Tennessee State Tartan: Tennessee Tartan

Chapter 82 of the Public Acts of 1999 designated the state of Tennessee's official state tartan as the design adopted by the Heart of Tennessee Scottish Celebration in conjunction with all the other Scottish Societies in Tennessee. Adopted on March 28, 1999 when Governor Don Sundquist allowed Senate Bill No. 73 to become law without his signature. The design is a symmetrical tartan set, using the following colors: natural white, dark green, purple, red, and dark blue.

Green for Agriculture
Blue for the Smoky Mountains
Purple for the State Flower the Iris
Red for Sacrifices of Veterans & Pioneers of the Volunteer State
White to symbolize the 3 Grand Divisions of the State of Tennessee

Tennessee State Tartan: Tennessee Tartan

The information held within The Scottish Register of Tartans for the "Tennessee State" tartan is shown below.

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Tennessee Senate Bill No 73

CHAPTER NO. 82 SENATE BILL NO. 73
By Womack, Crowe Substituted for: House Bill No. 61
By Eckles, Hood, McDonald, McMillan, McAfee, Davidson, Beavers

AN ACT To amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 1, Part 3, relative to the designation of an official state tartan.

WHEREAS, In the eighteenth century a stream of adventurous people in search of political and religious freedom and economic opportunity poured down the Valley of Virginia and across the Appalachians from the Carolinas into the fertile territory stretching to the Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, A significant proportion of that stream of humanity had Scottish origins, some directly from Scotland and many by way of an intermediate stay in Ireland; and

WHEREAS, Those daring and enterprising people left their genetic and cultural stamp upon the people of this state and nation, producing leaders in politics, the military, medicine, business, the arts and many other fields of endeavor; and

WHEREAS, Many Tennesseans of Scottish descent continue to carry on the proud traditions of the forebears, and many celebrate those traditions as members of Scottish Societies; and

WHEREAS, The symbol most recognized as characteristic of Scots throughout the world is that element of the national dress of Scotland, the tartan - distinctive plaid patterns designating members of clans, primarily of the highlands of Scotland, or regions, or military units, or political causes; and

WHEREAS, The officers and members of the Heart of Tennessee Scottish Celebration approached the other Scottish Societies of this state concerning the desirability of adopting an official state tartan to commemorate the important part played by persons of Scottish descent in the history of Tennessee, and designed a tartan of colors and symbolism relevant to this state; and

WHEREAS, The colors of the tartan are natural white, representing the unity of the three Grand Divisions of the State of Tennessee; dark green, representing the importance of agriculture to the state; purple, representing the state flower, the Iris; red, representing the sacrifices made by Tennessee soldiers and pioneers; and dark blue, representing the mountains of Tennessee; and

WHEREAS, The Heart of Tennessee Scottish Celebration is working closely with Lord Lyon, King of Arms and the Scottish Tartan Society in Edinburgh to secure recognition for the Tennessee Tartan, and with Barbara Pierpont of Edmonton, Kentucky, official weaver for Clan Donald Mid-South in determining the tartan design specifications; and

WHEREAS, John Mauldin, President of the Heart of Tennessee Scottish Celebration, Bill Bickford, Chair of the Tartan Committee, and many others have worked diligently to present an official state tartan for adoption prior to national Tartan Day on April 6; now, therefore,

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 1, Part 3, is amended by adding the following as a new section:

Section _. The design adopted by the Heart of Tennessee Scottish Celebration in conjunction with all the other Scottish Societies in Tennessee is designated as the official state tartan for Tennessee. The design is described as follows: A symmetrical tartan sett, using the following colors: natural white, dark green, purple, red, and dark blue. The colors shall be employed in a thread count of white - 2, green - 20, purple - 2, green - 12, red - 2, green - 2, purple - 2, white - 2, blue - 20 and red - 4. The pattern pivot is red line to return to green 20.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.

PASSED: March 18, 1999

APPROVED this day of 1999 Pursuant to Article III, Section 18, of the Constitution of the State of Tennessee, the Governor had Senate Bill No. 73 in his possession longer than ten (10) days, so therefore the bill becomes law without the Governor's signature.

Tennessee Law

The law designating the official Tennessee state tartan is found in the Tennessee Code Annotated, title 4, chapter 1, part 3, section 4 -1-323

Title 4 State Government
Chapter 1 General Provisions
Part 3 State Symbols
Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-1-323 (2011)

4-1-323. Official state tartan.

The design adopted by the Heart of Tennessee Scottish Celebration in conjunction with all the other Scottish Societies in Tennessee is designated as the official state tartan for Tennessee. The design is described as follows: A symmetrical tartan sett, using the following colors: natural white, dark green, purple, red, and dark blue. The colors shall be employed in a thread count of white - 2, green - 20, purple - 2, green - 12, red - 2, green - 2, purple - 2, white - 2, blue - 20 and red - 4. The pattern pivot is red line to return to green 20.

HISTORY: Acts 1999, ch. 82, sect; 1.

Tennessee State

US State Symbols

Tennessee Symbols

Tennessee State Tartan

Tennessee Tartan

Adopted on March 28, 1999.