The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is once again in the spotlight after its directors failed to consult with the collections committee before purchasing a 21-star flag that has a disputed description as a rare flag commemorating Illinois' admission into the Union in 1818.
The flag was purchased at an online auction for more than $15,000, and the Illinois Inspector General's Office has launched an investigation into the funds used to purchase it. The purchase has caused a rift within the Springfield museum's leadership and may have led to the firing of an employee who claims the purchase circumvented procedures.
The flag, which is 7 feet 5 inches tall and 6 feet 5 inches wide, is called the “Grand Luminary” because of the 21 stars arranged in the shape of a star. Spokesman Christopher Wills said the museum is confident the flag represents Illinois' admission as the 21st state.
Such a flag is unusual because the design was changed a year later when Alabama and Maine were admitted to the Union.
But respected flag expert Jeff Bridgeman told The Associated Press that the flag's construction and materials suggest it was created decades later, during the Civil War, and that it may have been a Southern exclusivity flag, featuring stars representing states that remained loyal to the Union.
Mr Bridgeman said he has a collection of around 3,000 flags, mostly from the 19th century, but that this one does not date from 1818.
“If that was the case, we would have been gunning for it at auction,” he said.
This is not the first blow to the museum's credibility.
Its purchase of a stovepipe hat purportedly worn by Lincoln (valued at $6.5 million) sparked controversy after evidence of its connection to the 16th president was questioned, and in 2019, the director of a Texas exhibit run by conservative political commentator Glenn Beck was fired for sending an unauthorized copy of Lincoln's handwritten Gettysburg Address to the exhibit.
Ian Hunt, the museum's collections manager, submitted a letter to the executive director on Nov. 6 requesting the recovery of the 21-star flag, according to documents provided by The Associated Press under an open records request.
The flag was part of the prestigious Zarikol Flag Collection. Hunt bought it at auction on Nov. 13, and the museum paid $15,625 from the King-Hostick Trust Fund, which funds state historical research and artifact collections.
Museum policy requires that any purchases over $2,000 be proposed for prior review by the Collections Committee, comprised of department heads. The committee did not meet regularly due to staff vacancies, but convened to review the flag on December 7, three weeks after the purchase, and voted 7-2 in favor.
Then-Registrar Eldon Yeakel and Director of Research Brian Mitchell voted “no.” Mitchell declined to comment to The Associated Press. Staff comments at the bottom of the document recording the vote include concerns about the authenticity and safekeeping of the flag.
Yeakel said the committee vote would have been closer if the acquisition hadn't already been decided. The museum fired Yeakel on May 6 for poor performance and policy violations, but Yeakel took the blame for casting the “no” vote. Wills declined to comment.
Yeakel told investigators with the enforcement inspector that the purchase of the flags improperly circumvented the commission's consent. Investigators asked Yeakel about any fraud or wrongdoing in the transaction and whether King Hostick's funds were misappropriated. Yeakel responded that he was not aware of any fraud or wrongdoing or details regarding Hostick's funds or their use.
Two current and former museum employees told The Associated Press that the investigation was triggered by a complaint to an inspector, but asked not to be identified for fear of retaliation.
Neil Olson, the inspector general's general counsel, declined to comment on the investigation, and the inspector general's office has not released any findings.
If misconduct is found, the Office of the Inspector General may recommend corrective action, including discipline or termination. The Inspector General may also conduct a criminal investigation or refer an investigation to the appropriate law enforcement agency.
Wills said the museum was not informed of the inspector general's complaint but was “clearly authorized” to use Hostick's funds to buy the flag. He acknowledged Hunt's “failure” in moving forward without the committee's review, but noted museum policy requires only the “recommendation” of the committee for big-ticket purchases.
After purchasing the flag in 1995, the late Ben Zarikol had it examined by renowned flag scholar Howard Madaus, who determined that the flag was made entirely of cotton between 1818 and 1820.
Mr Bridgeman said he considered Mr Madaus, who died in 2007, a respected colleague and friend, but that Mr Madaus was wrong on this point.
Bridgman said he hasn't examined the flag in person, but high-resolution images show that the blue canton is made of wool or a wool blend, typical of Civil War-era flags, which are worn threaded through a slot.
“Cotton doesn't do that. Wool definitely does,” Bridgeman said.
A 2003 report by noted preservationist Fonda Thomsen concluded that the flag was at least partially made of wool, but that “the flag had not been examined sufficiently to reach any conclusions.”
Museum officials have yet to inspect the flag. It has been handed over to a conservation company for stabilization and cleaning to prolong its life. The estimated cost of preservation is $18,000.
The Associated Press asked other flag scholars to examine photos of the flag and determine its age. Only one responded: Dave Martucci of Washington, Maine, said in an email that he is familiar with the flag and that its “design, construction and size” suggest it dates to 1818, not 1861.
Regardless of its history, the flag has a “solid history” and was a solid investment, Wills said.
“We're always open to learning more about it,” Wills said, “and if it turns out to be from another time, another story, so be it. We'll tell that story, and it just happens to be a great story.”
