Taft William
Taft’s Own Presidential Flag Given to a Universalist Church during Cornerstone Laying Ceremony in 1909, w/Outstanding Provenance





Presidential archive including flag once belonging to 27th U.S. President William H. Taft (1857-1930), along with provenance material relating to the president’s donation of the flag to a Portland, Oregon church after he participated in its cornerstone laying ceremony in the fall of 1909. From the stellar collection of Ronald Ellis Wade.






The Presidential flag, modeled after the 1902 version introduced by 26th U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt (1858-1919), is of machine made silk. It features a cobalt blue field with the Great Seal at center, in which an eagle clutches a yellow ribbon inscribed with the national motto “E Pluribus Unum”, brandishes arrows and an olive branch in either claw, stands behind an American flag patterned heraldic shield, and is surmounted by a circlet of stars, rays, and clouds at top. In very good to fine condition measuring 9.625” x 7.75”. Several weakened, threadbare, and fabric shattered areas running vertically and along extreme right edge of flag which is severed. Minor fading to center top medallion. Right edge of flag partly taped to paper backing inscribed: “This flag was given when President Taft dedicated the Universalist Church at 24th and Broadway, Portland, Oregon” in black felt tip pen.






Provenance material relating to the presidential flag and the church cornerstone laying ceremony includes: two 3.25” square black and white photographic prints of the ceremony annotated on black scrapbook page; an undated typed letter from Daniel L. Sabrowsky, a relative of Reverend Lee Sabrowsky, its onetime minister; a September 27, 1964 Sunday Oregonian newspaper clipping relating to presidential visits to the city; and three photo collages on photographic paper, including one magnified detail of a period photograph.






In early October 1909, President Taft was completing a Western Tour of the United States, and drawing attention to its varied religious communities. Taft had previously attended worship services, lectures, and other sponsored events at Mormon, Jewish, Catholic, Unitarian, and Universalist places of worship. On October 3, 1909 in Portland, Oregon, President Taft attended a Sunday service at a Unitarian Church, met with Catholic school children, and then participated in a cornerstone laying ceremony at the First Universalist Church of Good Tidings located at 24th Street and NE Broadway. Approximately 15,000-20,000 Portlandians attended the last ceremony. The October 4, 1909 issue of the New York Times reported that Taft was very engaged in the cornerstone laying ceremony: “The President not only talked, he handled the silver trowel and worked hard to see that the stone was properly adjusted”. Taft then placed a number of items, including possibly this flag, into a metal box that was then placed into the cornerstone.






Below is an interesting interview from TheHill.com, about Ron Wade and his collection of Presidential memorabilia:






Step into Ronald Wade’s office and it’s easy to see why he’s listed in “Guinness World Records 2015” for the largest collection of U.S. presidential memorabilia — it’s really a replica of the Oval Office.






“Actually, they quit counting,” Wade says of his immense collection of White House and presidential campaign items, “because I probably have closer to 20,000 or 30,000 items, if not closer to 100,000 — that’s with duplication.” The official count from the folks behind the famed book puts Wade’s collection in chief at 6,960 pieces as of last year.






The lifelong Republican has been racking up “practically anything that has to do with American politics” since he was 10 years old.






“My first memory in life is wearing an ‘I Like Ike’ button, and I was probably 4 years old. So I’ve always been interested in politics,” Wade, 64, tells ITK.






The retired Texas Department of Human Services supervisor and Ex White House aide to President Nixon, says he counts former Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush as friends. His most prized item in the collection is from the 41st commander-in-chief’s failed 1964 Senate bid.






“George W. has been to my house, and seen my collection, and was quite impressed,” boasts Wade, who has also donated several pieces from his massive memorabilia stockpile to the George W. Bush Presidential Library outside Dallas.
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