Design for American Flag with 50 Stars
By Donald Edwards, 1959
Construction paper collage
12" x 17"
Dwight D. Eisenhower Library, National Archives and Records Administration
50-Star Flag Designs
In 1958 two U.S. territories, Alaska and Hawaii,
were poised to become America's 49th and 50th states. A federal law dating
from 1818 required that a star be added to the U.S. flag on the Fourth
of July following a new state's admission. However, the law failed to
describe how a new pattern for the stars should be configured. As the
probability of Alaska's and Hawaii's admission to the Union increased,
thousands of citizens, especially school children, sent their suggestions
for a new flag design to the White House. In response to this interest,
President Dwight Eisenhower appointed a committee to advise on the new
design. After examining many creative and fanciful submissions, the committee
recommended a design similar to the existing 48-star flag. It would contain
seven rows of seven stars in a slightly staggered arrangement. On January
3, 1959, President Eisenhower issued an Executive order changing the design
of the flag. When, a few months later, Hawaii became a state, the committee
recommended a similar layout, and President Eisenhower issued another
order describing that design. This exhibit contains two flag designs selected
from the many designs submitted for consideration.