Oklahoma's First Flag

Oklahoma's first flag was adopted in 1911, four years after statehood. Taking the colors red, white, and blue from the flag of the United States, the flag featured a large centered white star fimbriated in blue on a red field. The number 46 was written in blue inside the star, as Oklahoma was the forty-sixth state to join the Union.

Unfortunately, many thought the flag looked too much like a symbol of the Soviets. The Russian revolution that overthrew Tsar Nicholas II and led to the establishment of the Soviet Union sparked a move to replace Oklahoma's state flag. Additionally, even without its association with the Russian revolution of 1917, the state flag made many Oklahomans unhappy. Some said they didn't like to hang the flag from their porches for fear neighbors would think someone inside had scarlet fever.

A contest, sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution was held in 1924 to replace the flag since all Red flags would surely appear to be associated with communism, or death. The winning entry by Louise Fluke, which was adopted as the state flag on 2 April 1925, resembled the current flag without the word Oklahoma on it. The state's name was added to the flag in 1941. The colors and shapes were standardized by Oklahoma Senate Bill 1359[1] and signed into law by Governor Brad Henry on May 23, 2006.

The original flag-contest winning entry from 1924 was donated by the family of Louise Fluke to the State of Oklahoma in May of 2005