Government, Politics, and Reform

George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln are all represented in the Museum's collections—by a surveying compass, a lap desk, and a top hat, among other artifacts. But the roughly 100,000 objects in this collection reach beyond the possessions of statesmen to touch the broader political life of the nation—in election campaigns, the women's suffrage movement, labor activity, civil rights, and many other areas. Campaign objects make up much of the collection, including posters, novelties, ballots, voting machines, and many others. A second group includes general political history artifacts, such as first ladies' clothing and accessories, diplomatic materials, ceremonial objects, national symbols, and paintings and sculptures of political figures. The third main area focuses on artifacts related to political reform movements, from labor unions to antiwar groups.

A poster with the State of California's "Voter's Bill of Rights"Currently not on view
Description
A poster with the State of California's "Voter's Bill of Rights"
Location
Currently not on view
date made
c. 2014
associated date
2014
ID Number
2016.0023.01
catalog number
2016.0023.01
accession number
2016.0023
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
c 2014-11-04
ID Number
2015.0077.01
accession number
2015.0077
catalog number
2015.0077.01
Associated Date
2009-2017
user
Obama, Michelle
ID Number
2018.0242.001
accession number
2018.0242
catalog number
2018.0242.001
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
2012
author
Obama, Michelle
publisher
Random House, Inc.
ID Number
2018.0242.022
catalog number
2018.0242.022
accession number
2018.0242
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
c. 2017-01
Associated Date
January 20, 2017
Associated Name
Trump, Donald J.
ID Number
2018.0159.25
accession number
2018.0159
catalog number
2018.0159.25
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
2016
associated date
10/04/2016
direct
Kaine, Tim
Pence, Michael R.
maker
Longwood University
ID Number
2017.0004.22
accession number
2017.0004
catalog number
2017.0004.22
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
approximately 2012
referenced
Trump, Donald J.
ID Number
2018.0231.070
catalog number
2018.0231.070
accession number
2018.0231
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
2016
associated date
26/09/2016
associated
Clinton, Hillary Rodham
Trump, Donald J.
ID Number
2016.0355.25
accession number
2016.0355
catalog number
2016.0355.25
A homemade poster used in the January 21, 2017 Women's March in Washington, DC.Currently not on view
Description
A homemade poster used in the January 21, 2017 Women's March in Washington, DC.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
c. 2017-01-21
used date
c. 2017-01-21
referenced
Trump, Donald J.
ID Number
2017.0248.21
accession number
2017.0248
catalog number
2017.0248.21
A homemade poster used in the January 21, 2017 Women's March in Washington, DC.Currently not on view
Description
A homemade poster used in the January 21, 2017 Women's March in Washington, DC.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
c. 2017-01-21
used date
c. 2017-01-21
ID Number
2017.0248.39
accession number
2017.0248
catalog number
2017.0248.39
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
2016
associated date
26/09/2016
associated
Clinton, Hillary Rodham
Trump, Donald J.
ID Number
2016.0355.08
accession number
2016.0355
catalog number
2016.0355.08
A homemade poster used in the January 21, 2017 Women's March in Washington, DC.Currently not on view
Description
A homemade poster used in the January 21, 2017 Women's March in Washington, DC.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
c. 2017-01-21
used date
c. 2017-01-21
ID Number
2017.0248.40
accession number
2017.0248
catalog number
2017.0248.40
A poster used at the Conservative Political Action Conference on August 3, 2016.Currently not on view
Description
A poster used at the Conservative Political Action Conference on August 3, 2016.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
2016
used date
2016-03-02 - 2016-03-05
ID Number
2018.0197.04
accession number
2018.0197
catalog number
2018.0197.04
A poster used in the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) protest on March 5, 2018; the day DACA was supposed to have ended.Currently not on view
Description
A poster used in the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) protest on March 5, 2018; the day DACA was supposed to have ended.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 2018
Associated Date
March 5, 2018
Associated Name
Loza, Mireya
maker
Here to Stay
ID Number
2018.0073.06
accession number
2018.0073
catalog number
2018.0073.06
A homemade Statue of Liberty crown used in the January 21, 2017 Women's March in Washington, DC.Currently not on view
Description
A homemade Statue of Liberty crown used in the January 21, 2017 Women's March in Washington, DC.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
2017-01-21
c. 2017-01-21
used date
January 21, 2017
referenced
Statue of Liberty National Monument
ID Number
2017.0248.01
accession number
2017.0248
catalog number
2017.0248.01
A homemade Statue of Liberty torch used in the January 21, 2017 Women's March in Washington, DC.Currently not on view
Description
A homemade Statue of Liberty torch used in the January 21, 2017 Women's March in Washington, DC.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
c. 2017-01-21
used date
January 21, 2017
referenced
Statue of Liberty National Monument
ID Number
2017.0248.02
accession number
2017.0248
catalog number
2017.0248.02
A poster used at a Tea Party Protest in Washington, DC on April 15, 2010.Currently not on view
Description
A poster used at a Tea Party Protest in Washington, DC on April 15, 2010.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
2010
used date
April 15, 2010
user
Tea Party Patriots Inc.
distributor
Republican National Committee
ID Number
2010.0068.07
catalog number
2010.0068.07
accession number
2010.0068
This poster was used at Occupy D.C. demonstrations in McPherson Square in Washington, DC.
Description
This poster was used at Occupy D.C. demonstrations in McPherson Square in Washington, DC.
date made
2012
ID Number
2012.0020.04
accession number
2012.0020
catalog number
2012.0020.04
A homemade poster used in the January 21, 2017 Women's March in Washington, DC.Currently not on view
Description
A homemade poster used in the January 21, 2017 Women's March in Washington, DC.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
c. 2017-01-21
used date
c. 2017-01-21
referenced
Trump, Donald J.
ID Number
2017.0248.11
accession number
2017.0248
catalog number
2017.0248.11
A poster from Day of Action sponsored by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers for workers to unite to defend voices on the job and demand an end to the system that supports the rich and powerful.Currently not on view
Description
A poster from Day of Action sponsored by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers for workers to unite to defend voices on the job and demand an end to the system that supports the rich and powerful.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
2017-01
Associated Date
January 20, 2017
January 14, 2017
associated
Trump, Donald J.
maker
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
Allied Printing Trades Council
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
ID Number
2018.0159.02
accession number
2018.0159
catalog number
2018.0159.02
A homemade poster used in the January 21, 2017 Women's March in Washington, DC.Currently not on view
Description
A homemade poster used in the January 21, 2017 Women's March in Washington, DC.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
c. 2017-01-21
used date
c. 2017-01-21
ID Number
2017.0248.46
accession number
2017.0248
catalog number
2017.0248.46
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
2016
associated date
10/04/2016
direct
Kaine, Tim
Pence, Michael R.
maker
Longwood University
ID Number
2017.0004.10
accession number
2017.0004
catalog number
2017.0004.10
A homemade poster used in the January 21, 2017 Women's March in Washington, DC.Currently not on view
Description
A homemade poster used in the January 21, 2017 Women's March in Washington, DC.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
c. 2017-01-21
used date
c. 2017-01-21
ID Number
2017.0248.13
accession number
2017.0248
catalog number
2017.0248.13
A homemade poster used in the January 21, 2017 Women's March in Washington, DC.Currently not on view
Description
A homemade poster used in the January 21, 2017 Women's March in Washington, DC.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
c. 2017-01-21
used date
c. 2017-01-21
ID Number
2017.0248.14
accession number
2017.0248
catalog number
2017.0248.14

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