About NAVA

nava flag NAVA's Mission

NAVA pursues vexillology as the scientific study of flags by:

  • bringing into closer cooperation people interested in all aspects of flags such as their history, significance, specifications, use, and manufacture;

  • furthering a strong and growing interest in flags as a serious study or as an avocation;

  • promoting research into the origins, history, and symbolism of flags;

  • publishing on flags and vexillology;

  • formulating standards for flag teminology, methodology, and data recording;

  • studying and providing guidance on flag usage and design through national surveys and guidebooks;

  • cooperating with other vexillological associations, agencies, and research centers, and foundations; and

  • representing vexillologists of North America on an international level.



NAVA's Members

NAVA's membership comes mostly from the United States and Canada, but the association has members throughout the world.  They come from all walks of life and are interested in a variety of flag-related fields, including collecting, studying, manufacturing, and using flags in any number of settings. Questions about NAVA membership should be addressed to the treasurer.

 



nava flag NAVA's Profile

A breakdown of our membership by Country, Province, and State. 

 



NAVA's Meetings

NAVA holds an annual meeting in the United States or Canada. Members have a chance to listen to papers given by flag experts and enthusiasts, renew acquaintances, exchange information, join in a formal banquet, and display or purchase a variety of flag-related items. NAVA's conventions are nearly always scheduled for the U.S. Columbus Day/Canadian Thanksgiving weekend.    For a list of previous meetings, dates, sites and meeting flags, click HERE



NAVA's Publications

NAVA members receive two publications:

  1. Raven: a Journal of Vexillology is a scholarly journal published annually.

  2. NAVA News is a quarterly newsletter with short articles and recent information about flags.

  3. In addition, NAVA occasionally publishes special reprints of out-of-print flag publications, maintains a list-serv for up-to-date flag information, and distributes flag-design guidance through surveys, guidebooks, and case studies.




NAVA's Honors

NAVA has three awards besides Honorary Membership: the Whitney, awarded to outstanding contributors to North American Vexillology, the William Driver Award, awarded at each meeting for the best paper, and the Vexillonnaire, which honors a significant success in activist vexillology.



NAVA's Grants

NAVA sponsors research in vexillology through its Cannon Grant and conservation of historic flags through its Cooper Grant. These grants honor past NAVA leaders Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr. and Grace Rogers Cooper.




NAVA's Governance

This section will introduce you to the purposes and structure of NAVA.  You can also find information on NAVA History , the NAVA Flag, and the NAVA Seal. General questions about NAVA should be addressed to the secretary