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

Gore 2000 / We Support Gay Scouts

A poster supporting Al Gore Democratic candidate for president in 2000, sponsored by Stonewall Democrats.Currently not on view
Description
A poster supporting Al Gore Democratic candidate for president in 2000, sponsored by Stonewall Democrats.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
2000
referenced
Gore, Jr., Albert A.
maker
Allied Printing Trades Council
ID Number
2003.0080.078
accession number
2003.0080
catalog number
2003.0080.078

Human Need Not Corporate Greed! Put People First!

A poster used at a Chicago May Day rally in 2000 to promote awareness of social justice issues.Currently not on view
Description
A poster used at a Chicago May Day rally in 2000 to promote awareness of social justice issues.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
2000-05-01
user
Schupp, Ronald I.
maker
Schupp, Ronald I.
ID Number
2000.0178.09
accession number
2000.0178
catalog number
2000.0178.09

What is Democracy If the Right and the Voice of the People Are Being Trampled Upon?

A poster used at a Clinton anti-impeachment rally in December 1998.Currently not on view
Description
A poster used at a Clinton anti-impeachment rally in December 1998.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1998
used date
December 17, 1998
associated
Clinton, Bill
ID Number
1999.0082.08
accession number
1999.0082
catalog number
1999.0082.08

Make Your Shot Count. Vote

Nykesha Sales, small forward for the University of Connecticut women's basketball team, won numerous awards throughout her high school and collegiate careers including the High School and Collegiate All-American teams.
Description
Nykesha Sales, small forward for the University of Connecticut women's basketball team, won numerous awards throughout her high school and collegiate careers including the High School and Collegiate All-American teams. A presidential debate was held in Hartford, Connecticut on October 2, 1996.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1996-10-02
date made
1996
associated date
1996
depicted
Sales, Nykesha
ID Number
1997.0390.03
accession number
1997.0390
catalog number
1997.0390.03

Mexico 'Front Royal' / We Pay / $ Taxes $ / Citizenship Now!"

A homemade sign used at an Immigration March on April 10, 2006.Currently not on view
Description
A homemade sign used at an Immigration March on April 10, 2006.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
2006
Associated Date
2006-03-10
ID Number
2006.0106.19
accession number
2006.0106
catalog number
2006.0106.19

Justicia Y Dignidad Para Todos Los Inmigrantes

A sign used at an Immigration March on April 10, 2006.
Description
A sign used at an Immigration March on April 10, 2006.
Date made
2006
Associated Date
2006-03-10
ID Number
2006.0106.18
accession number
2006.0106
catalog number
2006.0106.18

Stop HR 4437! No Walls! No Criminalization!

A sign used at an Immigration March on April 10, 2006.Currently not on view
Description
A sign used at an Immigration March on April 10, 2006.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
2006
Associated Date
2006-03-10
ID Number
2006.0106.14
accession number
2006.0106
catalog number
2006.0106.14

Ken Salazar for Colorado

A United States Senate campaign poster for Colorado Democrat Ken Salazar.Currently not on view
Description
A United States Senate campaign poster for Colorado Democrat Ken Salazar.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
2004
referenced
Salazar, Ken
ID Number
2006.0019.14
accession number
2006.0019
catalog number
2006.0019

The World Can't Wait, Remove the Bush Government

A sign used at an Immigration March on April 10, 2006.Currently not on view
Description
A sign used at an Immigration March on April 10, 2006.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
2006
Associated Date
2006-03-10
referenced
Bush, George W.
maker
Allied Printing Trades Council
ID Number
2006.0106.12
accession number
2006.0106
catalog number
2006.0106.12

NOTICE, Deductions from Pay Start Jan. 1

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1936
associated date
1937-01-01
1935-08-14
referenced; publisher
Social Security Board
referenced
Roosevelt, Franklin Delano
ID Number
2004.0180.138
accession number
2004.0180
catalog number
2004.0180.138

Make Your Shot Count. Vote

A poster with Jennifer Rizzotti, who played point guard for the University of Connecticut from 1992-1996. She won several national awards while a collegiate athlete. A presidential debate was held in Hartford, Connecticut on October 2, 1996.Currently not on view
Description
A poster with Jennifer Rizzotti, who played point guard for the University of Connecticut from 1992-1996. She won several national awards while a collegiate athlete. A presidential debate was held in Hartford, Connecticut on October 2, 1996.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1996
depicted
Rizzotti, Jennifer
ID Number
1997.0390.02
accession number
1997.0390
catalog number
1997.0390.02

2006.0106.11

A sign used at an Immigration March on April 10, 2006.Currently not on view
Description
A sign used at an Immigration March on April 10, 2006.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
2006
Associated Date
2006-03-10
maker
Allied Printing Trades Council
ID Number
2006.0106.13
accession number
2006.0106
catalog number
2006.0106.13

How Can A Human Being Be Illegal?

A homemade sign used at an Immigration March on April 10, 2006.
Description
A homemade sign used at an Immigration March on April 10, 2006.
Date made
2006
Associated Date
2006-03-10
ID Number
2006.0106.09
accession number
2006.0106
catalog number
2006.0106.09

Your Voice Counts. Vote

A 1996 poster advertising that American Music Award and Grammy Award winner Michael Bolton is a registered voter in Connecticut. A presidential debate was held in Hartford, Connecticut on October 2, 1996.Currently not on view
Description
A 1996 poster advertising that American Music Award and Grammy Award winner Michael Bolton is a registered voter in Connecticut. A presidential debate was held in Hartford, Connecticut on October 2, 1996.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1996-10-02
date made
1996
associated date
1996
depicted
Bolton, Michael
ID Number
1997.0390.01
accession number
1997.0390
catalog number
1997.0390.01

Amnistia / Full Rights for All Immigrants!

A sign used at an Immigration March on April 10, 2006.
Description
A sign used at an Immigration March on April 10, 2006.
Date made
2006
Associated Date
2006-03-10
ID Number
2006.0106.10
accession number
2006.0106
catalog number
2006.0106.10

Register!

A poster with a drawing of Dick Tracy encouraging citizens to vote.Currently not on view
Description
A poster with a drawing of Dick Tracy encouraging citizens to vote.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1976
maker
U.S. Government Printing Office
ID Number
2002.0188.01
accession number
2002.0188
catalog number
2002.0188.01

Poster, "Don't Trade Away Our Social Security"

Date made
2000-04-12
ID Number
2000.0158.21
accession number
2000.0158
catalog number
2000.0158.21

Poster, "You Can Register and Vote at the Polls on Election Day"

Date made
1996
associated dates
1996 / 1996
1996 / 1996
user
Rock the Vote
publisher
Rock the Vote
ID Number
1996.0113.16
catalog number
1996.0113.16
accession number
1996.0113

Poster, "Cure Hate. Stop Aids."

This poster was used during a gay, lesbian, and bisexual rights rally in 1993 on the National Mall in Washington, DC.
Description
This poster was used during a gay, lesbian, and bisexual rights rally in 1993 on the National Mall in Washington, DC.
ID Number
1993.0343.10
catalog number
1993.0343.10
accession number
1993.0343

Libertarian Republicans/ Less Government Now!

Libertarianism is a political movement that promotes individual liberty.Currently not on view
Description
Libertarianism is a political movement that promotes individual liberty.
Location
Currently not on view
associated dates
1992 08 16 / 1992 08 16, 1992 08 21 / 1992 08 21
depicted (sitter)
Republican Party
ID Number
1992.0396.201
accession number
1992.0396
catalog number
1992.0396.201

Protect Longshorement's Jobs

A poster in support of International Longshormen in New York.Currently not on view
Description
A poster in support of International Longshormen in New York.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced
AFL-CIO
maker
Allied Printing Trades Council
affiliated union
International Longshoremen's Association. Local No. 24
maker
Allied Printing Trades Council
ID Number
1992.0048.36
catalog number
1992.0048.36
accession number
1992.0048

Poster, "end hunger in America."

This poster highlighting hunger, a main issue addressed by the Poor People’s Campaign, was used at Resurrection City, a protest encampment on the National Mall in 1968.Currently not on view
Description
This poster highlighting hunger, a main issue addressed by the Poor People’s Campaign, was used at Resurrection City, a protest encampment on the National Mall in 1968.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1968
associated date
1968
associated institution
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
ID Number
1978.1093.13
accession number
1978.1093
catalog number
1978.1093.13

Somebody Paid the Price for Your Right Register/Vote

This object is a single-sided printed poster.
Description
This object is a single-sided printed poster. It depicts a view from the August 28, 1963 March on Washington for Jobs abd Freedom civil rights protest march in a black and white photograph, with African Americans carrying signs demanding an end to segregated schools and racial bias. The title reads "Somebody Paid the Price for Your Right Register/Vote." The photograph was taken by Flip Schulke, who was a noted American photojournalist of the civil rights movement in the 1950s-1960s. The poster was commissioned by the A. Philip Randolph Educational Fund and printed by the Lithographers and Photoengravers International Union (LPIU) in Washington, D.C. circa 1971. A. Philip Randolph was a leading activist of both the labor union and the civil rights movements. The A. Philip Randolph Educational Fund and its larger umbrella organization the A. Philip Randolph Institute are affiliated with the AFL-CIO, and serve to support labor issues primarily of African Americans.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
circa 1971
1971 circa
1970 circa
Associated Date
1963-08-28
commissioner
A. Philip Randolph Educational Fund
referenced
Randolph, A. Philip
photographer
Schulke, Flip
maker
Lithographers and Photoengravers International Union
ID Number
2018.0124.01
accession number
2018.0124
catalog number
2018.0124.01

Make It Real - Register/Vote

This object is a single-sided printed poster. It depicts African American children with faces that appear to be expressing hope in a black and white photograph taken by Flip Schulke, who was a noted American photojournalist of the civil rights movement of the 1950s-1960s.
Description
This object is a single-sided printed poster. It depicts African American children with faces that appear to be expressing hope in a black and white photograph taken by Flip Schulke, who was a noted American photojournalist of the civil rights movement of the 1950s-1960s. The title reads "Make It Real register/vote." The poster was commissioned by the A. Philip Randolph Educational Fund and printed by the Lithographers and Photoengravers International Union (LPIU) in Washington, D.C. circa 1971. A. Philip Randolph was a leading activist of both the labor union and the civil rights movements. The A. Philip Randolph Educational Fund and its larger umbrella organization the A. Philip Randolph Institute are affiliated with the AFL-CIO, and serve to support labor issues primarily of African Americans.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
circa 1971
1971 circa
1970 circa
commissioner
A. Philip Randolph Educational Fund
referenced
Randolph, A. Philip
photographer
Schulke, Flip
printer
Lithographers and Photoengravers International Union
ID Number
2018.0124.02
accession number
2018.0124
catalog number
2018.0124.02

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.