Louisiana State Tartan

Louisiana Tartan

Adopted on June 6th, 2001

The Louisiana tartan was officially recognized in 2001. After clearing the House committee on April 4th and a unanimous vote of approval by the entire House of Representatives on April 19th, LA. House Bill 347 unanimously cleared the Senate & Governmental Affairs committee on Wednesday, May 9. On May 15th, the bill was voted on by the full Senate and passed unanimously (38-0). The bill was signed by Governor Mike Foster on June 6th, 2001.

Louisiana State Tartan: Louisiana Tartan

Attending the signing ceremony were members of the Caledonian Society of Baton Rouge, The St. Andrew Society of Baton Rouge, The Celtic Society of Louisiana, The Caledonian Society of New Orleans, The Caldeonian Society of Acadiana, The New Orleans Pipes and Drums, The Caledonian Society of the Northshore, The St. Andrew's Society of Louisiana, Members of the Board of the Highland Games of Louisiana, and The Baton Rouge Irish Society. Included among those in attending were Rep Charles McDonald, the sponsor of the Tartan Bill; Randall Stevenson, the man who is most responsible for the bill's passage; and Joe McD. Campbell, the designer of the tartan.

In old Scotland, the tartan was used for clothing and as a banner or flag. Because a family or community worked the cloth together, their clothing was made of the same patterns, and so a person could be recognized by the Tartan plaid that he wore. Tartans can also be designed as a symbol commemorating a special event or person.

The Proposed Louisiana Tartan is a project that was begun over two years ago when Kate McLean was President. The tartan was designed by CSBR member, Joe McD. Campbell, and was presented to the Board of Directors. A letter was sent to Governor Mike Foster for his approval in March 2000. Unfortunately, it was sent to the wrong place and the governor informed Kate that it should go to the State Legislature for approval. CSBR action slowed a bit until member Randall Stevenson took the reins. Randall works for the Louisiana Department of Insurance and works daily with members of the state legislature. Randall was able to get Rep. Charles F. McDonald, from Bastrop, LA, to sponsor the bill with the able assistance of Rep. Chuck McMains of Baton Rouge and the rest is history. Louisiana now joins over 15 other states with their own Tartan.

The tartan consists of four colors, namely:

• Blue for the sky, lakes, bayous, rivers and waterways
• Green for agriculture and forests
• White for rice, sugar cane, cotton and the magnolias
• Black for petroleum and natural resources
  and is based upon the red, white, blue and black USA Bicentenial tartan.

Louisiana Law

The law designating the official state tartan  is found in the Louisiana Statutes, Title 49, Section RS 49:170.6

TITLE 49 - State administration
RS 49:170.6 - State tartan

Universal Citation: LA Rev Stat § 49:170.6

§170.6. State tartan

There shall be an official state tartan. A tartan is a plaid textile design consisting of stripes of varying width and color producing a repeating pattern. The pattern for the state tartan shall be defined by the repeating half-sett of six black, six green, four white, twenty-two green, twenty-four black, thirty-six blue, four black, and six white. This tartan shall be known as the Louisiana tartan and may be freely used by any and all organizations, societies, and individuals affiliated with the state of Louisiana.

Acts 2001, No. 53, §1.