West Virginia State Tartan
Because so many American citizens have Celtic roots, more than twenty states have adopted official state tartans. Although most of the early settlers to the mountainous region of western Virginia were the Scots-Irish, West Virginia had no state tartan. On March 8, 2008 the West Virginia State Legislature changed that, when they adopted Concurrent Resolution #29 declaring the West Virginia Shawl as the official state tartan.
The
design for the West Virginia tartan is based on a shawl handwoven in the 1820s.
Found in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Museum in
Barboursville, West Virginia, it had been mostly unnoticed. Upon
discovery, the design and colors were adapted for the West Virginia
tartan.
The search for a design for the tartan began in 2005. John A. Grant III, a West Virginia native of Scottish descent, queried his friend, Dr. Philip D. Smith, as to why West Virginia had no official state tartan - many other states did. Dr. Smith suggested that Mr. Grant design one. With the guidance of Dr. Smith, Mr. Grant began the task of designing a tartan for West Virginia.
Dr. Smith, a recognized authority on Celtic history and the tartan, made the discovery of the old shawl in Barboursville. In his book, Book of Tartans, he named the shawl The West Virginia Shawl.
In
January 2008, John Grant's brothers, Kevin and Ron Grant, began a
campaign with some West Virginia state delegates to establish a state tartan. Resolution #29 was introduced, in February 2008, to the House of Delegates and passed. It was accepted by the State Senate, on March 8, 2008. Finally, West Virginia had an official state tartan.
At the Scottish Festival and Celtic Gathering in Bridgeport, West Virginia, on May 3, 2008, the first weave of the West Virginia tartan was unveiled. The museum section of The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, in Charleston, West Virginia, now houses the first weave of the state tartan.
The Scottish Registry of Tartans recognized the West Virginia State Tartan on May 27, 2008. The tartan was named West Virginia and given the official registry number 7631. Dr. Philip D. Smith and John A. Grant III were named as the designers.
The West Virginia Shawl, as it was named by Dr. Smith, is also recognized by the Scottish Registry of Tartans. Bearing the name West Virginia Old Shawl, it was given the number 4532. Curiously, it was recorded in 1994.
The
first products using the West Virginia State Tartan were woven in
Scotland by Ingles-Buchan, on March 10, 2009. Reaching America on April
6, 2009, National Tartan Day, an official West Virginia Tartan tie and
scarf were presented to then Governor Joe Manchin by John, Ron and Kevin
Grant.
The colors in the West Virginia tartan represent the states history, culture and beauty.
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| Scottish Registry of Tartan Certificate for the West Virginia State Tartan No. 7631 |
Tartan Details - West Virginia
The information held within The Scottish Register of Tartans for the "West Virginia" tartan is shown below.
Tartan Details - West Virginia Old Shawl
List of United States State Tartans
History of the West Virginia State Tartan
West Virginia State Tartan on the Diagonal
Places to purchase West Virginia Tartan Fabric
