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.
Hand balance with a 6-inch iron beam and 2.5-inch brass pans, in a rectangular wooden box marked “J. H. Halsey.” Accessories include weights, two vials of powder, and four recipes.
This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1847. 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 medals.
Obverse: Bust of Zachary Taylor facing forward. Legend reads: MAJOR ZACHARY TAYLOR/ HERO OF PALO ALTO, RESACA DE LA PALMA, MONTEREY AND BUENA VISTA. 1847.
Reverse: Eagle with shield carrying an olive branch and three arrows. Legend reads: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 1847.
This medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1848. 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 campaign medals.
Obverse: Bust of Zachary Taylor in military dress facing right. The legend reads: MAJOR GENERAL ZACHARY TAYLOR.
Reverse: The legend reads: ENTERED ACCORDING TO ACT OF CONGRESS/ IN THE YEAR 1848/ BY Wm. G. BROWN, IN THE CLERKS OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
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 is an important example of early American industrial manufacturing that adapted armory machines 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: WILLIAM H. HARRISON,THE HERO & STATESMAN.
Reverse: Image of a log cabin set into the woods with smoke rising from the chimney. Legend reads: CANDIDATE OF THE PEOPLE.
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 a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, and campaign medals.
Obverse: Bust of William Henry Harrison facing left. The legend reads: MAJ. GENl W. HARRISON BORN FEB. 9. 1773.
Reverse: Image of a log cabin, with a legend that reads: THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE IN THE YEAR 1841.
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 left. The legend reads: WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON.
Reverse: Image of the Bunker Hill Memorial, surrounded by flags with an eagle at the top. Legend reads: HARRISON JUBILEE BUNKER HILL/SEPt 10 1849.
Recruiting poster printed with "Volunteers for Mexico."
General History
Broadsides (single sheets of paper usually printed on one side) served as public announcements or advertisements soon after the beginning of printing. Originally issued primarily by governmental, religious, and political bodies, broadsides were later used for advertisements, programs, notices, ballad verses, elegies, and comments on contemporary events. They were read, handed out, or posted in prominent locations and were an inexpensive way to reach a wide audience. Broadsides are documents created for a specific purpose and usually discarded once that initial purpose is accomplished. Broadsides are an important resource for many disciplines because the images and slogans provide snapshots of the events, ideas, and attitudes of their era.
During wartime one common use of the broadside format was for recruiting purposes. Broadsides are considered “ephemera,” that is, items were produced with no intention of preservation. Most were meant to be posted and then discarded when they had served their purpose. That is what makes so many broadsides rare, if not unique.