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.

Mourning ribbon for Thomas Jefferson

On this satin mourning ribbon is printed "Mr.
Description
On this satin mourning ribbon is printed "Mr. Jefferson's Last Letter", written to the Mayor of Washington in reply to an invitation to attend the celebration of the "Jubilee of American Independence", the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
While age and illness prevented Jefferson from attending the celebration, his letter provided a rousing reminder of all the nation had to celebrate:
"MONTICELLO, June 24, 1826
Respected Sir-The kind invitation I received from you on the part of the citizens of the city of Washington, to be present with them at their celebration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of American Independence, as one of the surviving signers of an instrument pregnant with our own, and the fate of the world, is most flattering to myself, and heightened by the honorable accompaniment proposed for the comfort of such a journey. It adds sensibly to the sufferings of sickness, to be deprived by it of a personal participation in the rejoicing of that day, but acquiescence in is a duty, under circumstances not placed among those we are permitted to control. I should indeed, with peculiar delight, have met and exchanged there, congratulations personally, with the small band, the remnant of that host of worthies, who joined us, on that day, in the bold and doubtful election we were to make for our country, between submissions and the sword; and to have enjoyed with them the consolatory fact that our fellow citizens, after half a century of experience and prosperity, continue to approve the choice we made. May it be to the world, what I believe it will be, (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all,) the signal of arousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government. The form which we have substituted restores the free right to the unbounded exercise of reason, and freedom of opinion. All eyes are opened or opening, to the rights of man. The general spread of the lights of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately, by the grace of God. These are grounds of hope for others-for ourselves let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them.
I will ask permission here to express the pleasure with which I should have met my ancient neighbors of the city of Washington and its vicinities, with whom I passed so many years of a pleasing social intercourse; an intercourse which so much relieved the anxieties of the public cares, and left impressions so deeply engraved in my affections, as never to be forgotten. With my regret that ill health forbids me the gratification of an acceptance, be pleased to receive for yourself, and those for whom you write, the assurance of my highest respect and friendly attachment."
The letter is dated June 24, 1826, from Monticello. Jefferson died only a few weeks later, on July 4th, 1826.
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1826 06 24
associated person
Jefferson, Thomas
ID Number
PL.227739.1826.J01
catalog number
227739.1826.J01

August 28 March Area Details

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1963
associated date
1963 08 28
ID Number
PL.251855.05b
catalog number
251855.05b
accession number
251855

Campaign Potholder, 1956

Potholder from Republican Dwight Eisenhower’s 1952 presidential campaign.
Description
Potholder from Republican Dwight Eisenhower’s 1952 presidential campaign.
associated date
0000 11
associated person
Eisenhower, Dwight D.
ID Number
PL.227739.1952.C19
catalog number
227739.1952.C19
accession number
227739

Black Lives Matter

A poster supporting Black Lives Matter.
Description
A poster supporting Black Lives Matter.
date made
7-11-16
07-11-2016
associated date
07/11/2016
ID Number
2016.0245.04
accession number
2016.0245
catalog number
2016.0245.04

former presidents and first ladies at President Barak Obama's Swearing in Ceremony

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
2009-01-20
depicted (sitter)
Carter, Jimmy
Carter, Rosalynn
Bush, George, H. W.
Bush, Barbara
Clinton, Bill
Clinton, Hillary Rodham
Bush, Laura Welch
maker
Morse, Paul
ID Number
2010.0179.02
catalog number
2010.0179.02
accession number
2010.0179

Braceros at Movie Theater

Photograph: Braceros stand at the entrance to a movie theater in Watsonville, California.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Braceros stand at the entrance to a movie theater in Watsonville, California.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.29.42
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.29.42

Braceros Receiving Documents

Photograph: An official distributes documents among braceros outside of the San Joaquin County Farm Production Association building in Stockton, California.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: An official distributes documents among braceros outside of the San Joaquin County Farm Production Association building in Stockton, California.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.39.24
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.39.24

Greensboro Lunch Counter

associated date
1960-02-01
ID Number
COLL.LUNCHCTR.005006
accession number
1994.0156

Compact, Dwight Eisenhower, 1950s

Compacts are small cases containing a mirror, face powder, and a puff that are designed to fit in women’s purses. This one, made to resemble a rotary telephone dial, was marketed to both Republican and Democratic women.
Description
Compacts are small cases containing a mirror, face powder, and a puff that are designed to fit in women’s purses. This one, made to resemble a rotary telephone dial, was marketed to both Republican and Democratic women. The compact promoting Republican presidential candidate Dwight Eisenhower featured his famous campaign slogan and a map of the country symbolizing that, no matter where you might call, everyone liked Ike. The compact for Democratic nominee Adlai Stevenson used the letters of his last name. The majority of voters did like Ike—Eisenhower defeated Stevenson in 1952 and again in 1956.
Location
Currently not on view
associated person
Eisenhower, Dwight D.
ID Number
PL.227739.1952.X040
catalog number
227739.1952.X040
accession number
227739

Braceros Receiving Paychecks

Photograph: An official distributes paychecks to braceros outside an office in California.
Description
Photograph: An official distributes paychecks to braceros outside an office in California.
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.44.17
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.44.17

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

Pitcher, "Immortal Washington"

This small creamware pitcher was produced by Francis Morris of Staffordshire, England. The pitcher is decorated with two transfer prints. On one side is the Great Seal of the United States.
Description
This small creamware pitcher was produced by Francis Morris of Staffordshire, England. The pitcher is decorated with two transfer prints. On one side is the Great Seal of the United States. On the other side is a portrait of George Washington flanked by the allegorical figures of Liberty and Justice. Justice proclaims, -“Deafness to the Ear that will patiently hear & Dumbness to the tongue that will utter a Calumny against the immortal Washington.” Liberty is pointing to Washington as she says, “My Favorite Son.” Below the portrait is the statement, “Long live the president of the United States.” Robert H. McCauley purchased this jug from Miss Polly Alloway of Goshen, NY on June 14, 1940 for $25.00.
This pitcher is part of the McCauley collection of American themed transfer print pottery. There is no mark on the pitcher to tell us who made it, but it is characteristic of wares made in large volume for the American market in both Staffordshire and Liverpool between 1790 and 1820. Pitchers of this shape, with a cream colored glaze over a pale earthenware clay, known as Liverpool type, were the most common vessels to feature transfer prints with subjects commemorating events and significant figures in the early decades of United States’ history. Notwithstanding the tense relationship between Britain and America, Liverpool and Staffordshire printers and potters seized the commercial opportunity offered them in the production of transfer printed earthenwares celebrating the heroes, the military victories, and the virtues of the young republic, and frequently all of these things at once.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
CE.63.115
catalog number
63.115
accession number
252565
collector/donor number
388

West Side of Capitol

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
2009-01-20
depicted (sitter)
Obama, Barack H.
maker
Ballard, Karen
ID Number
2010.0165.01
catalog number
2010.0165.01
accession number
2010.0165

political cartoon

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
associated person
Taft, Robert
Wheeler
maker
Berryman, Clifford
ID Number
PL.322733.104
catalog number
322733.104
accession number
322733

Ted Kennedy

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1971-11-16
depicted (sitter)
Kennedy, Edward M.
photographer
Regan, Ken
ID Number
2014.0112.536
catalog number
2014.0112.536
accession number
2014.0112

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

Coaster, John F. Kennedy, 1960

The Lagonda Printing Company of Springfield, Ohio printed a variety of paper placemats and coasters encouraging participation in the 1960 election. John F. Kennedy, caricaturized on this coaster, won the Democratic nomination that year.
Description
The Lagonda Printing Company of Springfield, Ohio printed a variety of paper placemats and coasters encouraging participation in the 1960 election. John F. Kennedy, caricaturized on this coaster, won the Democratic nomination that year. He defeated his Republican opponent Richard Nixon in one of the closest elections in American history winning by less than two tenths of one percentage point.
date made
1960
associated person
Kennedy, John F.
ID Number
1978.2196.01
accession number
1978.2196
catalog number
1978.2196.01

Henry Clay Button

This presidential campaign badge was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1845. 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 1845. 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: Profile image of Henry Clay facing left. The legend reads: HENRY CLAY 1845.
Reverse: Illegible manufacturer’s stamp.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1845
depicted
Clay, Henry
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1201
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1201

Commemorative Mug, Thomas Jefferson, 1801

This mug was made to celebrate the election of third president Thomas Jefferson. Democratic-Republican Jefferson was elected in 1800 after defeating incumbent Federalist John Adams, for whom Jefferson had just served as Vice President.
Description
This mug was made to celebrate the election of third president Thomas Jefferson. Democratic-Republican Jefferson was elected in 1800 after defeating incumbent Federalist John Adams, for whom Jefferson had just served as Vice President. In 1804 Jefferson won re-election after defeating Federalist Charles Pinckney.
associated person
Jefferson, Thomas
ID Number
PL.227739.1801.I01
accession number
227739
catalog number
227739.1801.I1
227739.1801.I01

Blue Log Cabin Patterned Cup

associated
Harrison, William Henry
ID Number
PL.037348e
catalog number
37348e
accession number
115031

Info Card, "Every Vote and Voice Counts", 2014

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2016.0022.06
catalog number
2016.0022.06
accession number
2016.0022

Braceros at Association Office

Photograph: Two officials speak with each other while braceros wait in an office in Stockton, California.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Two officials speak with each other while braceros wait in an office in Stockton, California.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.24.14
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.24.14

Reviewing Bracero's Documents

Photograph: A U.S. Border Patrol official reviews a bracero's documents while others wait in line to be processed at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.
Description
Photograph: A U.S. Border Patrol official reviews a bracero's documents while others wait in line to be processed at the Hidalgo Processing Center, Texas.
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.14.22
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.14.22

Braceros at Camp

Photograph: Braceros walk outside their living quarters at the Gondo Labor Camp in Watsonville, California.Currently not on view
Description
Photograph: Braceros walk outside their living quarters at the Gondo Labor Camp in Watsonville, California.
Location
Currently not on view
date photographed
1956
photographer
Nadel, Leonard
ID Number
2004.0138.27.30
accession number
2004.0138
catalog number
2004.0138.27.30

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