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.
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Martin Van Buren 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 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 Martin Van Buren facing right with six stars along the bottom. The legend reads: MARTIN VAN BUREN & DEMOCRACY.
- Reverse: Legend reads: OUR NEXT PRESIDENT.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Van Buren, Martin
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1155
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1155
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Benjamin Harrison Campaign 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. The pin is in the shape of a clover.
- Obverse: Bust of Benjamin Harrison facing left. The legend reads: HE’S ALL RIGHT. HARRISON.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Harrison, William Henry
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1161
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1161
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
George Washington Commemorative Coin
- Description (Brief)
- This commemorative coin was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut in the 19th century. 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 George Washington facing left. The legend reads: GEORGE WASHINGTON BORN 1732 DIED 1799.
- Reverse: Bust of George Washington facing left. The legend reads: GEORGE WASHINGTON BORN 1732 DIED 1799.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Washington, George
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1162
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1162
- 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 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 medals. The photo is set into a six-pointed star that was meant to be worn on clothing.
- Obverse: Tintype photograph of Horatio Seymour that is labeled “SEYMOUR.”
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Seymour, Horatio
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1164
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1164
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Ulysses S. Grant Campaign Badge
- 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
- depicted
- Grant, Ulysses S.
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1167
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1167
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Ulysses S. Grant Campaign Badge
- 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 campaign badges.
- Obverse: Photograph of Ulysses S. Grant and Schuyler Colfax that is labeled, “GRANT and COLFAX.” The photo is in an ornate silver-colored frame featuring a spread-winged eagle at the top, two unfurling red, white and blue American flags, and a scroll that reads “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Grant, Ulysses S.
- Colfax, Schuyler
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1168
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1168
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Schuyler Colfax Campaign Badge
- 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.
- Obverse: Tintype photograph of Schuyler Colfax labeled: COLFAX.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Colfax, Schuyler
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1170
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1170
- 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 1864. 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 Abraham Lincoln, labeled: A. LINCOLN.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Lincoln, Abraham
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1171
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1171
- 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 1864. 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 Abraham Lincoln, labeled “A. LINCOLN.”
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Lincoln, Abraham
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1175
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1175
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Ulysses S. Grant 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 Ulysses S. Grant, labeled “Grant.”
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Grant, Ulysses S.
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1176
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1176
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center