What is the scientific study of the history, symbolism and usage of flags?

Vexillology is the scientific study of the history, symbolism and usage of flags or any interest in flags in general. A person who studies flags is a vexillologist, one who designs flags is a vexillographer and the art of flag designing is called vexillography. One who is a hobbyist or general admirer of flags is a vexillophile. The word is a synthesis of the Latin word vexillum (''flag'') and the Greek suffix-logia (''study''). The study of flags was formalized by the U.S. scholar and student of flags Whitney Smith in 1961. He originated the term vexillology, which refers to the scholarly analysis of all aspects of flags. The publication of the flag bulletin (ISSN0015-3370) was the world's first journal about flags. Smith was born in February 26, 1940, Arlington, Massachusettes, U.S. and died November 17, 2016, Peabody, Massachusettes, U.S.