What was the Bear doing on the Original Bear Flag?

Over the many years since 1846 & the Bear Flag Revolt, one of the continuing disputes about the design of the original Bear Flag has had to do with the manner in which the bear was portrayed.

Was the bear on all fours? Was the bear standing on its hind legs? Was the bear shown with one leg & paw in the air? Was the bear shown walking? There have been quite a few differing reports about how the bear looked.

The dominant opinion has been that the bear was on all fours and facing the hoist (left) toward the flag pole, but that does not change that there have been many views on this topic. The standing bear shown in the ribbons in the prior 2 posts reflect one of these opinions.

1895 Version of the Standing Bear Flag ribbon

Here is a clearer version of the same design of crossed staffs bearing the U.S. Flag & Standing Bear Flag. This is from the 1895 Admission Day for the Los Angeles Parlor No. 45 of the NSGW. This ribbon has recently been acquired for the Bear Flag Museum's collection.

1888 Standing Bear Flag

This is a photograph taken in 2005 at the California State Capitol of an 1888 ribbon made for the Marysville, CA Native Sons of the Golden West for the September 9 celebration of California's Admission Day in San Jose, CA.

Of great interest is that the Bear on the Bear Flag is standing on its rear legs rather than all its four legs.

Bear Flag Donations to Schools

Since the groups, the Native Sons & Native Daughters of the Golden West, originated in the late 1800s, it was a common occurrence for the groups' Parlors to donate copies of the Bear Flag to local schools. This was particularly true before the State law was enacted legally requiring California schools to fly the Bear Flag. These gifts, among many other actions, we believe, have significantly contributed to the longevity of the California Bear Flag, by continuing the awareness of the Bear Flag and its history.

Revere & the Bear Flag

Joseph Warren Revere, who lowered the Bear Flag on July 9, 1846, later (1878 in The Pioneer) wrote:

“A flag was also hoisted bearing a grizzly bear rampant, with one stripe below, and the word ‘Republic of California,’ above the bear, and a single star in the union."

Revere was a grandson of Paul Revere & a Union General during the American Civil War.

Earlier, in February 1874, Revere donated to the Society of California Pioneers "a guidon formerly belonging to the Sonoma troop of the California Battalion, 1846. You can see it at the Bear Flag Museum in the 1903 California Blue Book.

California Sheet Music with Bear Flag

Sheet music "Our Governor" about California Governor James Rolph, Jr.(11/1930 - 6/1934) with curious Bear Flag with blue field.

Bear Flag at Squaw Valley

This is a photograph of a California Bear Flag flying at the entrance to the Squaw Valley, CA winter sports resort area which was originally used for the 1960 Olympics.

First Display of California State Flag in California Assembly Chambers

According to J. N. Bowman, in the 1958 California Blue Book, the California State Flag was first displayed in the Assembly Chamber of the California Legislature on December 18, 1911 "with due ceremonies, speeches by a number of members, and a photograph of these and other members was taken in front of the flags draped behind the Speaker’s desk."

A rendition of a 12/20/1911 photograph (by Paul B. Johnson, CA Division of Architects) of the display of the flag behind the Speaker's Desk is located here:
http://www.bearflagmuseum.org/1958%20CA%20Blue%20Bk%20Bowman.PDF

California Cause Bear Flag

According to California Cause's website, regarding the above shown Bear Flag variant:

"Our version of the California Bear Flag (above) is inspired by the famous American Revolution flag designed by General Christopher Gadsden. Gadsden's flag is considered one of the first American flags, featuring a coiled rattlesnake (the united 13 colonies) cautioning with bared fangs a threatening enemy (England) from trying to tread on it. The flag first appeared in 1775 when Gadsden presented it to the newly appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Navy, Commodore Esek Hopkins, to serve as the commodore's personal flag. Gadsden also presented the flag to his state legislature in South Carolina. The flag came to be widely used during the American Revolution."

This is one of hundreds of variants of California's (some might say long suffering) Bear Flag. The frequency of such usages does point to the vitality of the Bear Flag's image.

Portsmouth's Commander Montgomery & the Bear Flag

On 5/5/1848, the USS Portsmouth's Capt. Montgomery wrote to the Secretary of the Navy:

"I have the honor to inform you that there remains in my possession ... the original revolutionary, or Bear flag (as it is called) of California, for which the flag of our country (furnished from the Portsmouth) was substituted at Sonoma on the 9t. Of July 1846; the latter falling into my possession in the manner explained in two notes copies of which are herewith enclosed.

The revolutionary flag being much soiled, and composed of cotton cloth, flannel, and black berry juice, probably the only materials possessed by the manufactorers, I have caused another to be made of bunting to accompany it, on which I have taken the liberty to clothe the Bear in his appropriate color, instead of red, as unavoidably represented on the original flag."

Just Another "Not so Cute" Bear Flag

And the bear says: "Some day I'll be pretty!"

Bank of the West "Bear Flag"

These are two(2) 2008 photographs of the Bank of the West "Bear Flag" image on signs at the Pringle & California intersection in Walnut Creek, CA location of the bank

1851 Osio Statements about the Bear Flag

In April 1851, Californio Antonio Maria Osio stated in his History of Alta California (transl. by Robert M. Senkewicz and Rose Marie Beebe (1996):

"Therefore, in order to conceal their true intent, or color it so that it would be more in keeping with public opinion, they decided to camouflage the flag of stars and strips with a temporary flag which depicted a brown bear on a white field and a star in the top corner.....

After the Americans took possession of Sonoma under the command of Mr. Ide, or Don Cuero, which means the same thing, they raised the bear flag because they were not supposed to raise their national flag....."

Bear Flag on a Pillow at Squaw Valley, CA

This is a July 2008 photograph of a Bear Flag image (upper left) taken in a shop at Squaw Valley, CA, home of the 1960 Winter Olympics.

California Flag on Hilltop

Cruiser California & silk California Flags

On September 4, 1909, the NSGW "presented to the United States armored cruiser California a stand of colors consisting of two silk flags. One was the bear flag and the other the state flag bearing the great seal of the state for which the warship was given its name. The presentation was made on the cruiser’s quarter deck .... it had been the original intention ... to give the ship a bear flag and an American ensign [but] as the crusier [had] a large number of American flags it would be better to substitute a state flag...." The flags were made of "heavy silk and beautifully worked." S.F. Call, 9/05/1909.

Bear Flag at the California State Capitol

Photograph of the California Bear Flag in the California State Capitol in August 2007.

Older Variant of the California Bear Flag

This is a photograph of a swallow-tailed variant of the California Bear Flag. The photograph is from Jim Ferrigan. This version is interesting because it is swallow-tailed on the fly end and also because the bear is not standing on a grass plat. The flag is of an unknown date although one estimate is that it ranges from the c. 1896 - 1911 time period.

William B. Ide on the Creation of the Bear Flag

James G. Bleak wrote on April 16, 1878:

"In reply to your question asking for the 'correct date' of raising the 'Bear Flag' at Sonoma, in 1846, I will quote from the writing of William B. Ide, deceased:

'The said Bear Flag [was] made of plane [plain] cotton cloth, and ornamented with the red flannel of a shirt from the back of one of the men, and christened by the 'California Republic' in red paint letters on both sides; [it] was raised upon the standard where had floated on the breeze the Mexican flag aforetime; it was the fourteenth of June, '46. Our whole number was twenty-four all told. The mechanism of the flag was performed by William L. Todd, of Illinois. The Grizzly Bear was chosen as an emblem of strength and unyielding resistance.'"

John E. Montgomery & the Bear Flag

On July 25, 1846, John Elliot Montgomery(son of the USS Portsmouth's Commander) wrote a letter to his mother:

“On the fourteenth of June last there was a revolutionary movement among the Americans residing in the Northern part of this country, against the Mexican authorities ....and a band of 34 men mostly Yankees rushed in upon the fortified tho’ interior town of Sonoma sixty miles from here ....

the party then hoisted a Flag of their own make & declared California an Independant [sic] Republic & chose a man named Wm. B. Ide, as their Captain. Their Flag consisted of a Star Union with a Grizzly bear in the center looking up at the star and under the Bear the words “Republic of California” on the lower border there was a red Stripe of Flannel the whole was composed of a piece of white cotton & Black berry juice there being no paint in the country. I have the original & only Flag of the California Republic in my possession & esteem it quite a prize."

Within one month of the end of the Bear Flag Revolt, young Montgomery asserted that there was only an original Bear Flag and no others. Makes one question the claims that there were many copies of the Bear Flag.

Bear Flag North Lake Tahoe July 2008

This is a photograph of the California State Flag taken in the North lake Tahoe, CA in July of 2008

The Bear Flag's First Parade - 1855

Did you know that the Bear Flag lowered at Sonoma on July 9, 1846 (probably the "original" Bear Flag) was first flown in a parade on Monday, September 10, 1855?

It was flown in the California Admission Day parade held in San Francisco on that date. Hussey New Light on the Original Bear Flag, California Historical Society Quarterly, Vol XXXI, No. 3 (San Francisco September 1952), p.208, citing Daily Herald (San Francisco, September 11, 1855) and Daily Alta California(San Francisco, September 8, 1855).

Terribly Ugly Version of the California Bear Flag

Ugly.......... enough said

Bear Flag Process Services- 2009

This image is the logo of the San Francisco legal process server company Bear Flag Process Services -an all black version of the Bear Flag with the words "Bear Flag" substituted in place of "California Republic."

R. D. Barton & the Bear Flag

R. D. Barton was a San Francisco musician & postman & longtime member of the Native Sons of the Golden West.
In April 1909, Barton proposed to the annual convention of the NSGW a resolution recommending to the California Legislature that it adopt the Bear Flag as the flag of California. This resolution was adopted at the convention and Barton was made a member of the committee to promote this result. 22 months later in early February 1911, the Bear Flag became the California State Flag.

R. D. Barton's role related to the California State "Bear Flag" did not cease with its official adoption. In late 1911, the California State Legislature met in Special Session. Barton and Edward H. Whyte, "attaches" to the Legislature, noted the absence of the State flag in the Senate and Assembly Chambers, although the flag had been adopted as the official State flag in February. As a result a large 10' x 16' Bear Flag was purchased and hung in the Chambers of the California Assembly.

February 1847 Bear Flag News Article

The 2/13/1847 THE CALIFORNIAN (ed. by Bear Flagger Robert Semple) stated:

THE BEAR FLAG. ---

Our object in penning this article is to make permanent record of all the particulars of the hoisting of the "Bear Flag," ....

On the 14th June, 1846, a party of Americans without a leader, gathered and took possession of [ Sonoma],... and made prisoners of three Mexican Officers, .... On the same day there was a partial organization under the name of the "Republic of California," and agreed to hoist a flag made of a piece of white cotton cloth with one red stripe on the bottom, and on the white a grisly Bear with a single star in front of him, it was painted or rather stained with lamp-black and poke-berries. Along the top was the words "REPUBLIC OF CALIFORNIA."

Already, by 2/1847, the Bear Flag was considered something important to preserve. Too bad the article didn't say whether the bear was on all fours or standing. And the language "Republic of California" was not on the Todd Bear Flag. It was on the Bear Flag guidon (swallow-tailed flag) given to the California Society of Pioneers by Joseph Revere.

Bear Flag in Mathews' Mural at CA State Capitol

This a 2004 photograph of a mural at the California State Capitol showing a Bear Flag.

This image is one panel of a set of four(4) triptychs showing the historical periods of California. The mural was commissioned in 1913 and completed by 1915 by San Francisco artists Arthur F. Mathews and his wife Lucia Kleinhans Mathews in a regional artistic style called "California Decorative."

Recent "Bear Flag" & "California Flag" uses

Here are several recent usages related to the California Bear Flag:

1) California Flag is a 5 year old gelding horse which won 2 races in late 2008.

2) A stock bear flag is a downward price trend which when graphed looks something like a flag pole with a flag on it. In this case the "bear" means a downward trending market.

3) The Bear Flag League is a consortium of Conservative bloggers, current or former residents of California, who enjoy the camaraderie, spirit and struggle of being in the minority as Conservatives in a sea of Liberals.

4) A Bear (and their Bear Flag) is LGBT slang for a subset of gay, bisexual or transgender men and bears have flags representing their community, one of which is a rainbow flag of muted colors with a bear paw impression in its canton(upper left corner).

The original Bear Flaggers just might be a little surprised how many different ways "Bear Flag" has been used.

Cooky Todd Bear Flag at Ide Adobe

This a February 2008 photograph of a replica of the "original," Todd Bear Flag which hung in the visitor center at the William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park, in Red Bluff, CA.

This replica is somewhat odd in that the star, bear and "California Republic" are almost centered left to right making a large white area at the hoist edge of the flag.

Who crafted the Bear Flag Monument?

In Sonoma Plaza, downtown Sonoma, CA (home of the Bear Flag), adjacent to where the original flag pole flew the original Bear Flag in 1846, there is the Bear Flag Monument which was erected in 1914 by the N.S.G.W. with financial help from the State of California.

What you probably do not know is that the sculpture was created by John A. MacQuarrie (1871 - 1944), a lifelong San Francisco resident. He also sculpted the McKinley statue in Golden Gate Park and the Donner Lake Monument and painted murals in train terminals.

A 2008 photograph of the Bear Flag Monument taken by Eve Andersson is located above.

Bear Flag's Absence from California - 1846-55

On September 3, 1847, the U. S. S. Portsmouth under the Command of John B. Montgomery left Monterey and Alta California [i.e., California] for the very last time. The Bear Flag lowered at Sonoma on July 9, 1846, likely the “original Bear Flag,” was on board.

That flag was absent from California from that September 3, 1847 date until 1855 when it returned to California and was donated to the Society of California Pioneers.

For that eight (8) years, that period of immense change in California, there was no “original” Bear Flag to see and know. All that Californians had for those years was their memory of what the flag looked like.

Do you think this might be a source of some of the confusion about what the flag looked like? Makes one wonder.

Odd Proportioned California Bear Flag -2009

This is a photograph taken in Spring 2009 of a very oddly proportioned California State Flag being flown in Lakewood, CA.

It appears that the manufacturer cut out the bear and words and also the star from a smaller sized State Flag and sewed them onto a larger sized field. Somebody should have complained about the quality (lack thereof) of this poor Bear Flag.

Jillian Kogan California Imagination Bear Flag

Did you know that in the first months of 2008, the California Arts Council with artist Jillian Kogan created an assemblage art work using pieces of art provided by various California arts groups in the design of the flag. The assemblage was photographed to make a 15 second Public Service Announcement video to promote the arts in California.

The PSA video can be seen at the bottom of the Bear Flag Museum's homepage: www.BearFlagMuseum.org.

A photograph of the final Bear Flag assemblage was used to create three (3), physical, one-sided, cloth flags. One of these flags was acquired by the Bear Flag Museum for its collection. In the photograph above, you can see the Bear Flag Museum's flag (center) on display during a meeting at the California State Capitol.

Hiram Johnson & the California Bear Flag

This is a painting of California Governor Hiram Johnson which hangs in the California State Capitol. Johnson had the privilege of signing into law the California statute that made the Bear Flag the California State Flag in Febreuary 1911.

First Description of the Bear Flag

Commander John S. Missroon, USN

Photographed circa 1861-1862.

Naval Historical Center Photograph. Photo #: NH 47711

The earliest, known, written description of the Bear Flag was made by U.S. Naval officer, Lt. John S. Missroon of the U.S.S. Portsmouth in a report dated June 17, 1846 to the Portsmouth’s Commander John B. Montgomery:

"the insurgent party has hoisted a Flag with a white field, with a border or Stripe of red on its lower part, & having a Star & Bear upon it."


Who was the last Bear Flagger to die?

It was probably James McChristian (age 20 in 1846) who died June 22, 1914, age 87, in Sebastapol, CA where he was also buried.

Murphys, California St Pat's Parade & Bear Flags

These are photographs taken in Murphys, CA on March 15, 2008 at the annual St Patrick's Day Parade.

It snowed in Murphys within an hour or two of these photos. Yes, we do actually occasionally get snow in California.

First Drawing of the California Bear Flag

The earliest, existing and known drawing of the Bear Flag (likely drawn before June 29, 1846) was made by W. E. P. Hartnell, England native who arrived in Alta California in 1822.

Hartnell was often used as a translator by the Mexican authorities and in June 1846 was given the task of translating William B. Ide’s June 1846 Proclamation into Spanish for Governor Pio Pico. At the bottom of this translation, Hartnell drew what he understood the Bear Flag to look like, a flag he had almost certainly never seen.

His Bear Flag had a vertical, red stripe at the fly(right) end of the flag, a central bear on all fours facing toward the hoist (left) end of the flag, and a star located behind the bear between the bear and the red stripe.

The original of this drawing is in the Huntington Library collection.

A black & white copy of it can be seen here:
http://www.bearflagmuseum.org/Hawgood%20article%20Really%20Clean.PDF

Robert Louis Stevenson & the Bear Flag

What did Robert Louis Stevenson have to do with the Bear Flag?

Well, technically nothing, ...

but in September 1879 he wrote a letter to Sidney Colvin:

"Here is another curious start in my life. I am living at an Angora goat-ranche, in Coast Line Mountains [California], eighteen miles from Monterey. I was camping out, but got so sick that the two rancheros took me in and tended me. One is an old bear-hunter, seventy-two years old, and a captain from the Mexican war; the other a pilgrim, and one who was out with the bear flag and under Fremont when California was taken by the States."

California Bear Flag & Giants Flag AT&T Park 2008

This is a photograph taken 1n April 2008 at A T & T Park in San Francisco, showing the California Bear Flag & S. F Giants Flag. Go Giants! Go Cuffy!

Bertone's Bear Flag Wine

Bear Flag Wine - White blend © Eduardo Bertone
Madrid, Spain

Eduardo worked as an art director for advertisement in Madrid before becoming a full-time artist and illustrator. His works have appeared in numerous books and magazines and group exhibitions in around the world. Like: Centre Pompidou in Paris, Shanghai Art Museum and Ivaliden1 Gallery in Berlin."

NSGW Immense Bear Flag - June 7, 2009

This is a June 7, 2009 photograph of a large California Bear Flag taken by Paula H. Wong. The photograph was taken in Sutter Creek, CA and is from the homepage of the NSGW's website: http://www.calnative.org/. For many, many years, the Native Sons have proudly displayed huge Bear Flags.

50th Anniversary of Raising the Bear Flag in Sonoma

At the Semi-Centennial Celebration of the Bear Flag held on June 13, 1896 in Sonoma, CA, the primary event of the day was "the raising of a facsimile of the old bear flag. The original was too frail and lace-like to be used, so a stouter copy was made, and this the two old men Benjamin Dewell, aged 75 years and Henry Beeson, hale at 68, raised with trembling fingers." The celebrations began at 11 am with a few words from Sonoma’s Mayor Henry Seipp and N.S.G.W. Grand President H. C. Gesford. Then "[at] this point the bear flag was raised, while every head was reverently uncovered the band played ‘Rally Round the Flag,’ and the crowd cheered for every one and everything, from the bear flag veterans and the flag to the native daughters." R. A. Thompson then gave an "exhaustive historical essay" on the Revolt and Merton C. Allen gave the oration of the day. " The exercises were concluded by the reading of the proclamation of William B. Ide ... by J. F. Pinkham, marshal of the Society of Pioneers.... The close of the speech making the signal for the barbecue to begin." [They still have a BBQ every year in Sonoma c. 6/14.] San Francisco Chronicle 6-14-1896.

1st Attempted Amendment of Bear Flag Law - 1913

In 1911, the Bear Flag became the State Flag by acts of the Legislature & the Governor. That is a pretty well known fact.

But did you know that in 1913, Senate Bill 745 "An Act to amend an Act entitled ‘An Act to select and adopt the Bear Flag as the State flag of California’" was passed by both the Senate & Assembly. It was sent to the Governor on May 12, 1913, but "Pocketed" by the Governor, as of June 16th. The Senate Bill, though passed, never became law.

I wonder what the Senate Bill said

Bear Flags on 1904 Launching USS California Program

1876 U.S. Centennial Bear Flag

As of 1876, there was a New York group called the Associated Pioneers of the Territorial Days of California which planned to establish a Pacific Coast Hall in the Centennial Exposition grounds in Philadelphia and sought to cooperate with other California pioneer groups.

One "Commodore Mead reported that the Bear Flag ... was being made by him, and it would be in readiness to be raised at the Centennial." so reported the Daily Alta California 04/17/1876. Did you know that one?

Original Bear Flag & California State Bear Flag San Francisco 2004

Above is a photograph taken in 2004 at the San Francisco Civic Center, showing the Todd, "original" Bear Flag design flag & the existing California State Flag. This is likely one of only a few locations in California routinely flying both flags within view of one another.

Henry Beeson of the Bear Flag Party

Did you know that on May 1, 1909, the Kelseyville Parlor of the NSGW presented to Henry Beeson, then of Booneville, Mendocino County “a gold badge in honor of the fact that he is the only survivor of the historical Bear Flag party.... [and] a pioneer of Lake county....?” S. F. Call 05/02/1909.

Half Staff Bear Flag at California State Capitol

Photograph of half staff California Bear Flag at the California State Capitol, Sacramento, CA - August 2007

It was a Crime!!!

In 1919, Penal Code 310a ('PROTECTION OF BEAR FLAG') was enacted which made it a crime to violate the statute including doing almost anything with the flag other than just flying it on a pole. It made it illegal to put 'an inscription, picture, device, design, symbol, name, advertisement, word, letter, character, mark or notice of any kind whatsoever' on the Bear Flag. It became illegal for anyone who 'in any manner appends, annexes or affixes ... any inscription, [etc.]' or 'who mutilates, tramples upon, or otherwise defaces or defiles' the flag or 'who uses [the flag]... for purposes of an advertisement or of a commercial or other trademark....' And the PENALTY was to be 'fined not more than two hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both, for each and every offense.' Ouch, slammer time!

Back from Vacation

We are back from vacation to the wonderful land that is Cancun & the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico. Except for the Bear Flag shirts which I brought along, there wasn't a California Bear Flag to be seen. Above is a photo of one of the artist Jillian Kogan's California Imagination Bear Flag Tshirts which I wore to Chichen Itza.