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The prominent flay in this drawing may be evidence of a national schoolhouse flag movement launched in 1888 by the children’s magazine “The Youth’s Companion.” Children were encouraged to raise money for flags by selling “certificate cards” provided by the magazine. Each card represented a 10-cent contribution towards the purchase of the flag. The sale of 100 cards covered the cost of a substantial flag. The magazine also offered flags as premiums for selling subscriptions. The flag movement was very successful; by 1891 the magazine had sold or awarded over 25,000 flags. Capitalizing on the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus landing in North America, the magazine published the National Public School Celebration of Columbus Day program in 1892. This program contained an early version of the Pledge of Allegiance, further inspiring flag purchases.
This is the only known schoolhouse drawing by Vogt. It is interesting to note that in 1894, Columbus Day fell on October 12, the exact date of this drawing. Did Vogt complete the drawing on that day, or pencil in the date in observance of the holiday? Bayard T. Garlock (1871-1958), the teacher noted on this drawing, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Garlock. The drawing of their Canajoharie home is also on display in this gallery.
Exhibition History"Fritz Vogt: A Sense of Place," Arkell Museum, Canajoharie, NY, May 29, 2021 - December 30, 2021
Artist
Fritz G. Vogt
(c. 1841 - 1900)
District Nr. 12, Town of Minden, N.Y., Bayard Garlock, Teacher, 1889-1890, 1894-1895
Date1894
DimensionsSight: 16 1/2 × 20 3/4 in. (41.9 × 52.7 cm)
Object numberN0040.2015L(18)
Credit LineCollection of Frank S. Tosto
Photograph by Richard Walker
Label TextThink of it. A flag over every school to remind the children that they belong to the nation as well as the town… --James B. Upham, The Youth’s Companion, 1891The prominent flay in this drawing may be evidence of a national schoolhouse flag movement launched in 1888 by the children’s magazine “The Youth’s Companion.” Children were encouraged to raise money for flags by selling “certificate cards” provided by the magazine. Each card represented a 10-cent contribution towards the purchase of the flag. The sale of 100 cards covered the cost of a substantial flag. The magazine also offered flags as premiums for selling subscriptions. The flag movement was very successful; by 1891 the magazine had sold or awarded over 25,000 flags. Capitalizing on the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus landing in North America, the magazine published the National Public School Celebration of Columbus Day program in 1892. This program contained an early version of the Pledge of Allegiance, further inspiring flag purchases.
This is the only known schoolhouse drawing by Vogt. It is interesting to note that in 1894, Columbus Day fell on October 12, the exact date of this drawing. Did Vogt complete the drawing on that day, or pencil in the date in observance of the holiday? Bayard T. Garlock (1871-1958), the teacher noted on this drawing, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Garlock. The drawing of their Canajoharie home is also on display in this gallery.
Exhibition History"Fritz Vogt: A Sense of Place," Arkell Museum, Canajoharie, NY, May 29, 2021 - December 30, 2021
On View
Not on view
