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In Our Vaults Since 1892 when the first flag was donated to the Museum of the Confederacy, we have continued to preserve these important artifacts, culminating in a collection that includes more than 822 total flags and flag fragments. These include wartime, postwar, miniatures, and reproductions. The Museum houses the largest single collection of Confederate and Union national, state, presentation, company and regimental flags including nearly 500 wartime flags. More than half of the Museum’s flag collection are captured flags entrusted to the Museum by mandate of the United States Congress and the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1905 and 1906. The remaining flags are from private donations. This collection continues to increase in this manner today. If you would like to inquire about donating a flag or related object to The American Civil War Museum, please email us. The Museum’s flag collection is housed in a dedicated 1,300 square-foot storage and examination facility. The 100 extra-fragile silk flags are preserved in a custom-built flat storage system. In the 1990s, the Museum embarked upon a systematic program to conserve the flag collection and increase research and access to the flags. Requests for research information and access to the flag collection have steadily increased over the years. Individuals, researchers, authors and publishers all over the world seek out the Museum for research information on its flag collection.

The Confederate battle flag has been the topic of much discussion regarding its meaning and symbolism. We asked our historian, John Coski, to discuss the flag and its meanings. John is an acknowledged expert on the Confederate battle flag, and is author of The Confederate Battle Flag: America's Most Embattled Emblem (2005, Harvard University Press). His answers can be seen in this video.

"The Confederate flag was in Confederate battles, and it had nothing to do with slavery," said Rezac, who said she's studied the Civil War outside of school. "The [Bloomington Kennedy] class of 2008 wants to walk together."

Ask students to define empathy

After watching the video, discuss the following questions: What was the most memorable moment in the video? Why did that moment have an impact on you?

Explore the notion of perspective taking and how it leads to empathy. Ask students, Why is it important both at an individual and a more global level to understand and respect each other’s experiences? (People’s experiences inform their viewpoints.) Have students brainstorm other ways a person can use to become more aware of how another person is feeling, thinking, or behaving and why such insights are important.