1940 – 2016

Whitney Smith

founder of vexillology, the study of flags (1940–2016)

vexillologistuniversity teachergraphic designer

Born

1940-02-26, Arlington

Died

2016-11-17

Birthplace state

Massachusetts

Biography

Whitney Smith was born in Arlington, Massachusetts in 1940 and died in 2016. He worked as a vexillologist and graphic designer, coining the term vexillology to describe the scholarly analysis of all aspects of flags. Smith founded several vexillology organizations and served as a Laureate and Fellow of the International Federation of Vexillological Associations.

Occupation

Whitney Smith is recorded as a vexillologist, a university teacher and a graphic designer, born in Massachusetts (1940–2016).

Connections to Massachusetts

Whitney Smith was born in Arlington, Massachusetts in 1940. Explore other notable figures from Massachusetts, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Massachusetts›Massachusettshistory ›Historic sites in Massachusetts›

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Overview

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Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

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Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

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Spotlight

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Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

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More notable figures from Massachusetts

Other historical figures born in Massachusetts, ranked by historical prominence.

John F. Kennedy

president of the United States from 1961 to 1963 (1917–1963)

Edgar Allan Poe

American writer and literary critic (1809–1849)

Benjamin Franklin

American polymath and statesman (1706–1790)

George H. W. Bush

president of the United States from 1989 to 1993 (1924-2018)

John Adams

Founding Father, U.S. president from 1797 to 1801

John Quincy Adams

President of the United States from 1825 to 1829

Ralph Waldo Emerson

American philosopher (1803–1882)

Frequently asked about Whitney Smith

Who was Whitney Smith?

Whitney Smith was founder of vexillology, the study of flags (1940–2016), born in Massachusetts (1940 – 2016).

When and where was Whitney Smith born?

Whitney Smith was born on 1940-02-26 in Arlington.

When did Whitney Smith die?

Whitney died on 2016-11-17.

What was Whitney Smith known for?

Whitney Smith is recorded as a vexillologist, a university teacher and a graphic designer.

Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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