The Little Book of the Flag

"The Little Book of the Flag" by Eva March Tappan is a historical account written in the early 20th century. This work explores the significance and evolution of the American flag throughout key moments in U.S. history, from the arrival of early colonists to the Revolutionary War and beyond. Tappan delves into the various flags that represented the colonies and their struggles, highlighting the deep connections between national identity and the symbols of the flag. At the start of the book, Tappan sets the stage with the tale of Henry Hudson, who, while on a fruitless journey to find a passage to Asia, unintentionally introduced the Dutch flag to America. The narrative progresses through the flags carried by colonists, including the pine-tree flag, and discusses the contentious symbols that reflected the colonists' struggles with authority and the quest for liberty. It also introduces notable figures, such as John Endicott, who dramatically removed the cross from the English flag in defiance of royal authority. Overall, the opening portion outlines the pivotal role of flags in shaping and representing the early identity of a nation on the brink of independence. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Eva March Tappan was a teacher and American author born in Blackstone, Massachusetts, the only child of Reverend Edmund March Tappan and Lucretia Logée. Eva graduated from Vassar College in 1875. She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and an editor of the Vassar Miscellany. After leaving Vassar she began teaching at Wheaton College where she taught Latin and German from 1875 until 1880. From 1884–94 she was the Associate Principal at the Raymond Academy in Camden, New Jersey. She received graduate degrees in English Literature from the University of Pennsylvania. Tappan was the head of the English department at the English High School at Worcester, Massachusetts. She began her literary career writing about famous characters in history and developed an interest in writing children books. Tappan never married.