The CALIFORNIA State District Tartan

Enacted by The California Assembly as AB614 and signed by Governor Gray Davis on July 23, 2001

The basis for the Official State California District Tartan was the Muir Family Tartan pictured below.

John Muir's family are very much a part of California today, wholeheartedly supporting the adoption of the tartan.

Mr.& Mrs. Ross Hanna

Mr. Hanna is Mr. Muir's Grandson and Elizabeth (below) is Mr. Muir's Great Great Granddaughter

Pictured below are many  scenes from the past several years of the endeavors to have the tartan made the OFFICIAL State District tartan

The Saint Andrews' Societies, The Caledonian Societies, and The Scottish Societies of the State had the signal role in the support and adoption of the  Official California State Tartan.

THE BEGINNINGS
Mr. John Howard Standing a Canadian by birth, conceived the idea at his summer residence near Victoria, B.C., Canada, sketching a  design for the tartan. He requested assistance in the commercial and design aspects of the tartan's development at this time by Mr. Thomas Ferguson of Sydney, B.C., Canada.

ADDITIONAL SPONSORS

Additional sponsors were sought among the California County Boards of Supervisors which were asked to resolve the the tartan be adopted as 'The Official State Tartan'. The Counties of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and San Buenaventura responded positively. If you would like to see your County adopt such a resolution contact The Saint Andrew Society of The Central Coast., and/or The Saint Andrew Society of Los Angeles, Inc. who will assist as requested.

Santa Barbara County, 2001

San Buenaventura County, 2001

PLACES

Ceilidhs, Games and Gatherings around the state were the recipients of Banners donated by The Saint Andrew's Society of Los Angeles and the Messrs. J. Howard Standing and J. Bonbright Anderson.

Games in Costa Mesa, San Diego, Loch Prado, Dixon, Bakersfield, Camarillo, Pleasanton, Woodland, and Fresno were the recipients of banners donated by The Los Angeles Saint Andrews' Society.

Many people played significant roles in the adoption of the California Tartan by the State of California as it's Official State District Tartan.

Few worked more diligently, or constantly, than did Barbara Gard, Karen Roberts, Alex Henderson, and the Lowry's, John and Nellie to ensure it's success.

Information concerning yardage and/or items available in the California District Tartan can be obtained from Bonbright Woolens, Inc., at its website by clicking here California Tartan, or by email at ian@tartanplaid.com. They may be reached by phone at [818]716-0963 and FAX at [818]704-4742

The California State Tartan Banner

One of the major emphases placed on the proposed adoption of The  California State tartan, was that it would be available to all Californians, regardless, of race, color, or place of birth. Since it's adoption the Saint Andrew's Societies, The Caledonian, and The California Scottish Societies have received many kudos with regard to the use of the tartan by all of the people of California as in the graduation photos below.

Photos courtesy of Mrs. Gloria Mullins

Dozens assembled in the Senate Foyer after the unanimous passage by the California Sate Senate of AB614 - The Bill enacting the California Official State Tartan.

POLITICS

Beginning in Late 1997
Mr. Standing sought a formal sponsor in The California Assembly and began a campaign to have the tartan adopted by The State of California. After a sometimes frustrating trial he made contact with Mrs. Barbara Gard of The Clan MacLaren. Mrs. Gard was located with the assistance of Mr. and Mrs. John Lowry. He, the Convener of The House of Gordon, and she, the Genealogist of the Clan Graham.

Virtually thousands of people across the state actively supported the in myriad ways, but the one key person in the Assembly who adopted the measure as her 'child' was Assemblywoman Helen MacLeod Thomson, who, with the support of her staff, and particularly Ricardo Blanco, thereof, shepherded the bill through the Assembly.

A Special Thanks goes to the Honorable Mrs. Helen MacLeod Thomson for shepherding the tartan  successfully through the Assembly to a unanimously approval in concert with the Honorable Mrs. Gloria Negrete McLeod and, in the Senate with the guidance and assistance of Sen. Bruce MacPherson.
 

The signal efforts of the Speaker of the Assembly, Bob Hertzberg, and the President of the Senate, John Burton, assured the Bills unanimous approval by both Houses.

THE CLANS and SOCIETIES                   

The Clans, The Saint Andrews and The Caledonian Societies all rallied to help raising thousands of signatures at the various Highland Games throughout the state. At the Pleasanton Games in 2000, with the particular assistance of the Caledonian Societies of San Francisco, Dixon and Sacramento, The Scottish Societies of Central California and Santa Barbara, and the Clans' Anderson, Gordon, MacArthur, Graham, Stewart, Lamont, and many, many, others over 3,500 signatures were raised directly and by their Chief's proxy signings.

Ms. Courtney Sutcliffe wearing the world's first dancer's kilt in the California tartan.

Mr. John Lowry and Mrs. Nellie Lowry

Hon. Helen MacLeod Thomson

Ms. Barbara Gard, Convener, The Clan MacLaren, Executive Director The California Psychiatric Association

Mr. and Mrs. J. Howard Standing

Assembly Bill AB614 is depicted at left.

To the right are the front and backs of AB614 (res.) as signed by the Clerks of The Assembly and The Senate and by Governor Davis

The Certificate of Registration of The California State District Tartan Number 200111, 24th July, 2001 by The Scottish Tartans Authority.

The Certificate of Registration by The Scottish tartan World Register as WS 2454 15th August, 200, to the left and to the right is Certificate #447 of The Scottish Tartans Society as Tartan 2454, thereof.

copyright 2001-2002 © James Bonbright Anderson all rights reserved as to original content