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Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L. (ed.) / The Wisconsin Blue Book
(1958)
Wisconsin in 1958, pp. [69]-[228]
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Page 74
WISCONSIN BLUE BOOK which afterward runs so great a distance with but comparatively few principal branches to swell its current . . ." The name Wiscon- sin first appeared in the organic law approved by President Jackson on April 20, 1836, establishing the territorial government and pro- viding that "from and after the third day of July next (1836), the country included within the following boundaries shall constitute a separate territory for the purposes of temporary government, by the name of Wisconsin; . . Although there is no specific designation of a star for each state in the U.S. flag, a federal executive order of October 26, 1912 pro- vided that the flag should have six horizontal rows of eight stars starting with the upper left-hand corner with the states represented in order of their ratification of the Constitution (for the first 13) or their admission to the union. Wisconsin, as the 30th star, is repre- sented by the sixth star in the fourth row. State flag. The Wisconsin state flag or banner was adopted by the legislature in 1863 by Joint Resolution 4. This resolution pro- vided that the flag should be of dark blue silk, six feet six inches by six feet in size with the coat of arms of the state on one side and the coat of arms of the United States on the other side. After the Civil War the Wisconsin National Guard used a different flag and in 1887 the legislature inadvertently repealed the legal provisions for the flag. In 1913 section 1.08 of the statutes was created by Chapter 111 providing for a flag of "dark blue silk, five feet six inches fly and four feet four inches on the pike; the state coat of arms embroidered on each side with silk of appropriate colors; the edges trimmed with knotted fringe of yellow silk two and one-half inches wide; the pike nine feet long including spearhead and fer- rule; the cord eight feet six inches long with two tassels, and com- posed of blue and white silk strands intermixed." State seal. Section 4, Article XIII, of the Wisconsin Constitution requires the legislature to provide a great seal which shall be kept by the Secretary of State and used to authenticate all official acts of the Governor except laws. An official seal was created in 1836 when Wisconsin became a territory, and the seal was revised in 1839. In 1848 when Wisconsin became a state, a new seal was pre- pared. This was changed in 1851 because Governor Dewey did not like it. In 1881 a law was enacted describing the great seal. This ultimately became section 1.07 of the statutes. It provides for a coat of arms of the following description: "Or, quartered, the quar- ters bearing respectively a plow, a crossed shovel and pick, an arm and held hammer, and an anchor, all proper; the base of shield resting upon a horn of plenty and pyramid of pig lead, all proper; over all, on fesse point, the arms and motto of the United States, viz.: Arms, palewise of thirteen pieces argent and gules; a chief azure; motto (on garter surrounding inescutcheon), 'E pluribus unum'." The crest is "A badger, passant, proper." The supporters 74
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