Claude Harkins is a gatekeeper of early-American history.

The 79-year-old Overland Park resident spends his time making presentations on George Washington, researching Betsy Ross' true influence on the American flag, and loaning out portions of his stunning collection of early-American relics and documents to museums near and far.

Whereas many senior adults choose to personalize history through the pursuit of genealogy, Claude personalizes American history by researching it, investing in it, speaking about it, and sharing it with the world. Claude recently was awarded the DAR Medal of Honor for his accomplishments.

The home he shares with his wife, Inez, and their three puppies—J.R., Betsy Ross, and Abigail Adams—is much like a museum. It contains a stunning assortment of early Americana: about 200 relics, flags, and documents from the late 1700s.

As a boy, Claude showcased Creek Indian antiquities from inside a 100-square-foot playhouse. Today he showcases his Freedom Collection from his 3,800-square-foot "adult playhouse" in east-central Johnson County. Unlike his childhood playhouse, this residence is equipped with an advanced alarm system and outside motion detector lights and cameras.

Awe-striking objects

Upon walking into Inez' and Claude's home, visitors immediately notice the pair of Hepplewhite cabinets near the library doorway. The cabinets once belonged to Jackie Kennedy's sister, Lee Radziwill. Claude opens one and reaches for a double-barreled flintlock revolver with silver wire inlay in the handle.

"This handsome firearm, which is at least 235 years old, once belonged to Hugh Maxwell," he says with pride. "Maxwell was a Minuteman from Cambridge, Mass., who was wounded at Bunker Hill and was also present at the battles of Trenton, Princeton, Long Island, Sarasota, and Monmouth—all with Gen. Washington."

With such a prop, it's easy to imagine the scenes of war. One can almost hear the crackle of muskets and the melodious fife and drum.

From another living room cabinet, Claude takes a miniature ivory painting of George Washington and turns it over. On the back side is a national treasure—the largest lock of Washington's hair known to exist, about 100 reddish strands. On another shelf he reaches for a jeweled French shoe buckle, one of a pair given to the first president as an inaugural gift.

He then carefully removes a powder horn engraved with scenes from July 4, 1777, in Philadelphia. The artist etched into the powder horn a number of naval vessels at anchor, including the frigate Delaware, the first to fly the nation's new flag, the Stars & Stripes. The powder horn engravings also include Christ Church, a wharf building, a Continental soldier, and the name of the individual who bought it, Pvt. Augustus Saunders, from Rhode Island.

Years after acquiring the piece, Claude learned that John Hancock and John Adams were both present on the Delaware that day, the nation's first birthday.

Meanwhile, visitors' eyes keep wandering.

Near the fireplace, the Harkinses have an original terracotta bust of George Washington in military uniform. The artist was Charles Corbet, a protégé of Jean-Antoine Houdon. Across the way is a bronze reproduction of the Washington bust by Houdon himself. That famous bust, the original of which belongs to Mount Vernon, is said to resemble the commander-in-chief more accurately than any other likeness.

On the dining room walls hang large reproductions of famous portraits of Washington, and not far away are examples of some of the cut glass and china that George and Martha used at Mount Vernon.

Why such emphasis on Washington?

"The United States became a free nation because of that man," Claude said. "Had it not been for George Washington, we would all be speaking English with a British accent today."

Sharing his expertise

With a few choice pieces from the collection, Claude frequently gives a PowerPoint presentation titled "George Washington: Was He Predestined to Become the Father of Our Country?" He addresses school children, members of patriotic organizations, residents of senior facilities, and other groups, at no charge.

In 2010 alone, he spoke to more than 2,000 area students. He has received hundreds of letters from middle-schoolers who enthusiastically thank him for bringing early-American history to life for them.

"Middle school kids are just great!" he exclaimed. "They are still young enough that I can make a real impression on them."

Claude's goal is to teach the principles upon which this country was founded and give his listeners a deeper appreciation for their sovereign heritage. Inez accompanies him to each presentation.

"The responses he receives are astounding," she said. "His audiences always come away with a better understanding of what it was like in early America and of the principles they fought for. He instills in his listeners a sense of pride for the men who served and for their families who sacrificed so much."

At the end of each presentation, no matter the organization, the audience is asked to stand and pledge allegiance to one of Claude's favorite items: an original flag made of a British uniform by an imprisoned American seaman in Plymouth, England, in 1781.

A telling experience

Claude Harkins grew up in Tallassee, Ala. When he was still a young boy, his mother would occasionally take him to hunt for arrowheads in a farmer's plowed field about six miles from their home. After a good rain, the arrowheads were easy to find.

But by the time Claude was 12, one telling experience changed his life and signaled the way of the future: He met the farmer who owned the field. In the 1800s, the site had been a Creek Indian settlement named Tukabatchee. In fact, for many years the farmer had been collecting Indian relics that he found while plowing each spring. His treasures included arrowheads, pottery pieces, personal items, lockets of hair, even human bones.

It had all been placed in boxes, and the farmer priced the entire collection at $25.

"Back then my mother wanted me to have my tonsils removed, but I always resisted," Claude said. "After I saw those boxes of Indian relics, I told my mother that if she bought that collection for me, I would have the operation."

A born negotiator, he closed the deal with his mother. And in so doing, he launched a hobby that continues to this day. He opened an Indian museum in his playhouse, where he built shelves to hold the relics and labeled each item.

"Elementary school classes visited the museum in my back yard," Claude remembers. "I had become a curator!"

Four rare flags

If you ask Claude which image is more important to him—George Washington or the American flag—you will have left an articulate man speechless.

His love for flags is illustrated in his daily correspondence. When he prepares to mail bills, letters, or packages, Claude uses postage stamps carrying images of American flags. His return-address stickers and address labels are emblazoned with flags. His deep admiration and affection for the flag are evidenced by the four early-American flags he has acquired and keeps framed behind UV Plexiglas. Three of the four were made in the last quarter of the 1700s.

One of the three, somewhat darkened, most likely flew from a river-plying gunboat. In determining the history of this flag, Claude had it analyzed. The analysis revealed no salt crystals or salt-water amoebas, which meant it was not on a warship. No soil particulates were found, either, which ruled out its having flown on a fort. The analysis did find fresh-water amoebas and soot.

Conclusion: The flag most likely came off a gunboat from the last quarter of the 1700s. The soot, which tarnished its colors, undoubtedly came from the smoke of the cook-stove on board.

The second flag is the American Seaman Prisoner's Flag. This is the one made from a British uniform, and it is the one to which Claude asks his audiences to pledge allegiance. He believes it was made either by Joseph Ashburn or John Claypoole, cellmates in England in 1781. Coincidentally, Ashburn was married to Betsy Ross at the time, and years later, after Ashburn's death, Claypoole became Betsy Ross' third husband. (Claude is a major contributor of information for a book that he says will prove Betsy Ross indeed made the first U.S. flag. The book is being written by a direct descendant of Ross.)

His third flag of the 1700s, from the Whiskey Rebellion, is his latest acquisition. A purposeful mockery of the Stars & Stripes, this flag features eight stripes, the bottom one blue, and a canton of nine five-pointed stars and four four-pointed stars. The stripes symbolize the eight counties in western Pennsylvania that protested the Washington administration's excise tax on whiskey, which had been enacted to fund the national debt.

The fourth flag is circa 1800. Known as the Pierre L'Enfant Flag, it is made of silk and was the first to show a canton of 13 five-pointed stars in a perfect oval. The stars were covered with gold leaf, which is still visible.

'Needle in the haystack'

Claude calls himself a "needle in the haystack" collector, meaning that he focuses only on specific rarities because "I'm at the pinnacle of collecting Americana," he said. "Where do I go from here? There's really no place to go beyond the rare flags of the late-18th century."

The Harkinses have exhibited portions of their collection at 17 museums across the country. From June through December this year, an exhibit of their pieces will show at the Kansas City regional branch of the National Archives, located next to Union Station. Then, in 2012, two exhibits will be held at the Betsy Ross house in Philadelphia.

His George Washington presentations will continue, as well.

"I intend to do that as long as I am able," Claude said. "I'm just trying to spread the word about this great man at a point in time when I believe our country needs more patriotism."

Inez would say he does a superb job.

"I myself have learned so much from Claude," she said. "Every day at home I come into contact with the early history of this country, and my husband is its shepherd and gatekeeper."

To schedule a Claude Harkins presentation on George Washington, call 816-223-8738.