Conserving Two Banners of Liberty
by Matthew Skic
Thanks to the generous support of the Decorative Arts Trust through the Dean F. Failey Fund, the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, PA, was able to accomplish the conservation treatments of two flags for display in the current special exhibition, Banners of Liberty: An Exhibition of Original Revolutionary War Flags. Textile conservator Virginia Whelan completed the treatments of the Pennsylvania Militia Flag, on loan from Independence National Historical Park, and the Pulaski’s Legion Standard, on loan from the Maryland Center for History and Culture.
The Pennsylvania Militia Flag (figure 1) is the earliest surviving flag bearing the stars and stripes representing the new United States of America. Known today as the “Brandywine Flag,” it is said to have witnessed the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777.
Figure 1. Pennsylvania Militia Flag, 1777, Philadelphia, PA. Silk. Independence National Historical Park, National Park Service.
The Pulaski’s Legion Standard (figures 2 and 3) was named for Casimir Pulaski, the Polish commanding officer of one of the most ethnically diverse units of the Continental Army. Pulaski’s Legion (a mixed force of cavalry and infantry) included American, British, Irish, French, Polish, and Hungarian men in its ranks. By 1778, Pulaski was regarded as one of the best cavalry leaders in the army.
Figure 2. Possibly made by Moravian Single Sisters, Pulaski’s Legion Standard, c. 1778, Bethlehem, PA. Silk, silver. On loan from the Maryland Center for History and Culture.
Figure 3. Possibly made by Moravian Single Sisters, Pulaski’s Legion Standard (reverse), c. 1778, Bethlehem, PA. Silk, silver. On loan from the Maryland Center for History and Culture.
Prior to treatment, both flags were stored flat in acid-free boxes. Similar mounting methods were used for both flags. First, Whelan reduced surface particulate soiling on both sides of the flag using low-suction vacuuming. She then prepared an archival rigid panel built up with padding. The flag was aligned on the panel, and a sheet of UV-filtered Optium Museum Acrylic was placed over the flag. The acrylic was secured to the panel using screws through holes along its perimeter. It is the gentle contact between the acrylic and the flag on its padded panel that holds the flag in place. Lastly, Whelan inserted the prepared flag package into a custom-made aluminum frame. Her treatment and mounting allowed the flags to be safely hung at the Museum for the opening of Banners of Liberty on April 19, 2025 (figures 4 and 5). Both flags are also now better preserved for long-term storage and display.
Figure 4. 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘺 gallery.
Figure 5. 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘺 gallery.
In addition to the Pulaski Standard and the Pennsylvania Militia Flag, Whelan also conserved and/or re-mounted eight other flags included in Banners of Liberty. The exhibition brings together 17 total flags, including 16 from the Revolutionary era, the largest collection of such flags to be assembled in more than two centuries. Banners of Liberty is on view exclusively at the Museum through August 10, 2025.
Matthew Skic is the Director of Collections & Exhibitions at the Museum of the American Revolution.
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