A review is presented of the work done by characterizing some degraded historic silk flags from the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. (14 samples) and from the Capitol Preservation Committee, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (34 samples). Data reviewed are elemental analyses obtained by energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry (EDS), percent ash percent sulfur, pH by modified cold extraction, and dye analyses. Only one sample proved to be weighted with inorganic matter. Possible sources of degradation are discussed and suggestions are made for further study.