Government, Politics, and Reform

March on Washington Handbill

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.

Date: 1860s

Statue of Henry Clay, at New Orleans, Inaugurated April 12, 1860

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1860
associated person
Clay, Henry
ID Number
1982.0339.18
accession number
1982.0339
catalog number
1982.0339.18

Ulysses S. Grant Campaign Badge

This presidential campaign badge was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company around 1868. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer, and is still in business today.
Description (Brief)
This presidential campaign badge was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company around 1868. 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 badges.
The badge features a tintype photograph of Ulysses S. Grant set into a brass frame, which would have originally been attached to a pin and displayed on clothing.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1868
depicted
Grant, Ulysses S.
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1069
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1069

pages, carte-de-visite album

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1864 circa
ID Number
2018.0124.04k
accession number
2018.0124
catalog number
2018.0124.04

Union Electoral Ticket

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
associated person
Bell, John
ID Number
PL.227739.1860.T05
catalog number
227739.1860.T05
accession number
227739

Abraham Lincoln Campaign Medal

This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1860. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer, and is still in business today.
Description (Brief)
This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1860. 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 badges.
Obverse: Profile image of Abraham Lincoln facing right. Legend reads: HON. ABRAHAM LINCOLN, 1860.
Reverse: Depiction of two men splitting logs with a log cabin in the background. Legend reads: THE RAIL SPLITTER OF THE WEST.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1860
depicted
Lincoln, Abraham
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1074
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1074

Abraham Lincoln Campaign Medal

This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company around 1860. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today.
Description (Brief)
This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company around 1860. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that 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 badges.
Obverse: Bust depiction of Abraham Lincoln facing forward. The legend reads: ABRAM LINCOLN/ FREE LAND, FREE SPEECH & FREE MEN.
Reverse: An image of an eagle with the U.S. shield, clutching arrows and an olive branch in its talons. The legend reads: UNION OF THE STATES.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1860
depicted
Lincoln, Abraham
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1085
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1085

Ulysses S. Grant Campaign Medal

This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1868. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today.
Description (Brief)
This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1868. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that 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 campaign medals.
Obverse: Bust of Ulysses S. Grant facing left. Legend: GRANT & COLFAX REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES 1868.
Reverse: Two branches rim the edge, with two crossed flags, a drum, and bayoneted rifles at the base of the branches. Legend: FIRST IN THE HEARTS OF HIS SOLDIERS.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1868
depicted
Grant, Ulysses S.
referenced
Colfax, Schuyler
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1117
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1117

Abraham Lincoln Campaign Medal

This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1872. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today.
Description (Brief)
This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1872. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that 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: ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 1860. \
Reverse: The legend reads: FREEDOM NATIONAL SLAVERY SECTIONAL.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1872
depicted
Lincoln, Abraham
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1209
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1209

Ulysses S. Grant Campaign Badge

This presidential campaign badge was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1868. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today.
Description (Brief)
This presidential campaign badge was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1868. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that 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 badges.
This badge features a tintype photograph of Ulysses S. Grant set into a circular brass frame.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1868
depicted
Grant, Ulysses S.
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1091
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1091

Abraham Lincoln Commemorative Medal

This commemorative medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut in 1865.The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today.
Description (Brief)
This commemorative medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut in 1865.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: Raised bust of Abraham Lincoln, facing right. The legend reads: SALVATOR PATRIAE.
Reverse: There is a wreath around the rim. Central legend reads: IN MEMORY OF THE LIFE ACTS AND DEATH OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN/ BORN FEBRUARY 12 1809/ DIED APRIL 16 1865.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1865
depicted
Lincoln, Abraham
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1569
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1569

Abraham Lincoln Campaign Medal

This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1860. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today.
Description (Brief)
This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1860. 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: Profile image of Abraham Lincoln facing right. The legend reads: ABRAHAM LINCOLN 1860.
Reverse: Image of two men working in tandem to split logs. The legend reads: PROGRESS / 1830
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1860
depicted
Lincoln, Abraham
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1296
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1296

pages, carte-de-visite album

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1864 circa
depicted
Thumb, Tom
Warren, Lavinia
ID Number
2018.0124.04h
accession number
2018.0124
catalog number
2018.0124.04

Ulysses S. Grant Campaign Medal

This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1868. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today.
Description (Brief)
This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1868. 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: Stacked busts of Ulysses Grant and Schuyler Colfax facing left. The legend reads: GRANT & COLFAX 1868.
Reverse: There is a wreath around the rim with a ribbon at the base. The central legend reads: “LET US HAVE PEACE.”
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1868
depicted
Grant, Ulysses S.
Colfax, Schuyler
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1570
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1570

Campaign Badge, Harrison

associated date
1868
1892
associated person
Frelinghuysen, Theodore
Harrison, Benjamin
ID Number
PL.227739.1892.J22
catalog number
227739.1892.J22
accession number
227739

Grant and His Family

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1867
depicted (sitter)
Grant, Ulysses S.
Grant, Julia Dent
ID Number
PL.002980
catalog number
002980
accession number
18528

page, carte-de-visite album

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1864 circa
ID Number
2018.0124.04d
accession number
2018.0124
catalog number
2018.0124.04

pages, carte-de-visite album

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1864 circa
ID Number
2018.0124.04b
accession number
2018.0124
catalog number
2018.0124.04

Stephen A. Douglas Campaign Medal

This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1860. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today.
Description (Brief)
This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1860. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that 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 Stephen Douglas facing forward. The legend reads: STEPHEN A DOUGLAS.
Reverse: The legend reads: DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR THE PRESIDENCY/THE CHAMPION OF POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1860
depicted
Douglas, Stephen A.
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1187
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1187

Abraham Lincoln Campaign Badge

This presidential campaign badge was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1860. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today.
Description (Brief)
This presidential campaign badge was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1860. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that 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 badges. This badge likely had a pin originally on its back, so it could be worn on an article of clothing.
Obverse: Tintype photograph of Abraham Lincoln. The photo is labeled “A. Lincoln.”
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1860
depicted
Lincoln, Abraham
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1106
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1106

Abraham Lincoln

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1909
associated date
1809-02-11
1865-04-15
depicted date
1865-04-20
referenced
U.S. War Department
Stanton, Edwin McMasters
depicted (sitter)
Lincoln, Abraham
ID Number
PL.227739.1865.S07
accession number
227739
catalog number
227739.1865.S07

Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Campaign Medal

This campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1868. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer, and is still in business today.
Description (Brief)
This campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1868. 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 like campaign medals. This medal has a quote issued by Grant during the Overland Campaign of the Civil War.
Obverse: Bust of Ulysses S. Grant facing forward, the legend reads: GENERAL U.S. GRANT.
Reverse: Legend reads: I PROPOSE TO FIGHT IT OUT ON THIS LINE IF IT TAKES ALL SUMMER.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1868
depicted
Grant, Ulysses S.
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1084
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1084

Ulysses S. Grant Campaign Badge

This presidential campaign badge was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1868. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today.
Description (Brief)
This presidential campaign badge was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1868. 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 badges.
Obverse: Tintype photograph of Ulysses Grant, labeled GEN. U.S.GRANT. The tintype photograph is set into a rectangular frame with an oval cut-out revealing the photo.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1868
depicted
Grant, Ulysses S.
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1259
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1259

Washington the Mediator

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1861
Associated Date
1789
associated person
Washington, George
ID Number
PL.227739.1789.G08
catalog number
227739.1789.G08

Martin Van Buren Memorial Medal

This memorial medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1862. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today.
Description (Brief)
This memorial medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1862. 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 commemorative medals.
Obverse: Bust of Martin Van Buren facing left. Legend: MARITIN VAN BUREN/THE FEARLESS DEMOCRAT.
Reverse: Legend: BORN 1782. U.S. SENATOR 1821. GOVERNOR OF N.Y. 1828. SECRETARY OF STATE 1828/ MINISTER TO ENGLAND 1831. SEC'Y OF THE TREASURY 1832. VICE PRES. U.S. 1833/ PRESIDENT U.S. 1837/ DIED 1862.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1862
depicted
Van Buren, Martin
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1253
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1253

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