Who is it forum? Politicians?

[oldbattleaxe]

This is a dated July 1900 photo of some gentlemen dressed in suits, with a huge american flag draped behind them. I have trying to id one of them. Maybe some politician? Thanks for the help in advance.

 

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[Anduril]

One interesting thing:

The flag shown in the photo appears to have its stars arranged in a uniform grid of rows and columns.
Although there are only 7 columns clearly shown (the flag is not flat) there are clearly only 6 rows of stars.

The only official US flag that ever had this configuration of uniform star rows and columns, with 6 stars in the first column, was the 48 Star flag from 1912 to 1959, adopted after the admission of New Mexico and Arizona.

The official flag in July 1900 would have had 45 stars (1896-1908), adopted after the admission of Utah - but the stars in the first column were not in a line, as shown in the photo.

So, I don't know what to make of this?!

Going strictly by the 6 rows and 7 columns that are clearly shown, that would be 42 stars. (6 x 7 = 42).
There never was an official flag with only 42 stars. We went from the 38-star in 1877 to the 43-star in 1890.
And both of those flags pre-date the "July 1900" date you provided.

The Dakotas were admitted between 1877 and 1890, and some flag manufacturers believed that the two Dakotas would be admitted as a single state.
IF the two Dakotas had been admitted as a single State, then that would (presumably) put us at 42 stars.
Although it's still at least 10 years prior to July 1900.

Now, whether the above observation helps or not....??

My thinking is party leaders, somehow connected to North or South Dakota.
But that's not much more than a guess, really.

 

[SeabeeRon]

One interesting thing:

The flag shown in the photo appears to have its stars arranged in a uniform grid of rows and columns.
Although there are only 7 columns clearly shown (the flag is not flat) there are clearly only 6 rows of stars.

The only official US flag that ever had this configuration of uniform star rows and columns, with 6 stars in the first column, was the 48 Star flag from 1912 to 1959, adopted after the admission of New Mexico and Arizona.

The official flag in July 1900 would have had 45 stars (1896-1908), adopted after the admission of Utah - but the stars in the first column were not in a line, as shown in the photo.

So, I don't know what to make of this?!

Going strictly by the 6 rows and 7 columns that are clearly shown, that would be 42 stars. (6 x 7 = 42).
There never was an official flag with only 42 stars. We went from the 38-star in 1877 to the 43-star in 1890.
And both of those flags pre-date the "July 1900" date you provided.

The Dakotas were admitted between 1877 and 1890, and some flag manufacturers believed that the two Dakotas would be admitted as a single state.
IF the two Dakotas had been admitted as a single State, then that would (presumably) put us at 42 stars.
Although it's still at least 10 years prior to July 1900.

Now, whether the above observation helps or not....??

My thinking is party leaders, somehow connected to North or South Dakota.
But that's not much more than a guess, really.

Great info, Thanks!

 

[NOLA_Ken]

https://historicalamericana.com/product/antique-42-star-flag-circa-1890-sku-12443/

Late 1880's?

Sadly as I have learned from old pics in my collection, without an inscription identifying people is pretty much impossible unless they were well known and other photos of them exist... It's a really cool photo though

 

[oldbattleaxe]

a very good history of our flag. History that I didn't know. On back written in pencil that says July 1900. I never counted the stars and stripes. I just figured one of these men possibly could be a well known politician. I study faces on old photographs. Not an expert, but enjoy doing it.

 

[creskol]

Maybe under high magnification you could make some detail out on the lapel pin the gentleman in the foreground is wearing that would shed some light on the mystery.

 

[highnam]

I don't see anything military related about the photo expect for the flag, but even the flag is draped without much care in a non military way. Could be politicians or a fraternal organization, I have no clue but fun to speculate

 

[oldbattleaxe]

With Andural's expertise in the history of the flag as 42 star for Washington which only lasted one year 1989-90 and NOLA_Ken's mention of the late 1890's I came up with Elisha Peyre Ferry as the first Governor but was replaced with elected Lieutenant Governor Charles E. Laughton. The gentleman with the handle bar mustache on the far right, I think we have a match. The date on the back could have been added any time. maybe a guess from a previous owner. What do you guys think?

 

[Anduril]

Looks really close to me. You could be right!!

I would note that Mr. Laughton died on March 16, 1895 (per Wikipedia), so that info would definitely invalidate the "July 1900" date on the back of the photo.

 

[jeff of pa]

I've seen that Hand Signal Before.

Masons ? Or he flipped the wrong person the bird & they shot it Off

 

[A2coins]

Or he flipped that person off and the other guy hit him with a bike and the handlebars got stuck to his face lol The guy in the front looks like hes 12 feet tall lol Happy Holidays

 

[cw0909]

liked the flag history too, the guy in back on far left, looks familiar
Rare Flags - Antique American Flags, Historic American Flags

 

[BIGSCOTT]

I just noticed to that guy in front is really big.

 

[A2coins]

I think hes a bigfoot or a thawed out yeti

 

[cw0909]

I just noticed to that guy in front is really big.

noticed that too, just measured seat height, on my chairs from floor 17-18"
looks like a leg length of 38-40", guy is maybe 6.6' 6.8'

 

[DCMatt]

He is holding a cigar...

I've seen that Hand Signal Before.

Masons ? Or he flipped the wrong person the bird & they shot it Off

View attachment 1530105

 

[oldbattleaxe]

So we can confirm that if the man on the far right is Charles E. Laughton Governor of Washington 1889. Since he died in 1895 that this photo dates to 1889-90. From what he have determined here is that the 42 star flag didn't last long and these gentlemen were politicians celebrating an election or celebrating Washington being the 42nd sate, or both? as usual I couldnt have solved this with out the help of the forum. Yes, the gentleman on the right looks like he has a finger missing or it is folded back.

 

[DCMatt]

Works for me...

 

[Old Pueblo]

They look Italian to me.