From the day the flag arrived at the national museum, Smithsonian staff realized that it was in fragile condition. It was still attached to the heavy sailcloth that had been added in 1873. While this gave some support to the flag, the canvas backing was unevenly attached, and the flag sagged and became distorted. In 1914 the Smithsonian hired Amelia Fowler, a professional flag restorer, to preserve the flag. With a team of needlewomen, she sewed the flag to a linen lining using a uniform network of stitches that provided allover support.  On the day it arrived at the Smithsonian in 1907, the Star-Spangled Banner was displayed for a photograph in front of the "Smithsonian Castle."  A team of needlewomen painstakingly attached the flag to the linen backing using approximately 1.7 million small stitches. Makeshift tables supported the flag during the work in the room now known as the Commons in the Smithsonian Institution Building (the "Castle").  Amelia Fowler applied her patented technique for preserving flags. The technique called for a flag to be stitched securely to a linen support. The stitches pass through the flag's fabric and form a mesh-like covering.  Detail of the back of the flag showing the density of stitches sewn on by Amelia Fowler and her team in 1914. The team also attached fabric strips with loops to mount the flag in a large case in the Arts and Industries Building from 1914 to 1963.  Back to top Flag restorer Amelia Fowler (standing) points to the star with Georgiana Armistead Appleton's signature. Smithsonian Institution Needlewomen, seamstresses, and tailors all had different jobs. Needlewomen embroidered fabric, often for ornamentation. Seamstresses made clothing for women, while tailors made men's clothing. Fowler chose needlewomen to work for her because her patented treatment was very similar to embroidery.