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Missouri’s state flag was designed by Marie Elizabeth Oliver and became official in 1913 after several attempts. Oliver’s design was chosen for its symbolic richness and depiction of Missouri’s independence. The original flag was donated to the state in 1961 and restored in 1988 for display at the James C. Kirkpatrick State Information Center.
The state flag of Missouri was designed by Marie Elizabeth Oliver, wife of Senator Robert Burett Oliver. In most cases, the idea of designing the state flag of Missouri is credited to a committee created by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1908. For nearly 92 years, Missouri existed as an incorporated state without a state flag. Although the finished Oliver design for the state flag existed as early as 1909, it did not become the official state flag until March 22, 1913.
While Oliver’s flag was a favorite at the time, there was an alternate state flag from Missouri that was seriously considered by the Senate. This flag was designed by Dr. GH Holcomb. It is not clear whether the idea of a flag was very popular among Missourians, but it is documented that passage of the bill designating the official state flag of Missouri took several attempts. In 1913, Governor Elliot Major finally signed the bill into law and the flag became official.
To understand why Oliver’s proposal for the Missouri state flag was successful, it’s important to consider the qualities desired in a state flag. Most of those involved in this project felt that Holcomb’s proposed alternative design did not sufficiently represent the independence of the state due to the similarity of the flag to that of the nation. Oliver’s flag was symbolically rich, including a number of powerful images without being too complex to reproduce. Those images, including stars, a helmet, and bears, were specifically chosen to depict ideas and facts about Missouri that were considered highly relevant at the time. While Missouri’s character has changed over the years, the flag itself is a historical testament to how people viewed Missouri in 1913.
The history of the Missouri state flag doesn’t end in 1913, it continues to the present day. For many years the Oliver family kept the original flag sewn by the senator’s wife, but in 1961 the flag was donated to the state. It was on display for many years until damage from age necessitated storage for its own preservation.
In 1988, the 75th anniversary of the flag’s creation inspired renewed interest in the original object. To commemorate the event, Missouri elementary students raised money to have the flag restored and put back on display. With modern archival methods and a devotion to preserving Missouri history, the flag will likely remain on display at the James C. Kirkpatrick State Information Center in Jefferson City, Missouri for many years.
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