Early in November 1783, Governor Paca and his Council ordered that a "pair of colors" be made for Congress. The cloth was purchased in Baltimore and given to John Shaw, accomplished Annapolis cabinetmaker, undertaker, and principal caretaker of the State House, who made the flags. From the receipt for the cloth "bunting" which indicates the amount purchased, and another accounting record of the linen bought for the stars, noted flag authority Grace Rogers Cooper recreated Shaw's design depicted here. On the receipt for the cloth is the endorsement "Flagg made by Mr. Shaw, 1st hoisted for the President of Congress." President Thomas Mifflin arrived in Annapolis on the evening of December 3, 1783. In all likelihood Shaw's flag was first raised in Mifflin's honor the following day.

This Shaw flag was dedicated on Flag Day, June 14, 2009; it is based on a 1797 image of Annapolis showing the flag flying from the State House dome.