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.

Resource Type: Posters

Sing Out Freedom!

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1964
associated date
1964 07 27
associated
Johnson, Lyndon B.
ID Number
1979.0764.01a
accession number
1979.0764
catalog number
1979.0764.01a

Make America Great with Jobs For All

A poster used at a Jobs Rally for organized labor on April 26, 1975.Currently not on view
Description
A poster used at a Jobs Rally for organized labor on April 26, 1975.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
c1975
used date
April 26, 1975
ID Number
1979.0734.17
accession number
1979.0734
catalog number
1979.0734.17

Don't Call Me Girl!

A 1975 poster produced by The Women's Graphics Collective. The Women’s Graphics Collective produced over 50 posters that explored women's social and political issues in the 1970s and 1980s.Currently not on view
Description
A 1975 poster produced by The Women's Graphics Collective. The Women’s Graphics Collective produced over 50 posters that explored women's social and political issues in the 1970s and 1980s.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1975
copyright date
1975
copyright holder
Women's Graphics Collective
maker
Women's Graphics Collective
ID Number
1977.0660.03
accession number
1977.0660
catalog number
1977.0660.03

Poster, "We Want Work Not Welfare"

This poster was used at the Rally for Jobs Now on April 26, 1975, in Washington, D.C.
Description
This poster was used at the Rally for Jobs Now on April 26, 1975, in Washington, D.C.
date made
c1975
Associated Date
April 26, 1975
ID Number
1979.0734.03
accession number
1979.0734
catalog number
1979.0734.03

Poster, "If the Farmer Can't Survive..."

This poster was used at a 1978 farmers protest in Washington, D.C.
Description
This poster was used at a 1978 farmers protest in Washington, D.C.
described
Farmer
ID Number
1978.0584.04
catalog number
1978.0584.04
accession number
1978.0584

Sign, Don't Buy Imported Clothing

This placard came from a Washington, D.C. job rally in 1975. "Buy American" campaigns were one response by manufacturers and unions to global competition.Currently not on view
Description
This placard came from a Washington, D.C. job rally in 1975. "Buy American" campaigns were one response by manufacturers and unions to global competition.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1975
used date
1975
affiliated union
American Federation of Labor
Congress of Industrial Organizations
Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America
maker
Allied Printing Trades Council
ID Number
1979.0734.06
catalog number
1979.0734.06
accession number
1979.0734

The Longest Walk Support Native Americans Stop Genocide

A poster advertising the Longest Walk.
Description
A poster advertising the Longest Walk. The Longest Walk, held in 1978, consisted of a march from San Francisco, CA to Washington, DC to bring awareness to the rights of Native people and to protest eleven bills that threatened treaties between the government and several Native tribes.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1978
associated date
1978 07 15
ID Number
1978.2202.32
accession number
1978.2202
catalog number
1978.2202.32

Stop sterilization abuse/ Alto al abuso de esterilizacion

A poster created by the Women's Graphics CollectiveCurrently not on view
Description
A poster created by the Women's Graphics Collective
Location
Currently not on view
associated institution
Women's Graphics Collective
maker
Women's Graphics Collective
ID Number
1977.0660.04
accession number
1977.0660
catalog number
1977.0660.04

Sing Out Freedom!

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1964 07 27
ID Number
1979.0764.01
accession number
1979.0764
catalog number
1979.0764.01

Memorial Procession

Orlando Letelier, a Chilean living in exile in the United States, worked as a senior fellow at the Institue for Policy Studies in Washington, DC. He also lobbied against the military dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet, the Chilean leader.
Description
Orlando Letelier, a Chilean living in exile in the United States, worked as a senior fellow at the Institue for Policy Studies in Washington, DC. He also lobbied against the military dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet, the Chilean leader. Ronnie Karpen Moffitt was a work colleague of Letelier. She ran the "Music Carryout" program which made musicial instruments available to the poor. She also campaigned for democracy in Chile. On September 21, 1976 a car bomb placed by the Chilean secret police exploded and both were killed.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1976
associated date
September 26, 1976
ID Number
1977.0296.161
accession number
1977.0296
catalog number
1977.0296.161

Poster, "Promotions not Proposals"

This poster was carried in a women’s rights march in 1970, in which many protestors called for better job opportunities over marriage proposals in Washington, DC.
Description
This poster was carried in a women’s rights march in 1970, in which many protestors called for better job opportunities over marriage proposals in Washington, DC.
date made
c1970
associated date
1970 08 20
ID Number
1979.0735.22
accession number
1979.0735
catalog number
1979.0735.22

poster

A poster from a Dinner Theatre in 1976. The title character, Purlie Victorious Judson, is a traveling preacher who returns to his small hometown in Georgia to save the community's church and emancipate cotton workers on the local plantation.Currently not on view
Description
A poster from a Dinner Theatre in 1976. The title character, Purlie Victorious Judson, is a traveling preacher who returns to his small hometown in Georgia to save the community's church and emancipate cotton workers on the local plantation.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1970s
ID Number
1977.0296.057
catalog number
1977.0296.057
accession number
1977.0296

Belva Lockwood

Belva Lockwood, 1830-1917, was an advocate for woman's rights, world peace, and supported Temperance. She successfully petitioned Congress for the priviledge of practicing before the Supreme Court.
Description
Belva Lockwood, 1830-1917, was an advocate for woman's rights, world peace, and supported Temperance. She successfully petitioned Congress for the priviledge of practicing before the Supreme Court. Lockwood ran for President in 1884 and 1888 on the National Equal Rights Party ticket.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1980
associated date
1980
associated person
Lockwood, Belva Ann
ID Number
1981.0878.05 [dup1]
accession number
1981.0878
catalog number
1981.0878.05

Women in Government

A 1980 poster that uses a graphic of an American flag to compare the number of men and women in government service.Currently not on view
Description
A 1980 poster that uses a graphic of an American flag to compare the number of men and women in government service.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1980
associated date
1979
copyright date
1980
quoted
Stanton, Elizabeth Cady
ID Number
1981.0878.04 [dup1]
accession number
1981.0878
catalog number
1981.0878.04

Poster, "Hands Off El Salvador Nicaragua Cuba"

This poster was used in a rally to stop U.S. intervention in Central America and the Caribbean.
Description
This poster was used in a rally to stop U.S. intervention in Central America and the Caribbean.
date made
1982
ID Number
1982.0184.01
accession number
1982.0184
catalog number
1982.0184.01

Frances Perkins

Frances Perkins, 1880-1965, was the Secretary of Labor 1933-1945.Currently not on view
Description
Frances Perkins, 1880-1965, was the Secretary of Labor 1933-1945.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1980
copyright date
1980
associated
U.S. Department of Labor
associated person
Roosevelt, Franklin Delano
ID Number
1981.0878.06.a
catalog number
1981.0878.06.a
accession number
1981.0878
catalog number
1981.0878.06

Francis Perkins

Frances Perkins, 1880-1965, was the Secretary of Labor 1933-1945.Currently not on view
Description
Frances Perkins, 1880-1965, was the Secretary of Labor 1933-1945.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1980
copyright date
1980
referenced
U.S. Department of Labor
associated person
Roosevelt, Franklin Delano
ID Number
1981.0878.06.b
catalog number
1981.0878.06.b
accession number
1981.0878
catalog number
1981.0878.06

We Are the People Your Government Warned You About

The People's Peace Treaty was created in December 1970 by representatives of the United States, North and South Vietnam to bring an end to the Vietnam War.
Description
The People's Peace Treaty was created in December 1970 by representatives of the United States, North and South Vietnam to bring an end to the Vietnam War. Points in the treaty included an immediate US withdrawal from Vietnam, a release of prisoners, including pilots in North Vietnam, after the withdrawal of the United States, the Vietnamese to form a provisional coalition government to organize democratic elections, and for both the United States and Vietnam to respect the neutrality of Loas and Cambodia.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1971
ID Number
1981.0452.13
accession number
1981.0452
catalog number
1981.0452.13

poster

A poster from Bella Abzug's farewell luncheon. She was a member of the House of Representatives from New York, 1971-1977. Her campaign slogan was "This woman's place is in the House and the Senate.
Description
A poster from Bella Abzug's farewell luncheon. She was a member of the House of Representatives from New York, 1971-1977. Her campaign slogan was "This woman's place is in the House and the Senate. Abzug served as a co-chair for the National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year and presided over the 1977 National Women's Conference.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1977
used
1977
depicted
Abzug, Bella
ID Number
1980.0212.04
accession number
1980.0212

International Women United

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1975
ID Number
1980.0783.29.b
accession number
1980.0783
catalog number
1980.0783.29.b

poster

Libertarian Ed Clark ran for president in 1980.Currently not on view
Description
Libertarian Ed Clark ran for president in 1980.
Location
Currently not on view
associated person
Clark, Ed
associated institution
Libertarian Party
ID Number
1980.0637.05
accession number
1980.0637
catalog number
1980.0637.05

Presidential Appointees

A poster with names and photos of women appointed by the Carter administration.Currently not on view
Description
A poster with names and photos of women appointed by the Carter administration.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1979
associated date
July 1979
associated person
Carter, Jimmy
ID Number
1981.0646.02
accession number
1981.0646
catalog number
1981.0646.02

International Women United

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1975
ID Number
1980.0783.29.a
accession number
1980.0783
catalog number
1980.0783.29.a

We Shall Overcome

The official 1963 March on Wahington poster.Currently not on view
Description
The official 1963 March on Wahington poster.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1963
associated date
1963 08 28
associated
King, Jr., Martin Luther
ID Number
1979.1207.01
catalog number
1979.1207.01
accession number
1979.1207

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.