National Guard
National Guard is the name used by a wide variety of current and historical uniformed organizations in different countries. The original National Guard was formed during the French Revolution around a cadre of defectors from the French Guards.
Nat ...
and other branches.Day, Gene "The Man Who Makes Our National Coats of Arms." ''The Boys' World,'' November 8, 1924, 2."Army Sergeant a Talented Artist and Also an Embroidery Expert." ''Sunday Star'' May 11. 1924, Part 5."Soldier Is Expert Embroiderer: Army Sergeant Designs Regimental Insignia." ''The National Spectator'', January 23, 1926, 16-17. An expert on
flags
A flag is a piece of textile, fabric (most often rectangular or quadrilateral) with a distinctive design and colours. It is used as a symbol, a signalling device, or for decoration. The term ''flag'' is also used to refer to the graphic desi ...
embroidery
Embroidery is the craft of decorating fabric or other materials using a needle to apply thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as pearls, beads, quills, and sequins. In modern days, embroidery is usually seen ...
, and military antiquities, Kuhn made significant contributions to American military history. A number of Kuhn's paintings are included in the permanent collections of the White House, U.S. Naval Academy Museum and the Smithsonian Institution.
Biography
Sawmill laborer to soldier
Eduart Wilhelm Christian Kuhn was born March 29, 1872 in Martinsville, Niagara County, New York."Kuhn, Eduart Wilhelm Christian." ''Haseley Family Pages''. Martinsville sits on of land on the Tonawanda Creek, near the
Erie Canal
The Erie Canal is a historic canal in upstate New York that runs east-west between the Hudson River and Lake Erie. Completed in 1825, the canal was the first navigable waterway connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes, vastly reducing t ...
in
North Tonawanda
North Tonawanda is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 31,568 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is named after Tonawanda Creek, its south bo ...
a suburb of
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New York (behind only New York City) and the seat of Erie County. It is at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of the Niagara River, and is across the Canadian border from Sou ...
.Smith, David S “Martinsville in the ‘20s – and Earlier.” ''Our German Heritage''. North Tonawanda History Museum. The oldest of eleven children, Kuhn labored in the local sawmill as a young man, but dreamed of becoming a professional painter. He would rush home from work, change clothes, eat dinner, and race to the train station to make the fourteen mile (21 km) trip to Buffalo’s
Albright-Knox Art Gallery
The Buffalo AKG Art Museum, formerly known as the Albright–Knox Art Gallery, is an art museum at 1285 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, New York, in Delaware Park. the museum's Elmwood Avenue campus is temporarily closed for construction. It hosted e ...
where he attended art school, circa 1900.
Kuhn enlisted in the New York State Volunteers to fight in the
Spanish–American War
, partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence
, image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg
, image_size = 300px
, caption = (cloc ...
. He later joined the regular infantry, and eventually transferred to the Coast Artillery Corps in 1902. A sergeant in the Fifty-second Company, Kuhn graduated from the School for Master Gunners in 1905."Annual Reports of the War Department for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1905. v.4" p. 82. Kuhn frequently relocated and would seek out the local art school or leading commercial artists wherever he went. He studied under
George de Forest Brush
George de Forest Brush (September 28, 1855 – April 24, 1941) was an American painter and Georgist. In collaboration with his friend, the artist Abbott H. Thayer, he made contributions to military camouflage, as did his wife, aviator and artist ...
while stationed near
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
,
Eric Pape
Frederic L. Pape (October 17, 1870 – November 7, 1938), known as Eric Pape, was an American painter, engraver, sculptor, and illustrator.
Early life
Pape was born in San Francisco, California, on October 17, 1870 to Friederich Ludwig and ...
, a well-known Boston illustrator, and he continued to develop as a painter while stationed in
Cuba
Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...
,
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and unincorporated ...
,
Panama
Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of North America and the northern part of South America. It is bordered by Co ...
Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
. On October 6, 1909 Kuhn married Julia S. Krull at St. Paul Lutheran Church.
Coats of arms & distinctive unit insignia
On June 17, 1918, President
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856February 3, 1924) was an American politician and academic who served as the 28th president of the United States from 1913 to 1921. A member of the Democratic Party, Wilson served as the president of ...
wrote to Secretary of War
Newton D. Baker
Newton Diehl Baker Jr. (December 3, 1871 – December 25, 1937) was an American lawyer, Georgist,Noble, Ransom E. "Henry George and the Progressive Movement." The American Journal of Economics and Sociology, vol. 8, no. 3, 1949, pp. 259–269. w ...
requesting better quality military medals.Born, K.M “The Quartermaster Heraldic Section & the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry.” . This became the responsibility of Colonel Robert E. Wyllie, Coast Artillery Corps, and Chief of the Equipment Branch of the General Staff.Du Bois, Arthur ''Quartermaster Review'', (May-Jun. 1928). According to Wyllie, there was "no official coordinated control or supervision over the designs of arms and badges for organizations prior to their adoption near the end of 1919, thus making them rife with heraldic and historical inaccuracies."Wyllie, Robert E "Coats of Arms and Badges of The Coast Artillery Corps." ''Coast Artillery Journal'' 59, (Aug. 1923), 123-142.
Kuhn's knack for heraldry was discovered while stationed at
Fort Hamilton
Fort Hamilton is a United States Army installation in the southwestern corner of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, surrounded by the communities of Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights. It is one of several posts that are part of the region which i ...
after
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, when he was asked to design a coat of arms for his company. After studying its history and various reference books, Kuhn produced a design so impressive he was immediately assigned the task of creating one for the regiment. The Coast Artillery Corps had few regiments in 1919, so coats of arms were designed for the various coast defense commands and a small number were authorized distinctive unit insignia.Hagge, Greg, Bolling Smith and Mark Berho "Insignia of the Coast Artillery Corps." ''CDSG Monograph'' ASD revised, (Mar. 2010), 542-62. That same year, Kuhn was assigned to duty as an official Army artist responsible for the original designs of insignia and coats of arms for the cavalry,
infantry
Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and mar ...
,
artillery
Artillery is a class of heavy military ranged weapons that launch munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during siege ...
, engineers, signal corps, and other branches. Most existing active Regular Army, National Guard, and Organized Reserve regiments eventually had a coat of arms approved.
In 1923 Colonel Wyllie and Kuhn collaborated on an article about the history and development of the coats of arms and badges of the Coast Artillery Corps."A Tardy Acknowledgement." ''Coast Artillery Journal'' 59, (Sep. 1923), 269. Kuhn published his own articles and artwork in military history journals as well."U.S. Army Colors and Standards of 1808." ''Military Affairs'' 5, (Winter 1941), 263-267."From drawings by Edward C. Kuhn, Master Gunner, C.A.C." ''The Field Artillery Journal'' 13, (July–August 1923), 4. Kuhn is credited with the original coat of arms for every regiment in the Coast Artillery Corps, the
National Guard of the United States
The National Guard is a state-based military force that becomes part of the reserve components of the United States Army and the United States Air Force when activated for federal missions. He also designed the first authorized distinctive unit insignia for the 51st Coast Artillery. An excellent example of his work still used today is the coat of arms and insignia of the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, or "Brave Rifles." Many of the coats of arms he developed for the Coast Artillery Corps appear on the Coats of arms of U.S. Air Defense Artillery Regiments page and the
United States Army Institute of Heraldry
The Institute of Heraldry, officially The Institute of Heraldry, Department of the Army, is an activity of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army solely responsible for furnishing heraldic services to President of the United ...
website."3d Cavalry Regiment." /ref>
Image:Kuhn_Office.jpg, Kuhn at work in his Washington, D.C. office.
Image:Kuhn_Coats.jpg, Kuhn with coats of arms of the Coast Artillery Corps.
Flag paintings
Kuhn was particularly interested in the history and evolution of flags from around the world. He studied their development and perfection, and was considered the foremost expert on the topic in the United States. Kuhn is credited with identifying and restoring a flag that was carried at the first inauguration of
George Washington
George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of ...
. He continued researching, painting and writing about historical flags at his home following his retirement from the Army.
Retired Major General, Marvin C. Demler of the U.S. Air Force, Kuhn's nephew, frequently visited his home in the 1920s. He accompanied "Uncle Ed" on many trips to the art galleries and libraries of Buffalo, where he explained the research process used to develop insignia, coats of arms, and authentic renditions of flags. Demler became one of two Army Air Corps officers to first visit the secret Los Alamos Laboratories of the
Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a research and development undertaking during World War II that produced the first nuclear weapons. It was led by the United States with the support of the United Kingdom and Canada. From 1942 to 1946, the project w ...
, which resulted in the establishment of the famous “Silver Plate Project” to modify B-29 aircraft for delivery of atomic weapons. Demler's military decorations include the
Distinguished Service Medal Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) is a high award of a nation.
Examples include:
*Distinguished Service Medal (Australia) (established 1991), awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force for distinguished leadership in action
* Distinguishe ...
, the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, and the
Bronze Star
The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone.
Wh ...
.U.S. Air Force "Major General Marvin Christian Demler." ''Air Force Link''.
In 1966 Demler retrieved a number of paintings from discarded household effects following the death of Agnes Krull, his aunt and Kuhn's sister-in-law. He donated some for public display in appropriate American governmental buildings, including seven that were given to the
U.S. Naval Academy Museum
The United States Naval Academy Museum is a public maritime museum in Annapolis, Maryland, United States. A part of the United States Naval Academy, it is located at Preble Hall within the Academy premises. The museum has an area of with four ...
for display and preservation of Naval history.Smithsonian Institution Research Information Systems (SIRIS) "Art Inventories Catalog-Smithsonian Museum of Art." A series of six watercolor paintings tracing the development and history of the
Flag of the President of the United States
The flag of the president of the United States consists of the presidential coat of arms on a dark blue background. While having the same design as the presidential seal since 1945, the flag has a separate history, and the designs on the flag an ...
were donated to the White House, and hung in the Military Aides' room in 1972.Dodd, Chris. "North Tonawandan's Heraldry Expertise Earns a Place in History." ''North Tonawanda NY Evening News,'' December 30, 1972 10-A
11-A In 1977, the Smithsonian received twenty-two of Kuhn's watercolors showing various official American flags with bearers in service uniforms and civilian dress.Smithsonian Institution "Appendix 9. Donors to Smithsonian Institution." ''Smithsonian Year'' 1977, 399.
Image:Presidents_Flag_1882.jpg, President's Flag 1882
Image:Presidents_Standard_1898.jpg, President's Standard 1898
Image:Presidents_Flag_1902.jpg, President's Flag 1902
Image:Presidents_Standard_1902.jpg, President's Standard 1902
Image:Presidents_Standard_1912.jpg, President's Standard 1912
Image:Presidents_Standard_1916.jpg, President's Standard 1916
Image:White_House_Letter.pdf, Letter from White House Curator
Image:NPS_Letter.pdf, Letter from National Park Service Director
Image:NPS_Certificate.pdf, National Park Service Certificate
Embroidery
Kuhn’s magnum opus is a massive silk embroidery of the coat of arms of the United States (see also Great Seal of the United States) that he stitched in his spare time over fourteen years. Proficient with a needle and thread, as were most soldiers of the day, Kuhn became interested in the intricacies of the art as a corporal. He started with an immense silk field of different shades of white, approximately by . Over four fast-paced hours were required to finish a strip across the length of the field. Kuhn sketched the coat of arms on the completed field, before embroidering the rest of the design.
Image:embroidery.jpg, Kuhn's silk embroidery of the coat of arms of the United States.
Image:Kuhn_Embroidery1.jpg, Kuhn with embroidery.
Conclusion
Edward C. Kuhn made significant contributions to American military art, heraldry, and history. Particularly through his development of early authorized coats of arms and distinctive unit insignia. His life and works are a testament to his patriotism and perseverance. Kuhn died at the age of seventy-six on September 4, 1948, after a long illness. A veteran of two wars, the Spanish–American War and World War I, Kuhn served for thirty years with the Coast Artillery, United States Army. He is buried in the St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery in Martinsville, Niagara County, New York, of which he was the superintendent for many years.