California State Tartan...other USA Tartans?

[macwilkin]

Doc,

According to Teall and Smith:

"The design (emphasis mine) of the Carolina tartan is based upon a version of the Royal Stuart tartan taken from a fragment of a coat of the Company of Archers dated c.1730. It is believed to be the same set as was used for the wedding ribbons on the coat of Charles II for his nupituals in 1661. (Carolus in Latin for Charles; hence "Carolina") The concept of designing a distinct district tartan to emphasise the link with the Stuart monarch, from whom its name derives, was that of Mitchell MacDonald of the Scottish Tartans Society. He put his proposal in 1980 to John Kerr of the St. Andrew's Society of North Carolina and later to the St. Andrew's Society of Charleston. The STS approved the design in 1981."

So, the Carolina is based on the jacket of the Royal Company of Archers which was believed to be the same sett a piece of tartan ribbon worn by Charles II in 1661, but that tartan was not the "Carolina" tartan at the time; it was a variant of what would become known as "Royal Stuart" tartan.

The oldest District Tartan in North America (and in the British Commonwealth) goes to Nova Scotia, who designed theirs in 1953. Nova Scotia is the oldest American tartan, since Canada is part of North America. Maine is the oldest US district tartan. It makes sense, because Maine is right next to Canada, and the Canadians were the first to come up with a district tartan in the new world.

Cheers,

T.

[mkmound]

Texas also has a tartan: the Bluebonnet District Tartan.

Here's a link with a bit of history:

http://www.txscot.com/BB_tartan.htm#bluebonnet

Kinloch Anderson has a better image of the tartan:

http://www.kinlochanderson.com/shop/...7&q=bluebonnet

Regards,
Mark

[Riverkilt]

Thanks Mark,

That's a fine looking Texas tartan. I was conceived in a motel in Ft. Worth, think that qualifies me to wear it.

[macwilkin]

Lads, I was remiss in not mentioning this site sooner:

http://www.district-tartans.com

A lot of great information here from the Scottish Tartans Museum.

Cheers,

T.

[mkmound]

Thanks Mark,

That's a fine looking Texas tartan. I was conceived in a motel in Ft. Worth, think that qualifies me to wear it.

Absolutely!!

Glad to be of service! When you get ready to order it, I suggest that you have your kiltmaker get a swatch of the tartan from whatever mill they use -- I've seen some instances where the lighter, brighter blue was a VERY bright turquoise 8) (sunglasses needed), and other instances that were a softer blue. May vary on the mill. Depends on what you're looking for.

Regards,
Mark