Showcasing one of the largest personal collections of American flags, father and son, Peter and Kevin Keim uniquely tell the history of the United States through the development of the American Flag and highlight the myths and facts behind the Stars and Stripes and the people behind its creation.

• Includes specially commissioned, full-color photographs of 125 American Flags from the author’s collection, as well as other memorabilia
• Readers will learn something new about flags on each spread
• Features timelines, biographies, historical sidebars, and annotations of specific flags

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5 Responses to “A Grand Old Flag: A History of the United States Through its Flags”

1. Roy Army says:

   July 20, 2010 at 12:00 am

   As an 1800 pre and post Civil War, or more specific, Rocky Mountain Fur Trade and Western Re-enactor, I needed a book for researching the flags of the 1800′s and was more than happy with this book. Not only did it show me historically accurate flags, but how they were made and hoisted, as well as the Star Pattern variations (am looking for a 38-Star Great Circle at this time…)

   Reply
2. Curly Top says:

   May 29, 2010 at 12:00 am

   This is a terrific book which tells our national history in a very unique way. The authors’ enthusasism is felt. This will be a conversational piece at family & friends gatherings.

   Reply
3. Ted Kaye says:

   October 21, 2008 at 12:00 am

   A year after Madaus & Smith’s The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord and Conflict, another gorgeous volume has come along, telling the story of the U.S. flag through the holdings of a personal collection. This time it’s that of Peter Keim, a retired family-practice doctor, and his architect son, Nathan, who over 30 years have amassed what they call “one of the richest and most comprehensive collections of antique Stars and Stripes held by one family”.

   The father-son duo weaves a deeply meaningful interpretation of the history of the U.S. flag, in a lavishly-illustrated volume in the full Dorling Kindersley style of colorful, active images on every page bursting from the glossy white background. Nathan brings an architect’s eye to flag design and construction, a welcome and unusual perspective.

   Due to the book’s broad scope, it can be forgiven its propagation of a few flag myths–such as the “war stripe” or the misidentification of the designer of the Confederate Stars and Bars as Mrs. Napoleon Lockett–and for committing other minor historical errors. It is not primarily a history book although the historical background provided is extensive and useful; the history included in the book should be treated as the context for understanding the flags themselves.

   The Keims advance an interesting theory, never before advanced, of why the U.S. flag uses stars and stripes–they attribute the stars to the astronomical fascination of Francis Hopkinson and others (spurred by the 1770 Rittenhouse orrery and the Lextell comet the same year), and the stripes to the lashes of a whip (symbolizing for the colonists provocation and defiance). Dr. Keim articulated on this theory in his presentation at the 42nd annual meeting of the flag-studies group NAVA in Austin, Texas in October 2008.

   Depicting over 100 flags and even more related images, the book is a visual and vexillological delight, with excellent production values. Its chronological narrative follows states’ admissions and number of stars in the canton. Among the gems: a rare 19-star printed parade flag, an unusual 32-star (8-8-8-8) flag celebrating Minnesota’s admission, and a 33-star flag flown by Union troops at the Battle of Bull Run in 1861.

   The book is particularly strong in its explanation of textile technology, history, and terminology, and of their application to flags. NAVA member and antique flag dealer Jeff Bridgman has already given away 50 copies to his clients!

   The outsized book includes a separate poster, with an innovative ” Timeline of the Stars and Stripes”, a 64-inch fold-out showing years (1755-1975), presidents, wars & conflicts, state admissions dates & maps, and key events in national, flag, & textile history, along with a nice little “Star -Spangled Banner History” and, on the back, 16 more flag images.

   More than another pretty “picture book” on the U.S. flag, A Grand Old Flag is a loving but discerning tribute to the Stars and Stripes and a beautiful and important addition to the libraries of flag enthusiasts everywhere.

   Edward B. Kaye

   Editor, Raven, A Journal of Vexillology

   North American Vexillological Association

   Reply
4. Jeff R. Bridgman says:

   June 17, 2008 at 12:00 am

   The Keim book on flags is the most comprehensive book on the hobby of flag collecting since the Mastai’s published their landmark text “The Stars & The Stripes” in 1973. Well thought out, well organized, well written, and with great photogrpahy, I’ve bought more than 50 copies so far to send to my clients as gifts.

   Jeff Bridgman, dealer in antique flags. [...]

   Reply
5. John C. Musgrove says:

   March 12, 2008 at 12:00 am

   As a patriot, I feel this is the greatest expression of patriotism for our flag, and deserves to be read and re read for generations. I feel this is the perfect addition to any library or to given to any young, or old, American. It was given to me on my 78th birthday and I will always treasure it Fortunately, the authors have autographed my copy, and I have met and visited with the authors, and the book is always laid out for others to our home to read. We hope a local gallery will display some of the flags this year, and in future years.

   Reply