Texas State Tartan

Texas Bluebonnet Tartan

Adopted on May 25, 1989.

The Texas Bluebonnet Tartan was recognized as the official state tartan on May 25, 1989 when Governor William P. Clements signed House Concurrent Resolution No. 242 .

Designed by June MacRoberts, under guidance from the Scottish Tartan Society Museum (the official registrar for tartans), inspired by one of the most prominent symbols of Texas - the bluebonnet (state flower of Texas).

Texas State Tartan: Texas Bluebonnet Tartan

Tartan refers to fabric woven into plaid patterns which represent clans, families or regions in Scotland. A Tartan may be designed to commemorate a special event or person. In old Scotland, the Tartan was used for dress as well as a banner or flag. The kilt is made in special Tartan designs. 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.

The Texas Bluebonnet Tartan was conceived and designed by June P. McRoberts. She designed a pattern to represent the state flower, the Bluebonnet, a member of the lupin family, which is widespread in many parts of Texas, using the colors and symmetry of the flower itself. She received much help and guidance from the Scottish Tartan Society Museum in Scotland and later registered the Bluebonnet Tartan with the STS Museum, the official register for tartans.

The first official recognition of the McRoberts tartan came in 1986 when the Sesquicentennial Committee of Texas adopted the Bluebonnet Tartan as the official Sesquicentennial Tartan. In 1989, Texas Representative Schlueter became aware of the Texas Bluebonnet Tartan and one of his last acts before retiring was to put forth the motion that the tartan be officially adopted as the State Tartan.

In May 25, 1989, by In-House Concurrence Resolution #242, the Texas Bluebonnet Tartan became the official State Tartan for the great state of Texas.

Tartan Details - Texas Blue Bonnet
The information held within The Scottish Register of Tartans for the "Texas Blue Bonnet" tartan is shown below.


STA ref: 852
STWR ref: 852
Designer: MacRoberts, June
Tartan date: 01/01/1983
Registration date: This tartan was recorded prior to the launch of The Scottish Register of Tartans.
Category: District

Restrictions:

Registration notes: Registered with the Scottish Tartans Society 15.Jan 1985. Designed by June Prescott McRoberts (1922-1999), proprietor of the 'Thistles & Bluebonnets' store in Salado, Texas. The tartan was adopted as the Sequicentennial Tartan and was officialy adopted as the Texas State Tartan on 25th May 1989. Sample in Scottish Tartans Authoirty Johnston Collection. Helpful Scottish Tartans Society notes add: The colours of the Texas Bluebonnet district tartan owe their selection to the bluebonnet flower, a member of the lupin family, which is widespread in many parts of Texas. The flower changes colour with the passing of time, the 'brim' becoming flecked with wine red. Samples in Scottish Tartans Authority Dalgety Collection + Lochcarron swatch. Blues too bright.

Threadcount:

G20R4B40W4R4W4A40W4A40W4Y4W4A40W4A40W4R4W4B40R4

Pallet:

• W=E0E0E0 WHITE;
• A=5C8CA8 AZURE;
• R=C80000 RED;
• B=2C2C80 BLUE;
• DR=880000 DARK RED;
• G=006818 GREEN;
• LB=2888C4 LIGHT BLUE;
• LN=C0C0C0 LIGHT GRAY;
• MY=D09800 M YELLOW;
• RB=1C0070 ROYAL BLUE;
• Y=E8C000 YELLOW;

Texas House Concurrent Resolution No. 242

Concurrent Resolution No. 242 proposing that the bluebonnet tartan be honored with the title of official tartan of Texas.

H.C.R. 242

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Today, many Texans of Scottish descent continue to carry on the proud traditions of their forebears; and

WHEREAS, One such tradition that has grown in popularity in recent years is that of the tartan, a fabric of Scottish origin that is patterned to designate a distinctive clan; large numbers of tartans exist in present day Scotland, and Canada has a national tartan, the Maple Leaf, as well as individual tartans for many of its provinces; and

WHEREAS, June MacRoberts, an esteemed resident of Salado, who is herself of Scottish descent, attended the International Gathering of the Scots at Stone Mountain, Georgia, in 1982 and witnessed the introduction of the Georgia Tartan; and

WHEREAS, Deciding Texans should be similarly represented by a state tartan, Ms. MacRoberts set to work on a design for the tartan that would incorporate the Texas state flower, the Bluebonnet; and

WHEREAS, Working closely with the Scottish Tartan Society, she completed the design, registered it with the society, and made arrangements with a mill in Scotland to weave the design; and

WHEREAS, The completed Texas Bluebonnet Tartan was selected by the Texas Sesquicentennial Commission to serve as the Sesquicentennial Tartan, and a scarf of its design was presented to then Governor Mark White at the crowning of the Texas Bluebonnet Queen; and

WHEREAS, The fabric has been sold in many parts of the world where Texans have wandered; and

WHEREAS, People of Scottish descent have played a major role in the settlement and development of Texas and it is appropriate to recognize this Scottish heritage by designating an official tartan of the state; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the 71st Legislature of the State of Texas hereby recognize the Texas Bluebonnet Tartan as the Official Tartan of Texas.