The Star-Spangled Banner Project

Date Posted: Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012

With the 200th anniversary of the start of the War of 1812 being observed in 2012, the Delaware Public Archives will be hosting a program entitled “The Star Spangled Banner Project” on Saturday, June 2, 10:30 a.m. This program will be presented by Suzanne Thomassen-Krauss, Senior Textile Conservator at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

As Chief Conservator for this project at the Smithsonian Institution, Thomassen-Krauss headed the treatment program for an important American historical treasure: the flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore following the British bombardment in September 1814.  It was seeing this flag in the morning following the battle that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words to the National Anthem.  Included in this presentation will be information about the history of the flag, the actual treatment process, and the efforts of the Smithsonian to preserve it in a custom designed display.

Thomassen-Krauss received her Master of Science in Art Conservation and Certificate in Textile Conservation from the University of Delaware/H. F. duPont Winterthur Program and her Bachelor of Arts in Art History from the State University of New York at New Paltz.

The program is free to the public.  No reservations are required.  For more information, contact Tom Summers (302) 744-5047 or e-mail thomas.summers@delaware.gov.

Related Topics:  United States History, War of 1812