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History of the Oklahoma State Flag

The first Oklahoma State Flag adopted in 1911 was simple, its color palette modeled after the red, white and blue of the Stars and Stripes. The 1911 Oklahoma state flag displayed a white star, edged in blue, centered on a field of red. Inside the star, the number "46" was shown; referencing Oklahoma as the 46th state to enter the union in 1907. The first Oklahoma State Flag flew from 1911 - 1925. The Red flag and single white star of the Oklahoma state flag began to be too closely associated with symbols of Communism. In 1924, a contest was announced to create a new design for the Oklahoma State Flag, one that represented the diversity of cultures in the state of Oklahoma. For the state with the largest Native American population, it is easy to see why the design submitted by Mrs. George Fluke, Jr. was chosen and officially adopted by the Oklahoma State Legislature on April 2, 1925. The 1925 Oklahoma state flag, essentially the same as today's state flag, prominently displays an Osage warrior's shield made from buffalo hide and decorated with seven eagle feathers hanging from the lower edge. The shield is centered on a field of blue borrowed from the blue flag that Choctaw soldiers carried during the Civil War. The Oklahoma state flag honors more than 60 groups of Native Americans and their ancestors. The shield is decorated with six white crosses (stars) representing high ideals. Superimposed over the shield are symbols of peace and unity from the cultures of the Native American and European-American settlers in the territory; a ceremonial peace pipe and the olive branch. The Oklahoma State Flag design was revisited in 1941. The state name "OKLAHOMA" was amended to the 1925 design and is displayed in white letters below the shield. In 1988, the Oklahoma State Legislature again addressed the design of the state flag. Variations in color among manufacturers did not properly align with the spirit of the design and the 41st Oklahoma Legislature voted to rectify this.

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