3rd Michigan Volunteer Infantry
SC-9-90: Silk regimental. ▪ Dimensions: 70”x 76”
Description:
This flag is a presentation flag given to the regiment by the Ladies of Grand Rapids on June 4, 1861. It was hand embroidered by Maggie Ferguson. The flag is a regimental flag made of two pieces of blue silk. On the obverse is embroidered the seal of the United States. The word “Volunteer” was embroidered above and “Third Regiment” below. The obverse has a similar design, but embroidered around the seal are the words “Ladies of Grand Rapids to the Third Regiment Michigan State Infantry”. Most of the fly end of the flag has been lost, fortunately much of the embroidery remains.
The staff, which measures 97” by 1.25”, is topped by a spear shaped finial.
The flag has a 156” blue and white twisted cord with two tassels. The tassels are wrapped on a wooden core.
The flag was netted (sewn between layers of dyed net) in the 1960s in an early attempt at conservation. This netting left thousands of small holes in the flag. Additionally, modern, machine stitching was added on top of some areas of the original embroidery, a modern piece of fabric was added between the original pieces, and a modern fringe was added to the flag. In 2023, the flag was conserved by Textile Preservation associates. The previous treatment was carefully removed by cutting each stitch and removing it with tweezers. The flag was then delicately cleaned with a museum grade vacuum and each piece of silk sewn between layers of a synthetic material with minimal stitches going through the flag itself. The layers were then reassembled without fabric between.
Adoption:
October 25, 1991 - Downing Family
October 8, 2000 - Barry County Historical Society
June 24, 2001 - Third Michigan Volunteer Infantry, Company F
June 23, 2007 - Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Eva Gray Tent No. 2
June 6, 2011 - Friends of the Capitol
September 17, 2014 - Campau Lyon Questers, Chapter 481
March 25, 2023 - 126th Regimental Association
3rd Michigan Volunteer Infantry
SC-14-90: Silk regimental. ▪ Dimensions: 73”x 72” ▪ Cotton Fringe
Description:
This regimental flag made of blue silk. Almost all of the painted areas of the flag have been lost, a problem that is quite common as paint made the silk more rigid and prone to fracturing. All that remains of the painted area are fourteen stars in an arc on the top, the edge of a scroll on the bottom, and the tips of what appears to be the wings of an eagle. A gold-colored cotton fringe surrounds the top, bottom, and fly end of the flag. The hoist end was fashioned into a sleeve for attachment to the staff.
The staff, which measures 97” by 1.5”, is topped by a spade finial. The staffs of flags returned to the state at the 1866 Detroit ceremony marking the end of the war all bear identical brass plaques. The brass plaque reads in Spencerian script “3d Mich. Infantry”.
The flag has a 144” blue and white twisted silk cord and two 2” tassels. The tassels are wrapped on a wooden core.
The flag was netted (sewn between layers of dyed net) in the 1960s in an early attempt at conservation.
Adoption:
3rd Michigan Volunteer Infantry
SC-15-90: Silk national. ▪ Dimensions: 71”x 47+” ▪ Cotton Fringe
Description:
This national flag is very fragmented. The only remaining pieces are a small part of the pole sleeve and a few, very shredded parts of the bottom three red stripes. A very small amount of white silk remains in the bottom white strip and along the pole sleeve. Even these few remaining pieces have been stained red by dye transfer. A small amount of cotton fringe remains on the bottom and top of the flag.
The staff, which measures 96” by 1.5”, is topped by a spade finial. On the staff is a plaque which reads “3rd Mich. Infantry “new organization””.
The flag has a 138” blue and white twisted silk cord with two blue and white tassels measuring 2” in diameter. The tassels are wrapped on a wooden core.
The flag was netted (sewn between layers of dyed net) in the 1960s in an early attempt at conservation.
Adoption: