Origins & Early Life

Whitney Smith Jr. (February 26, 1940 – November 17, 2016) was an American vexillologist. He coined the term vexillology, which refers to the scholarly analysis of all aspects of flags. He was a founder of several vexillology organizations.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Smith was a Laureate and a Fellow of the International Federation of Vexillological Associations. Whitney Smith Jr. was born on February 26, 1940, to Mildred and Whitney Smith. As a youth, he lived in Lexington and Winchester, Massachusetts. Smith credited his interest in flags to his memories of Massachusetts Patriots' Day celebrations and a gift of The Golden Encyclopedia when he was about 6 years old.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

At Harvard, he studied political science and received a bachelor's degree in the field in 1961. During his time at Harvard, Smith designed the flag of Guyana after corresponding with Guyanese premier Cheddi Jagan via mail. He received his doctorate in political science at Boston University in 1968 with a dissertation on political symbolism. Smith had his first article published at age 18. By 1960, he was consulting with the Encyclopædia Britannica. In 1961, Smith and colleague Gerhard Grahl co-founded The...

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