West Virginia Symbols
West Virginia State Tartan
West Virginia
Tartan (adaptation of the "West Virginia Shawl")Adopted on March 6, 2008
On March 6, 2008 the Legislature adopted House Concurrent Resolution 29, designating an adaptation of the "West Virginia Shawl" as the official state tartan. Part of the resolution reads:
"Whereas, In order to complement our mountain state the color red is to represent the cardinal (State bird); yellow for the fall colors; dark blue for the mountain rivers and lakes; black for the black bear, coal and oil; green for the rhododendron and mountain meadows; azure for the sky above; and white to have all the colors of this great nation intertwined with the State of West Virginia; therefore, be it Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia: That the adaption, as described above, of the West Virgina Shawl be designated the Official Tartan of the State of West Virginia;" Woven sample by Marjorie Warren.
West Virginia State Tartan: West Virginia tartan
On March 6, 2008 the Legislature adopted House Concurrent Resolution 29, designating an adaptation of the "West Virginia Shawl" as the
official state tartan.
Many Americans can claim Celtic roots, and, as a result, more than 20 other states have adopted official state tartans. According to the resolution,
a majority of West Virginia's earliest settlers were of Celtic descent.
The pattern for the tartan is based on a previously undiscovered "West Virginia Shawl" found at the Daughters of the American Revolution
Museum in Barboursville. The official state tartan is based on this design and contains the following colors, each one representing a different aspect
of the state:
- Scarlet for the state bird, the cardinal
- Yellow for the fall colors
- Blue for the rivers and lakes
- Black for the official state animal, the black bear, and the state's oil and coal resources
- Green for the state flower, the rhododendron, and the state's meadows
- Azure for the sky
- White in order to include all the colors of the United States
Tartan Details - West Virginia
The information held within The Scottish Register of Tartans for the "West Virginia" tartan is shown below.
STA ref: 7631
STWR ref: none
Designer: Smith, Dr Philip D and Grant III, John A
Tartan date: 27/05/2008
Registration date: This tartan was recorded prior to the launch of The Scottish Register of Tartans.
Category: District
Restrictions:
Registration notes: Adapted from the West Virginia Shawl tartan and adopted by the West Virginia senate (HCR #29) on March 6th 2008.
The colours have been chosen to represent the mountain state as follows: red for the Cardinal, the State bird; yellow for the Sugar Maple, the State
tree, and the fall colors; dark blue for the mountain rivers and lakes; black for the Black Bear, the State animal, and for coal and oil; green for
the Rhododendron, the State Flower, and mountain meadows; azure for the sky above; and white to have all the colors of this great nation intertwined
with the State of West Virginia.
West Virginia House Concurrent Resolution No. 29
(By Delegates Fragale, Cann, Iaquinta and Miley)
Designating an adaptation of "West Virginia Shawl" as the Official Tartan of the State of West Virginia.
Whereas, Several states have recognized their Celtic links, by establishing official state tartans; and
Whereas, A majority of West Virginia's early settlers were descendants of Celtic people, who came from their native lands, to find freedom and adventure
in the new world; and
Whereas, These settlers were the pioneers who helped carve this nation out of the wilderness; and
Whereas, Dr. Philip D. Smith, who is not only an accomplished author, professor and recognized world authority on Celtic history and tartan discovered
an unknown shawl at the Barboursville "Daughters of the American Revolution Museum"; and
Whereas, He named this shawl in his book entitled "Book of Tartans" as the West Virginia Shawl; and
Whereas, The adaptation of the "West Virginia Shawl" includes the colors which most fully represent our states history, culture and beauty;
and
Whereas, The Official West Virginia State Tartan shall be a symmetrical design starting at the dark yellow pivot point and containing the thread count
as follows: Dark yellow 4, forest green 4, muted blue 8, forest green 4, azure 6, scarlet 24, white 1, black 6, scarlet 24, forest green 8, scarlet
8, muted blue 8, forest green 4, dark yellow 4; and
Whereas, In order to complement our mountain state the color red is to represent the cardinal; yellow for the fall colors; dark blue for the mountain
rivers and lakes; black for the black bear, coal and oil; green for the rhododendron and mountain meadows; azure for the sky above; and white to have
all the colors of this great nation intertwined with the State of West Virginia; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the adaptation, as described above, of the "West Virginia Shawl" be designated the Official Tartan of the State of West Virginia; and,
be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a certified copy of this resolution to Dr. Philip D. Smith, J. Kevin Grant, Ronald
E. Grant and John A. Grant III.
