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 2138 items.
Page 5 of 214
Horatio Seymour Campaign Badge
- 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 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 set into a bronze frame with blue and lucent insets.
- Obverse: Tintype photograph of Horatio Seymour, labeled “SEYMOUR.”
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Seymour, Horatio
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1177
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1177
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Horatio Seymour Campaign Badge
- 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 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: Tintype photograph of Horatio Seymour, labeled “SEYMOUR.”
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Seymour, Horatio
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1180
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1180
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Abraham Lincoln Campaign Badge
- 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. There is a hole at the top of the frame to allow for the badge to be strung and worn.
- Obverse: Tintype photograph of Abraham Lincoln set into a brass oval frame. The photo is labeled: ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Lincoln, Abraham
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1182
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1182
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Henry Clay Button
- Description (Brief)
- This presidential campaign button was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1824. 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, buttons, and campaign medals.
- Obverse: Profile image of Henry Clay facing right an independent presidential candidate in 1824.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Clay, Henry
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1184
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1184
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Horace Greeley Medal
- 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 Horace Greeley facing right. The legend reads: OUR LATER FRANKLIN.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Franklin, Benjamin
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1186
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1186
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Benjamin Harrison Clover Pin
- Description (Brief)
- This presidential campaign pin was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1888. 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.
- This pin has a head in the shape of a clover, and would have been worn. Each leaf is inscribed with a different word. The legend reads: RECIPROCATION PROTECTION OUR NATION’S PRIDE HARRISON.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- referenced
- Harrison, Benjamin
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1196
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1196
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Henry Clay Button
- 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
- depicted
- Clay, Henry
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1201
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1201
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Franklin Pierce Campaign Medal
- Description (Brief)
- This campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1852. 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 Franklin Pierce facing left. Legend: GENERAL. F. PIERCE.
- Reverse: Plaque surrounded by four flags and an eagle perched on top. The plaque reads: OUR COUNTRY RIGHT OR WRONG. The legend around the rim reads: UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Pierce, Franklin
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1213
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1213
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Henry Clay Campaign Medal
- Description (Brief)
- This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1824.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 Henry Clay facing right. The legend reads: HENRY CLAY AND THE AMERICAN SYSTEM
- Reverse: There are two leaves around the central legend: UNITED WE STAND.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Clay, Henry
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1218
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1218
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
William Henry Harrison Campaign Medal
- Description (Brief)
- This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1840. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today. Scovill is an important example of early American industrial manufacturing that adapted armory machines to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, and campaign medals.
- Obverse: Bust of William Henry Harrison facing right. The legend reads: WILLIAM H. HARRISON,THE HERO & STATESMAN.
- Reverse: Image of a log cabin set into the woods with smoke rising from the chimney. Legend reads: CANDIDATE OF THE PEOPLE.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Harrison, William Henry
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1221
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1221
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
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