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. |
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Selected Objects |
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Abraham Lincoln's Patent Model: Improvement for Buoying Vessels Over Shoals
Abraham Lincoln's interest in canal building, river commerce, and internal improvements not only drew him to the Whig and later Republican Party, but also led him to try his hand ...
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Caroline Harrison's 1889 Inaugural Gown
In keeping with the "America first" economic policy of her husband, Benjamin Harrison, Caroline Harrison's gown for the 1889 inaugural ball at the Pension Building was an "all-American" creation. The ...
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Cesar Chavez's Union Jacket
Cesar Chavez inspired a nation to seek justice for the poorest of America's laborers. A migrant worker since childhood, Cesar Chavez pledged his life to improving the lives of his ...
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George Washington Farewell Address Candle Stand
After two terms as president, George Washington chose not to serve a third term but instead to retire to Mount Vernon. In September 1796 he presented his Farewell Address to ...
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"Jailed for Freedom" Pin
In January 1917, members of the National Woman's Party (NWP) became the first people to picket the White House. Protesting the government's failure to pass a constitutional amendment enfranchising women, ...
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Jefferson Banner
This cloth banner celebrates the electoral victory of Thomas Jefferson over John Adams in the presidential election of 1800. The banner is believed to be one of the earliest surviving ...
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Lady's Compact
This oval lady's compact is made in the shape of a telephone dial. On the dial appears "I LIKE IKE," with a map of the United States in the center. ...
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Lap Blanket
The American flag is a powerful symbol of freedom and independence for many activist groups who wish to claim full rights as citizens . This commercially marketed lap blanket was ...
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March on Washington Handbill
The March on Washington, August 28, 1963, was the largest civil rights demonstration the nation had ever witnessed. One hundred years after the Emancipation Proclamation, 250,000 Americans of all races ...
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Worker in Cotton Mill, Rhode Island, 1909
A Lewis Hine silver print from about 1906–1918, this image of a young boy working at a loom in a cotton mill in Rhode Island is one in a series ...
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World War II Poster
This image, said to be the most popular poster design of World War II, appeared as a billboard in 1941. Carl Paulson created the design under the direction of the ...
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