blocks
of homes and businesses in Galveston; and 1900 is the year of the Great Storm
which decimated the island. Created sixteen years after that devastating event,
Holt’s flag design is a testament to the resilience and determination of local
residents.
Archived images (also on website):
us-txgal-1916.jpg : Galveston
municipal flag, 1916. Designed by Perry
Luth and D.K. Bowie and made by
members of the Galveston YWCA.
us-txgal-1916h.jpg : Artist Percy Holt’s
design for the Galveston
municipal flag, 1916.
