Government, Politics, and Reform - Overview
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.
"Government, Politics, and Reform - Overview" showing 4 items.
Johnny Horizon '76 Cowboy Hat
- 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 keep America clean as it approached its 200th birthday in 1976.
- The program distributed environmental education newsletters, booklets, stickers, and other material throughout the country. This “Johnny Horizon” red, white, and blue life-size cowboy hat was offered to children so they could show their support for a safe and healthy future for America.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1976
- associated date
- 1976
- associated institution
- Department of Interior. Bureau of Education
- ID Number
- 1977.0680.02
- accession number
- 1977.0680
- catalog number
- 1977.0680.02
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Woman's Ostrich Feather Hat
- Description
- Dating from 1910-1912, this woman's hat is trimmed with ostrich plumes. At the end of the nineteenth century, there was an ever increasing demand by hat makers for plumes, especially ostrich, to decorate women's millinery. With new legislative restrictions on hunting wild birds for fashion, ostrich farming became a successful enterprise in California, Arizona, Texas, Arkansas, and Florida in the 1880s so that feathers could be clipped from the farmed birds to satisfy the American demands for hat making using ostrich feathers.
- This hat is made of ivory silk and trimmed with plumes of a pale ivory shade. The underside of the hat brim is covered with black silk velvet. The ostrich plumes were extended by tying on barbs cut from other ostrich plumes. It measures 8.9 inches by 18.3 inches by 15.9 inches overall.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1910-1912
- ID Number
- 1972.299884.008
- accession number
- 299884
- catalog number
- 299884.8
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Delegate's Cheesehead Hat
- Description
- Patricia Hawley decorated and wore this hat while serving as a Wisconsin delegate to the 1996 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois. The hat is an official "cheesehead" manufactured by Foamation Inc. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Before arriving at the Chicago convention, Hawley collected the bumper stickers from earlier political events and purchased the pinwheel at the Ford Pharmacy in Appleton, Wisconsin.
- It is not known when delegates began the tradition of decorating their hats at political conventions. Over time, delegates' decorations have become more elaborate assemblages. These creations are often statements of a party loyalty, emblematic of a particular cause, or, as was the case of this cheese hat, expressions of local pride. Most are meant to be fun and a celebration of individual participation in the political process.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1996
- associated dates
- 1996-08-11-1996-08-16
- 1996-08-24-1996-08-30
- described
- Clinton, Bill
- Gore, Jr., Albert A.
- ID Number
- 1996.0311.01
- catalog number
- 1996.0311.01
- accession number
- 1996.0311
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Abraham Lincoln's Top Hat
- Description
- At six feet four inches tall, Lincoln towered over most of his contemporaries. He chose to stand out even more by wearing high top hats. He acquired this hat from J. Y. Davis, a Washington hat maker. Lincoln had the black silk mourning band added in remembrance of his son Willie. No one knows when he obtained the hat, or how often he wore it. The last time he put it on was to go to Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865.
- After Lincoln’s assassination, the War Department preserved his hat and other material left at Ford’s Theatre. With permission from Mary Lincoln, the department gave the hat to the Patent Office, which, in 1867, transferred it to the Smithsonian Institution. Joseph Henry, the Secretary of the Smithsonian, ordered his staff not to exhibit the hat “under any circumstance, and not to mention the matter to any one, on account of there being so much excitement at the time.” It was immediately placed in a basement storage room.
- The American public did not see the hat again until 1893, when the Smithsonian lent it to an exhibition hosted by the Lincoln Memorial Association. Today it is one of the Institution’s most treasured objects.
- Transfer from the War Department with permission from Mary Lincoln, 1867
- date made
- mid 19th century
- user
- Lincoln, Abraham
- maker
- Davis, J. Y.
- ID Number
- PL*9321
- accession number
- 38912
- catalog number
- 9321
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center