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.

Winfield Scott Campaign Medal

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 and is still in business today.
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 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 Winfield Scott facing left. Legend reads: MAJOR GENL. WINFD. SCOTT.
Reverse: Fasces topped with a “Liberty Cap,” surrounded by six flags, with a plaque that reads: CHIPPEWA/LUNDY’s LANE/VERA CRUZ/& MEXICO. The legend reads: A GALLANT & SKILLFUL HERO. THE PEOPLES CHOICE.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1852
depicted
Scott, Winfield
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1305
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1305

William Henry Harrison Campaign Medal

This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1841. 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 1841. 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 various consumer goods including campaign medals. The medal has a hole in the top, allowing it to be worn.
Obverse: Bust of William Henry Harrison facing left. Legend: MAJ. GEN. W.H. HARRISON/BORN FEB 9, 1773.
Reverse: Log cabin with American flag, and barrel of hard cider. Legend: THE PEOPLES CHOICE/THE HERO OF TIPPECANOE.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1841
depicted
Harrison, William Henry
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1249
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1249

Parker and Davis Campaign Luggage Tag

The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this luggage tag around 1904. Scovill was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today.
Description (Brief)
The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this luggage tag around 1904. Scovill 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, medals, coins, and tokens.
This Presidential campaign novelty is a square-shaped tag with the inscription: PARKER/1904/DAVIS. Alton Parker and Henry Davis unsuccessfully ran on the Democratic ticket for President and Vice President in the 1904 election.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1904
referenced
Parker, Alton Brooks
Davis, Henry G.
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1235
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1235

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. The tintype picture of Grant is hanging from the beak of an eagle. The eagle has a pin on its back so that it could be worn on an article of clothing.
Obverse: Tintype photograph of Ulysses S. Grant, labeled “GRANT” inside a shield-shaped frame.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1868
depicted
Grant, Ulysses S.
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1167
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1167

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: Bust of Ulysses Grant facing right. The legend reads: General U.S. Grant.
Reverse: Legend reads: GENERAL U.S. GRANT/REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT 1868.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1868
depicted
Grant, Ulysses S.
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1252
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1252

Andrew Jackson Campaign Medal

This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1828. 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 1828. 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 Andrew Jackson facing left. The legend reads: GENl ANDREW JACKSON.
Reverse: Two branches around the rim, the legend reads: THE NATION’S PRIDE.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1828
depicted
Jackson, Andrew
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1189
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1189

William Harrison and Henry Clay Medal

This medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1840. 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 around 1840. 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 William Henry Harrison facing right. The legend reads: HONOR WHERE HONOR'S DUE TO THE HERO OF TIPPECANOE/ GEN WILLIAM H. HARRISON.
Reverse: Bust of Henry Clay facing left. The legend reads: HENRY CLAY/ THE FARMER OF ASHLAND/ BORN APRIL 12 1777.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1840
depicted
Harrison, William Henry
Clay, Henry
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1239
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1239

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

Ulysses S. Grant 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 Ulysses S. Grant facing the right, with two branches below the bust and the legend: GRANT.
Reverse: Bust of Henry Wilson with two branches below the bust and the legend: HENRY WILSON.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1872
depicted
Grant, Ulysses S.
Wilson, Henry
maker
Scovill Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1981.0296.1208
accession number
1981.0296
catalog number
1981.0296.1208

Ballot box, Fulton County, Georgia, 1919

ID Number
1991.0034.01
accession number
1991.0034
catalog number
1991.0034.01

button

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1980.0905.03
accession number
1980.0905
catalog number
1980.0905.03

button

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1978.0844.21
accession number
1978.0844
catalog number
1978.0844.21

H.R. 1180/Let People with Disabilities Work! S.331

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Bethphage at Ellsworth The Lobby Shop
ID Number
1999.0351.09

button

ID Number
1985.0106.133
accession number
1985.0106

button

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1985.0693.625
accession number
1985.0693

button

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1985.0693.174
accession number
1985.0693
catalog number
1985.0693.174

March on Washington

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1985.0106.306
accession number
1985.0106

MADD Mothers Against Drunk Drivers

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1988
ID Number
1988.0570.01
catalog number
1988.0570.01
accession number
1988.0570

button

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1987.0523.127
catalog number
1987.0523.127
accession number
1987.0523

button

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1987.0523.042
catalog number
1987.0523.042
accession number
1987.0523

button

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1985.0693.539
accession number
1985.0693
catalog number
1985.0693.539

Engraving of fish species "Pomotis heros, Pomotis fallax"

William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. engraved this print of fish species, "Pomotis heros [B&G] and Pomotis fallax [B&G]," after an original sketch by John H. Richard (c.1807–1881) of Philadelphia.
Description (Brief)
William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. engraved this print of fish species, "Pomotis heros [B&G] and Pomotis fallax [B&G]," after an original sketch by John H. Richard (c.1807–1881) of Philadelphia. The engraving was printed as Plate 2 in “Ichthyology of the Boundary” by Charles Girard (1822-1895), published in Volume 2, Part 2 of the Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey. The volume was printed in 1859 by Cornelius Wendell of Washington, D.C.
Description
William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. engraved this print of “Pomotis heros [B&G]and Pomotis fallax [B&G];” now "Lepomis macrochirus" (Bluegill) and "Lepomis megalotis" (Longear sunfish); from an original sketch likely drawn by John H. Richard (c.1807–1881) of Philadelphia. The illustration was published as Plate 2 in the “Fishes” section of the second part of volume II of the Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey, written by Charles Girard (1822–1895). The volume was printed in 1859 by Cornelius Wendell of Washington, D.C.
Location
Currently not on view
date of book publication
1859
original artist
Richard, John H.
graphic artist
Dougal, William H.
author
Girard, Charles
printer
Wendell, Cornelius
author
Emory, William H.
publisher
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Army
ID Number
2009.0115.071
catalog number
2009.0115.071
accession number
2009.0115

Engraving of fish species "Anguilla tyrannus"

William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. is believed to have engraved this print of eel species Anguilla tyrannus (now Anguilla rostrata) after an original illustration by John H. Richard (c.1807-1881) also of Washington, D.C.
Description (Brief)
William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. is believed to have engraved this print of eel species Anguilla tyrannus (now Anguilla rostrata) after an original illustration by John H. Richard (c.1807-1881) also of Washington, D.C. The illustration was printed as Plate 40 in “Ichthology of the Boundary” by Charles Girard (1822–1895), published in Volume 2, Part 2 of the Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey. The volume was printed in 1859 by Cornelius Wendell of Washington, D.C.
Description
William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. engraved this print of “Anguilla tyrannus [Grd]”, now "Anguilla rostrata" or American eel, from an original sketch likely drawn by John H. Richard (c.1807–1881) of Philadelphia. The illustration was printed as Plate 40 in the “Fishes” section of the second part of volume II of the Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey, written by Charles Girard (1822–1895). The volume was printed in 1859 by Cornelius Wendell of Washington, D.C.
Location
Currently not on view
date of book publication
1859
publisher
U.S. Department of the Interior
printer
Wendell, Cornelius
author
Emory, William H.
Girard, Charles
original artist
Richard, John H.
graphic artist
Dougal, William H.
ID Number
2009.0115.106
catalog number
2009.0115.106
accession number
2009.0115

Engraving of fish species "Moniana rutila, Moniana formosa, Moniana gibbosa, Moniana aurata, Moniana frigida, Moniana couchi"

William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. engraved this print of six fish species after original sketches by John H. Richard (c.1807–1881) of Philadelphia.
Description (Brief)
William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. engraved this print of six fish species after original sketches by John H. Richard (c.1807–1881) of Philadelphia. The engraving was printed as Plate 30 in "Ichthyology of the Boundary” by Charles Girard (1822-1895), published in Volume 2, Part 2 of the Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey. The volume was printed in 1859 by Cornelius Wendell of Washington, D.C. The fish species illustrated include: Moniana rutila [Grd], Moniana formosa [Grd], Moniana gibbosa [Grd], Moniana aurata [Grd], Moniana frigida [Grd], and Moniana couchi [Grd].
Description
William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. engraved this print of “Moniana rutila [Grd], Moniana formosa [Grd], Moniana gibbosa [Grd], Moniana aurata [Grd], Moniana frigida [Grd], Moniana couchi [Grd];” now "Cyprinella rutila" (Mexican shiner), "Cyprinella formosa" (Beautiful shiner), "Cyprinella leutrensis" (Red shiner), "Cyprinella proserpina" (Proserpine shiner), "Cyprinella lutrensis" (Red shiner), and "Cyprinella lutrensis" (Red shiner), from an original sketch by John H. Richard (c.1807–1881) of Philadelphia. The illustration was printed as Plate 30 in the “Fishes” section of the second part of volume II of the Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey, written by Charles Girard (1822–1895). The volume was printed in 1859 by Cornelius Wendell of Washington, D.C.
Location
Currently not on view
date of book publication
1859
publisher
U.S. Department of the Interior
printer
Wendell, Cornelius
author
Emory, William H.
original artist
Richard, John H.
graphic artist
Dougal, William H.
author
Girard, Charles
publisher
U.S. Army
ID Number
2009.0115.096
catalog number
2009.0115.096
accession number
2009.0115

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