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.

Physical DescriptionUnited States M-1 rifle.Specific HistoryThis is one of the rifles used by the National Guardsmen at Kent State, Ohio on 4 May 1970.General HistoryKent State University came into the international spotlight on 4 May 1970.
Description
Physical Description
United States M-1 rifle.
Specific History
This is one of the rifles used by the National Guardsmen at Kent State, Ohio on 4 May 1970.
General History
Kent State University came into the international spotlight on 4 May 1970. During a protest by students against the Vietnam War, a contingent of 28 Ohio National Guardsmen fired for 13 seconds. The rifle fire left four students dead, one permanently paralyzed, and eight others wounded. Many of the students were walking to and from class. Not every student was involved in the demonstration. The closest student wounded was 30 yards away from the Guard, while the farthest was almost 250 yards away.
associated dates
1970-05-04
user
Ohio National Guard
maker
Springfield Armory
ID Number
1987.0381.10
catalog number
1987.0381.10
accession number
1987.0381
serial number
2646119
This medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut during the 1860s. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today.
Description (Brief)
This medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut during the 1860s. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, and campaign medals.
Obverse: Bust of Abraham Lincoln facing right. The legend reads: ABR'M LINCOLN/ A FOE TO TRAITORS.
Reverse: Legend reads: NO COMPROMISE WITH ARMED REBELS/ MAY THE UNION FLOURISH.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1960
depicted
Lincoln, Abraham
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1298
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1298
This 1979 tractor was owned by Gerald McCathern of Hereford, Tex., who used it in his fields for 700 hours before driving it 1,800 miles to Washington, D.C., to participate in the 1979 American Agriculture Movement demonstration.
Description
This 1979 tractor was owned by Gerald McCathern of Hereford, Tex., who used it in his fields for 700 hours before driving it 1,800 miles to Washington, D.C., to participate in the 1979 American Agriculture Movement demonstration. As wagon master, McCathern coordinated tractorcades that, while bringing the desperate situation facing American farmers to the attention of Congress, also substantially slowed rush-hour traffic. In the midst of the protest, a large snowstorm nearly paralyzed the city, and farmers used their tractors to pull cars out of snowbanks, earning the goodwill of many people.
The American Agriculture Movement bought the tractor and presented it to the Smithsonian in 1986. The IH 1486 is representative of the technology that typifies modern agriculture. It has sixteen forward and eight reverse speeds, power steering and brakes, diesel turbocharged engine, wide adjustable front end, detachable front weights, air-conditioning, AM-FM radio tape deck, hydraulic adjustable seat, and an adjustable steering wheel.
Date made
1979
user
McCathern, Gerald
maker
International Harvester
ID Number
1986.0179.01
catalog number
1986.0179.01
accession number
1986.0179
This badge was worn by economist Milton Friedman when he received the 1976 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences.
Description
This badge was worn by economist Milton Friedman when he received the 1976 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences.
date made
1976
user
Friedman, Milton
ID Number
2001.0072.05
accession number
2001.0072
catalog number
2001.0072.05
A 1979 poster, "Women Artists Speak to Government"Currently not on view
Description
A 1979 poster, "Women Artists Speak to Government"
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1979
associated date
January 28, 1979
ID Number
1982.3014.07
This poster was used at a May 6, 1979, protest against nuclear power in Washington, D.C.
Description
This poster was used at a May 6, 1979, protest against nuclear power in Washington, D.C.
associated date
1979 05 06
ID Number
1982.0340.01
accession number
1982.0340
catalog number
1982.0340.01
A 1979 poster, "Women Artists Speak to Government"Currently not on view
Description
A 1979 poster, "Women Artists Speak to Government"
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1979
associated date
January 28, 1979
ID Number
1982.3014.06
A 1979 poster, "Women Artists Speak to Government"Currently not on view
Description
A 1979 poster, "Women Artists Speak to Government"
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1979
associated date
January 28, 1979
ID Number
1982.3014.01
Senator George McGovern of South Dakota was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for president in 1972. He was defeated by President Richard Nixon, a Republican, who was running for re-election.
Description
Senator George McGovern of South Dakota was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for president in 1972. He was defeated by President Richard Nixon, a Republican, who was running for re-election.
date made
1972
referenced
McGovern, George
ID Number
1985.0693.016
accession number
1985.0693
catalog number
1985.0693.016
Reflected in the long history of American politics is a recognition, and sometimes a celebration, of the diversity of the nation’s electorate.
Description
Reflected in the long history of American politics is a recognition, and sometimes a celebration, of the diversity of the nation’s electorate.
date made
1976
referenced
Ford, Gerald R.
ID Number
1986.0666.281
accession number
1986.0666
catalog number
1986.0666.281
A 1979 poster, "Women Artists Speak to Government"Currently not on view
Description
A 1979 poster, "Women Artists Speak to Government"
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1979
associated date
January 24, 1979
ID Number
1982.3014.02
A 1979 poster, "Women Artists Speak to Government"Currently not on view
Description
A 1979 poster, "Women Artists Speak to Government"
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1979
associated date
January 28, 1979
ID Number
1982.3014.05
A poster advertising a National March for Gay and Lesbian Rights on October 14th.Currently not on view
Description
A poster advertising a National March for Gay and Lesbian Rights on October 14th.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1979
used date
October 14, 1979
ID Number
1986.0231.004
accession number
1986.0231
catalog number
1986.0231.04
A 1979 poster, "Women Artists Speak to Government"Currently not on view
Description
A 1979 poster, "Women Artists Speak to Government"
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1979
associated date
January 28, 1979
ID Number
1982.3014.08
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1976
Associated Date
1976
associated
Ford, Gerald R.
ID Number
1985.0693.028
accession number
1985.0693
catalog number
1985.0693.028
This TV viewing diary was part of the Nielson Company system for gathering information from households about media listening and viewing habits from 1949 until the early 1970s.
Description
This TV viewing diary was part of the Nielson Company system for gathering information from households about media listening and viewing habits from 1949 until the early 1970s. The data gleaned from sample homes enabled campaign pollsters to track viewing patterns during candidates’ television appearances and to refine schedules of paid political advertising.
date made
1977
ID Number
1988.0825.09
catalog number
1988.0825.09
accession number
1988.0825
A poster sponsored by Frontlash enouraging citizens to register and vote, that your vote affects future generations.Currently not on view
Description
A poster sponsored by Frontlash enouraging citizens to register and vote, that your vote affects future generations.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1972
associated date
1972
maker
Frontlash
ID Number
PL.304815.19
accession number
304815
catalog number
304815.19
Of the many core responsibilities of citizenship, the most basic has been being a “good citizen.” The founding generation believed that liberty and freedom could only survive if the Republic and its people were virtuous.
Description
Of the many core responsibilities of citizenship, the most basic has been being a “good citizen.” The founding generation believed that liberty and freedom could only survive if the Republic and its people were virtuous. For them, and still today, this means respecting the country’s institutions, fulfilling civic duties, contributing to the community, and generally being a good neighbor, such as advertised in this 1971 public service poster.
date made
1970s
producer
Department of Agriculture
ID Number
PL.303680.03
catalog number
303680.03
accession number
303680
Poster carried at anti-busing rally in Washington, D.C., April 27, 1972.
Description
Poster carried at anti-busing rally in Washington, D.C., April 27, 1972.
date made
1972
associated date
1972 04 29
ID Number
PL.301427.01
catalog number
301427.01
accession number
301427
associated dates
1972 / 1972
ID Number
PL.299448.06
accession number
299448
catalog number
299448.06
The Johnny Horizon Program was established by the U.S. Department of the Interior in the early 1970s to increase environmental awareness and encourage people to work together to improve and protect the environment.
Description
The Johnny Horizon Program was established by the U.S. Department of the Interior in the early 1970s to increase environmental awareness and encourage people to work together to improve and protect the environment. “Johnny Horizon” was a symbolic figure of a concerned citizen who wanted to help clean up America as it approached its 200th birthday in 1976. His slogan was “This Land is Your Land—Keep it Clean.”
This sticker was one of a variety of educational materials from the “Johnny Horizon” program distributed to schools and communities throughout the country.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1973
associated institution
Department of Interior. Bureau of Education
ID Number
PL.306506.03
catalog number
306506.03
accession number
306506
date made
1970s
associated person
Carter, Jimmy
ID Number
PL.299495.08.c
catalog number
299495.08.c
accession number
299495
date made
1970s
ID Number
PL.299495.05a
catalog number
299495.05a
accession number
299495
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Associated Date
1972
depicted (sitter)
Chisholm, Shirley
ID Number
PL.306522.10
accession number
PL.306522
catalog number
PL.306522.10

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