The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is once again facing scrutiny after a manager purchased a 21-star flag, described as a rare banner marking Illinois’ 1818 admission to the Union, without consulting the collections committee.
The flag, which was bought through an online auction for more than $15,000, led to an investigation by Illinois’ Office of the Executive Inspector General regarding the funds used for the purchase.
The acquisition also caused a divide in the museum’s leadership and may have led to the firing of an employee who claimed the purchase bypassed proper procedures.
The flag, known as a “Grand Luminary” due to its 21 stars arranged in the shape of a star, is believed by the museum to represent Illinois’ admission as the 21st state.
However, Jeff Bridgman, a respected vexillologist (flag expert), told The Associated Press that the flag’s construction and materials suggest it was made during the Civil War, decades later than claimed.
Bridgman believes it may be a Southern exclusionary flag, with the stars representing states that remained loyal to the Union.
This is not the first time the museum’s credibility has been questioned. In the past, the authenticity of a purported Lincoln stovepipe hat, appraised at $6.5 million, was disputed, and a director was fired in 2019 for sending a copy of the Gettysburg Address to a Texas exhibit without approval.
According to documents obtained by the Associated Press, the museum’s acquisitions chief, Ian Hunt, requested permission to pursue the flag on Nov. 6. He won the auction on Nov. 13, and the museum paid $15,625 using the King Hostick trust fund.
However, museum policy requires purchases over $2,000 to be proposed for advance consideration by a collections committee. The committee met three weeks after the purchase and voted 7-2 in favor, with concerns about the flag’s authenticity and storage noted in staff comments.
Eldon Yeakel, the museum’s former registrar, was fired on May 6, citing poor performance and rules violations, but he believes his “no” vote on the flag purchase led to his dismissal. Yeakel told investigators from the Executive Inspector General that the purchase improperly sidestepped committee approval.
The museum maintains that the use of Hostick funds for the flag was allowed and that the policy only requires the committee’s “recommendation” for expensive purchases. The flag is currently with a conservation company for stabilization and cleaning, with an estimated conservation cost of $18,000.
While the flag’s true history remains a matter of debate, the museum believes it is a sound investment and is open to learning more about its origins.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.