Another, Older Bear FLAG

This is a photograph of an older Bear Flag in the collection of the Bear Flag Museum.

President McKinley & the Bear Flag

According to the 04/22/1901 San Francisco Call a large floral display was planned in Golden Gate Park to celebrate the upcoming visit of President McKinley.

It was reported: "The center piece of the design is the dome and facade of the Capitol at Washington. The architectural outlines are in red, accentuated by a pleasing and effective combination of the other colors. To the immediate left in a special scroll is 'California's Welcome,' worked out in golden-hued flowers. A grizzly rampant forms the central figure and around and about its feet lies the old and familiar 'bear flag.' "

Nahl Grizzly Bear

Does he look familiar?

1903 Sonoma Admission Day Celebration

Bet you didn't know that the 08/31/1903 San Francisco Call reported that the Sonoma County parlors of the Native Sons of the Golden West planned a large Admission Day celebration in Sonoma.

The lone survivor of the Bear Flag Revolt was to attend & raise the BEAR FLAG. There were to be bands from many of the parlors as well as a large parade. A grand platform was to be erected in the Sonoma Plaza with special exercises & dancing & a grand feast in the old Mission.

I wanna go.
Darn, too late & by only 106 years.

Old Bear Flag in Sonoma

Photographs of an old Bear Flag hanging in Bob Parmalee's office in downtown Sonoma. Photographs were taken in 2007.

Osio on the Bear Flag & its Revolt

Antonio Maria Osio, a Californio, recorded by 1851:

"When Fremont and Gillespie finally met, they discussed different ways they might initiate hostilities without implicating their government. It was imperative that the United States government not be accused of taking over a defenseless foreign territory solely by force, and it did not want to appear to be acting in bad faith, since both nations were bound by treaties and war had not been declared between them. 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....." Osio's HISTORY OF ALTA CALIFORNIA.

Bear Flag Stein

This is a photograph of a Bear Flag image on a ceramic stein. This stein is among the Bear Flag Museum's collection.

Bear flag at 1909 Uniform Ball

On May 26, 1909, the Piedmont parlor No. 120 of the Native Sons of the Golden West was to hold a 'grand uniform ball.' The ballroom was to 'be decorated with the national colors and with the BEAR FLAG of California in addition to Piedmont parlor's beautiful banner.' S. F. Call 05/12/1909.

I've never been to a uniform ball. Have you? Don't you just love the olden days?

Recent Bear Flag "Green" Cartoon

1909 Bear Flag Survivors

Did you know that in answer to a question in May 1909 about how many of the 'BEAR FLAG Party' were still living, the following answer was given:

'Of the 49 men who composed the party of the BEAR FLAG raisers only three are living -- Henry Beeson of the Sacramento valley contingent and Benjamin Dewall[sic] and Harvey Porterfield of the Napa valley contingent.'

S. F. Call 05/02/1909 'Answer to Queries.'

California Bear Flag on TIME Magazine Cover

The Bear Flag has appeared on the cover of TIME Magazine on two occasions. On January 14, 1957, the Bear Flag appears six(6) times along with California Senator William Knowland[immediately above]. There is a single Bear Flag along with Democrat Pat Brown on the September 15, 1958 cover of TIME [at the top of this post]. Given that TIME has been published since 1923, the flags appearance only 2 times is not alot, but I bet it's more than most if not all other States. Copies of both magazines are in the Bear Flag Museum's collection.

Bear Flag & California Schuetzen Club - 1904

The 09/24/1904 San Francisco Call reported on the annual fall shooting festival of the California Schuetzen Club and included a brief history of the Club.

"[The Club] was organized on the 6th day of January, 1876, for the purpose of representing California at the great centennial world's shooting contest, which was to take place in Philadelphia.... A request to enter a California team had been sent by the centennial commission to Philo Jacoby, who, during the years 1868, 1870 and 1873 had sucessfully represented California markmanship.... He issued a call to his comrades of the rifle, and on January 6, 1876, ... met and organized the California Schuetzen Club.... A bear flag was ordered as an insignia of the club and a beautifully carved grizzly adopted as a mascot." The team won the centennial contests and on their return the Club "gained rapidly in membership ... and is to-day the largest citizen rifle association in America, embracing more than 240 members...."

California Bear Flag Jacket

These are photographs of a California Bear Flag jacket dating from c. 1993 and made in San Francisco, CA. The Bear Flag Museum recently acquired this jacket as part of its collection. This is a relatively rare item as best we know. The manufacturer sort of went crazy about the number of grass tufts depicted.

1904 California Admission Day Bear Flag

The 09/09/1904 San Francisco Call reported: "There will be a magnificent display of fireworks at the Chutes to-night in honor of Admission day. The bear flag, the Stars and Stripes and other patriotic and humorous devices will be shown in set pieces and the aerial exhibition and water fireworks will include many novelties."

Aaah! The glory of Bear Flag "patriotic and humorous devices!"

Can’t get those anymore.

Early 1900s Admission Day Hankie with Bear

This is a photograph of a California Admission Day hankie from the early 1900s made for the NSGW, with a "California Bear" on a grass plat and a red star as well as a red stripe border. This hankie is in the collection of the Bear Flag Museum.

1901 Bear Flag Oil Company

Bet you didn't know that as of July 1901, there existed a BEAR FLAG OIL COMPANY which produced oil in the Kern River field of California, north of Los Angeles in the California Central Valley.

At that time period Bear Flag Oil became part of a combine to address dropping oil prices and profits, according to the 07/28/1901 San Francisco Call.

Bear Flag Flying at Colton Hall

Above are two photographs of Colton Hall in Monterey, California with the Bear Flag flying. Colton Hall was the location of the original California Constitutional Convention, pre-Statehood.

Bear Flag & 1900 Admission Day Regatta

Did you know that part of the festivities planned for the semi-centennial(50th) Admission Day celebration in 1900 was a regatta on S. F. Bay?

The regatta committee was accepting designs from various jewelers for the medals to be awarded the winners of the races: "the national flag and the bear flag to form the basis of the design." San Francisco Call 08/25/1900.

Neon California Bear Flag

A photograph of a neon California Bear Flag taken from the Cool Neon, Oakland, CA website:

www.coolneon.com

500 to 100 ....

It is exactly 500 days to the 100th Anniversary of the California State Flag, Friends.

Start getting your party gear together!

J.D. Carr in the 1850 First Admission Day Celebration

The 07/06/1900 San Francisco Call reported the Grand Marshal of the 1900 Admission Day parade had sent "special invitations to the aids who were on the staff of the grand marshal in 1850[the date of the 1st Celebration of California's admission as a State]."

He received a 07/03/1900 response letter from 86 year old, J. D. Carr who indicated his honor & pleasure at the invitation.

Carr then stated: "On October 29, 1850, I had under my charge a wagon which contained a child born in each State of the Union, each waving the flag of his State. The first American child born in what is now San Francisco was then a little girl and carried the Bear flag."

We wonder who this young lady was. We will tell you if we find out.

Bear Flag on NSGW Membership Certificate

Above is a photograph of a portion of a Native Sons of the Golden West membership certificate showing the U. S. Flag & a version of the Bear Flag with a very light colored star.

A Plethora of Bear Flag Items

Speaking of Bear Flag items, here is a list of some of the Bear Flag items seen over the years:

Cell fone covers, tennis shoes, belts, Tshirts & hoodies, underwear, socks, bicycling jerseys, bikinis, boardshorts, jackets, mini-cooper roof, tattoos, hats, postcards, embroidered patches, charms & jewelry, baby clothes, stickers and magnets, cycling arm warmers, posters, belt buckles, coin banks, mini-banners, pens, pennants, neckties, woman’s purse, pocket knives, bottle openers, key chains, watches and clocks, doormats, book covers, cartoons, drawings, postage stamps, rubber stamps, golf head covers and ball markers, a building roof top, tablecloths, scarves, aprons, paintings and murals, art works, a Bear Flag cake, beer mugs and glasses, thimbles, tea cups, spoons, record album covers, & on & on ....

A California Flag Coin Bank

A photograph of a ceramic bank for the "California Republic Bank" as shown on ebay in 2008. One of these banks is in the collection of the Bear Flag Museum.

California Bear Flag Thongs. Yes, thongs!

The present will just not be outdone by the past....

Online retailer CafePress.com sells a variety of Bear Flag items, including a selection of Bear Flag thongs! That’s right, thongs and not just one type but a selection. Check it our for yourself, if you don't believe me: http://clothing.cafepress.com/california-flag_thong

What will they think of next? And do we even want to know?

2004 Cal Expo Golden Bear

Photographs taken of a golden bear at Cal Expo in Sacramento, CA, home of the California State Fair. Kept trying to get him to jump on a piece of cloth, but it just didn't fly.

1909 Bear Flag out of Fruits!!!

The 02/21/1909 San Francisco Call reported on the prizes awarded on 2/20 "for ornamental designs composed of citrus and other fruits" at the Santa Rosa Fair.

Winning Eighth place was Mrs. George B. Baer, whose design was an "old California bear flag."

Imagine that! A Bear Flag outta fruits!

Bear Flag at Hwy 80 Rest Area in the Sierras

This is a photograph taken in July 2008 of the California Bear Flag flying at a highway rest area in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California off Hwy 80.

Benjamin Dewell in 1896 on the Bear Flag

In 1896, at the 50th Anniversary of the raising of the Bear Flag, Benjamin Dewell stated about the making of the Bear Flag:

"The pioneer does not remember who furnished the cotton, but cotton was plentiful. Red flannel was very scarce, however. Mrs. J. Grigsby and Mrs. W. B. Elliott furnished the red flannel. The latter supplied all she could from a petticoat, and then from the leathern-shirted throng a committee of one was chosen to call upon Mrs. Grigsby for the remainder." It happened that the lady was in the act of cutting up red flannel for an expected baby Grigsby. She yielded, however, to the exigency of the hour and denied herself and her unborn babe that the flag might be completed.
"The flag was made," said Dewell a few days ago, "in the front room of the barracks, just at the left of the door, and most of the sewing was done by myself. 'Bill' Todd painted the bear and star with black ink."

Almost everyone says there was cotton & Dewell agrees. A lot say red flannel from various sources & Dewell gives his recall. Dewell agrees that Todd was involved and painted the bear and the star. Dewell takes credit for "most of the sewing." He also identifies the place of creation very specifically: "front room of the barracks, just at the left of the door...."

Dewell is one of the 25 men who both R. A. Thompson & Hubert H. Bancroft agree was a Bear Flagger.

Early California State Flag in Legislature

This photograph is from a very early swearing in ceremony in the California State Legislature at the second swearing in for Governor Hiram Johnson. The photograph dates from after the 1911 enactment of the State Flag law.

Leidesdorff's June 1846 Bear Flag Description

On June 19, 1846, William Leidesdorff, assistant U. S. Consul wrote to U.S. Consul Thomas O. Larkin about the Bear Flag Revolt and its flag, stating in part:

"It is impossible to say how many men they have but I think the Proclamation will call many to their ‘Banner,’ which is a white ‘field’ with a red ‘border’, a large ‘Star’ and a Grisly Bear! Such is the flag of ‘Young California.’"

Leidesdorff was situated in Yerba Buena(soon to be called "San Francisco) and very likely learned his information from the crew of the U.S.S. Portsmouth. We have seen no information which leads us to believe he ever saw in person the Bear Flag during the Revolt.

1909 Elecric Lights Bear Flag

The August 31, 1909 San Francisco Call reported on the City of San Jose's plan for the 1909, four day(9/8-11) Admission Day celebrations, on "the largest scale ever seen in California."

It was reported that: "An immense bear flag ... traced in electric lights, will also decorate the dome [of the city hall]."

WOW! Bear Flag up in lights! Now that's the life."

Sesquicentennial Quilt with Bear Flag

Between 1996 & 2000, a series of California sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) events were celebrated - from the Bear Flag Revolt of 1846 to California Statehood in 1850. As a result a 10' x 10' Sesquicentennial Quilt was made via the efforts of hundreds of California quilters.

The photographs displayed here are of the Bear Flag as it is displayed on this quilt. These photographs were taken in early 2007 at the California Museum in Sacramento, CA where the quilt was, and still may be, on display.

Hannah House Cameron & the Bear Flag

The Friday, 10/28/1904 San Francisco Call reported the death of Mrs. Hannah House Cameron 'Noted Pioneer Woman Who Witnesses Raising of the Bear Flag Passes Away.' She was the widow of John Cameron who belonged to Colonel Stevenson's regiment and he was one of the first mayors of Sonoma. Mrs. Cameron was 86 when she died on 09/13/1904.

The obituary states; "Mrs. Cameron came prominently before the people and when the bear flag was raised in Sonoma she was present."

The only problem is that elsewhere in the obituary it is stated: 'She came to California with her husband around the Horn, arriving in this city [San Francisco] in 1847.'

Oops! The Bear Flag was first raised in 1846, before she arrived. Maybe the '1847' was just a typo!

Bear Flag in San Francisco

This is a photograph of the Bear Flag & U.S. Flag flying at a private residence in San Francisco, CA & taken in August 2007.

1901 School History of the Bear Flag

The 05/03/1901 San Francisco Call reported that the Grand Parlor of the Native Sons of the Golden West had passed a resolution criticizing the State Board of Public Instruction "for indorsing a school history which the Native Sons think does not deal fairly or historically with the bear flag episode in Sonoma County.'"

Thomas J. Kirk, State Superintendent stated that the NSGW was in error. "The history now in use has been a California textbook fourteen years. The history is not satisfactory and a change is to be made.' He also noted that a committee of 7 expert history teachers had been appointed to make a recommendation on which a new text would be selected."

Bear Flag at Lisbon Elementary School

This is a photograph of the Bear Flag in 2008 at Lisbon Elementary School in Sacramento, CA. Lisbon recently(6/2009) was closed as a school due to dropping enrollment

1850 Admission Day Parade Bear Flag

The 07/06/1900 San Francisco Call reported that the Grand Marshal of the 1900 Admission Day parade sent 'special invitations to the aids who were on the staff of the grand marshal in 1850.” [the date of the 1st Celebration of California’s admission as a State]. He received a 07/03/1900 response letter from 86 year old J. D. Carr who indicated his honor & pleasure at the invitation.

Carr stated: 'On October 29, 1850, I had under my charge a wagon which contained a child born in each State of the Union, each waving the flag of his State. The first American child born in what is now San Francisco was then a little girl and carried the Bear flag.'

Certainly this is a report of one of the very first uses of California's Bear Flag after Statehood. Anyone have ideas of the girl's name?

Bear Flag in Salem, MA - June 2006

These are 3 photographs taken in Salem, MA on June 18, 2006 of the front of the Hawthorne Hotel. Why the California Flag is flying in front of this hotel is presently unknown. One always needs to be on the lookout for Cuffy the Bear Flag.

Bear Flag in Oceanside, CA

A photograph of the California Bear Flag from 2006, flying with the U. S. Flag & the Oceanside, CA flag. The photograph was taken by a third party apparently on January 15, 2006. No copyright is claimed in this photograph by the Poster.

Bear Flag Schools? Extinct like the Grizzly?

To our knowledge, there has only been one school named after the Bear Flag...

Bear Flag Elementary School on Gloria Drive in the Greenhaven/Pocket area of Sacramento, CA.

Unfortunately, Bear Flag Elementary closed recently and now there are no schools named after the California Bear Flag.

1847 Californian on the Bear Flag

The 2/13/1847 THE CALIFORNIAN 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.'"

Heroes of the Argonne Pin With Bear Flag

Pioneer John Bidwell on William Todd's Bear Flag Role

California Pioneer John Bidwell wrote in 1890:

"Another man left at Sonoma was William L. Todd who painted, on a piece of brown cotton, a yard and a half or so in length, with old red or brown paint that he happened to find, what he intended to be a representation of a grizzly bear. This was raised to the top of the staff, some seventy feet from the ground. Native Californians looking up at it were heard to say ‘Coche,' the common name among them for pig or shoat."

" More than thirty years afterwards I chanced to meet Todd on the train coming up the Sacramento Valley. He had not greatly changed, but appeared considerably broken in health. He informed me that Mrs. Lincoln was his own aunt, and that he had been brought up in the family of Abraham Lincoln."

Bear Flag at Santa Nella, California

These are two photographs taken at Santa Nella, California in 2008 of the Bear Flag flying at that location. Santa Nella is located off of Interstate 5, deep in the Central Valley of California & about 125 miles from Sacramento/275 miles from Los Angeles. It is a well known roadside stop for those traveling between Northern & Southern California. Santa Nella is also home of a Pea Soup Andersen's Restaurant & Motel.

NDGW Bear Flag at Martinez Museum

This is a photograph of an older Bear Flag taken in Spring 2009 at the Martinez Museum. Apparently the flag was donated to the Museum by a Parlor of the Native Daughters of the Golden West. The Museum was unaware that the flag was of some significance due to its design and age.

Who Carried the Bear Flag in its First Parade?

In the 1855 California Admission Day parade held in San Francisco, the Bear Flag was first paraded, but I bet you do not know who was given the honor of carrying the flag in that parade.

According to This Sudden Empire CALIFORNIA, The Story of The Society of California Pioneers, 1850 to 1950 , George Yount of Napa was given the honor. This same text gives Sam Brannan credit that the flag was donated to the California Pioneers.

Bear Flag Kit & Businesses

The California Museum in Sacramento sells a “Bear Flag Kit” for $2.50 +S&H. Each kit includes: fun foam, extra materials, instructions, and history of the Bear Flag for children to make their own bear flag & learn the history of the flag. For more information, Call 916-653-6658 or go here:http://www.californiamuseum.org/discover/teachers/classroom/order-bear-flag-kit.

Over the years there have been numerous Bear Flag businesses, such as: Bear Flag Inn, Bear Flag Marketing, Bear Flag Process Services, Bear Flag Fish Co., Bear Flag Farm, Bear Flag Gallery, Bear Flag Roasting Co., Bear Flag Restaurant, Bear Flag Real Estate, Bear Flag Ventures Llc., Bear Flag Pottery, Bear Flag Services, Bear Flag Development, Bear Flag Appraisal, Bear Flag Group.

30 Years of Bear Flags in Placerville, CA

According to the Native Daughters of the Golden West’s California Star newsletter(Winter 2006), for over 30 years prior to 2006, the Marguerite Parlor No. 12 of the NDGW posted California Bear Flags along Highway 50 in Placerville, CA on September 9th of each year to celebrate California Admission Day. Highway 50 is one of the two main highways from Sacramento to the Lake Tahoe area of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

The Bear Flag displays ended in 2006 due to highway changes and increased traffic. Oh, darn! Sometimes ol' Cuffy just can't get any respect.

Missing California Bear Advertisement

This flyer is from a recent advertising campaign seeking to promote Nevada as a place of business over California. Videos, billboards and other media were used to promote Nevada's business environment.

Just another creative use of the California Bear Flag as a symbol of the State of California. Cuffy just keeps on rolling.

Bear Flags Made During the 1846 Revolt - How Many?

How many Bear Flags were made during the actual Bear Flag Revolt (6/9 - 7/9/1846)?

The truthful answer (& I wouldn't want to lie to you) is that no one living knows for sure.

But in late July 1846, John Elliot Montgomery, son of USS Portsmouth’s Commander Montgomery, wrote to his mother:

"I have the original & only Flag of the California Republic in my possession & esteem it quite a prize." [bold added]

Makes one think that maybe there really only was a single Bear Flag during the Revolt.

Sitting on Haunches Old Bear Flag

In 1947, El Dorado High School history teacher Harry Wells found "balled up like a rag" in the Placerville, CA Masonic Hall an unusual Bear Flag, hand painted on silk with silk fringe.

The bear on this flag is sitting centered on its haunches upright on an oval grass plat, with its two upper arms outstretched and facing the star which is in the upper left(hoist) corner.

The Native Sons and Daughters of the Golden West had moved into the Masonic Hall in 1893 when it was completed. It was probably theirs, but somehow was lost. The flag is the property of the NDGW Marguerite Parlor, but had been on loan to the high school since 1953. Mountain Democrat-Times (Placerville) 03/16/1967.

We contacted the high school in June 2009 and the Principal promised to look for the flag once school started again this Fall. He had not heard of the flag before our contact. We'll keep you updated.

Photographs of the Original Bear Flag Statute

Above are scans of the original California Bear Flag statute of 1911 which made the Bear Flag the California State Flag. The statute was signed by California Governor Hiram Johnson on February 3, 1911. As of the time of this post, it is only 520 days to the 100th Anniversary of the State Flag.

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time the statute has been published forpublic viewing. The images were obtained through the courtesy of the California State Archives, Sacramento, CA which holds the original statute.

First Publication of a Bear Flag Drawing

The photograph is of a portion of page 209 of Hutchings' CALIFORNIA MAGAZINE, No. 53 November 1860. The Bear Flag image is reputed to be the first publication of a drawing of the Bear Flag. The magazine (cost 25 cents) was published in San Francisco from 1856 - 1861. We first became aware of this image from Storer and Tevis California Grizzly.

The Bear Flag drawing is interesting in many respects. It has a standing bear (actually a leaning bear), standing on a plat of ground. The plat also has the year "1846" written on it. Also the flag is suspended from the top by a cross-bar. By 1860, the Society of California Pioneers had the Bear Flag taken down at Sonoma on July 9, 1846 in its collection. It shows a bear on all fours and no plat, nor 1846 date on it. Why the published version was used we do not know.