Ready to Wear
Ferrotype medalette collection, 1860
Thirteen-year-old Goodwin Palmer documented the election of 1860 with a collection of four ferrotype medalettes picturing that year’s presidential candidates, each attached by thread to a piece of card stock. Abraham Lincoln won a plurality of the popular vote in the four-way race, followed by Stephen A. Douglas, John C. Breckinridge, and John Bell.
Gift of Ralph E. Becker Collection of Political Americana
Campaign Clothing
Even though children and adolescents could not vote, they participated in the presidential campaign by attending the public events that their parents and other adults did, often wearing clothing and hats made especially for them.
Trade catalog, Unexcelled Fireworks Company, New York, 1884
New York City’s Unexcelled Fireworks was one of several companies that developed a robust trade in oilcloth parade clothing, hats, and torches made for political clubs and their marching units throughout the northeastern United States in the late 19th century.
Gift of Ralph E. Becker Collection of Political Americana
Gifts of Dr. Richard H. Howland, Sara L. Lepman in memory of Dr. Harry Lepman, Ralph E. Becker Collection of Political Americana, and Unexcelled Fireworks Company
Street Banners
Political street banners could be ordered from a catalog or from a visiting salesman with a miniature model.
Trade catalog, Unexcelled Fireworks Company, 1888
Gift of Unexcelled Fireworks Company
Dressing the Part
New York City’s W. R. Scofield distributed Unexcelled Fireworks flags, lanterns, balloons, torches, and caps to “jobbers,” who sold campaign supplies directly to street-wise political groups and organizations.
