Political campaigns button collection
Scope and Content
114 buttons and one scarf made to advertise American political campaigns, created from circa 1956 - 1992. Some of the campaigns included are:
- Stevenson-Kefauver presidential campaign (1956)
- Kennedy-Johnson presidential campaign (1960)
- Nixon-Lodge presidential campaign (1960)
- Goldwater-Miller presidential campaign (1964)
- McGovern-Shriver presidential campaign (1972)
- Clinton-Gore presidential campaign (1992)
Other buttons include "Pat for First Lady," GOP and Republican Party-themed buttons, and buttons promoting Democratic Missouri Senator Jim Symington. A few of the buttons are in foreign languages, included Hebrew and Greek. The included scarf was created for Eugene McCarthy's 1968 presidential campaign.Dates
- circa 1956 - 1992
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions.
Use Restrictions
The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)
Historical Information
Political buttons have been used in the United States since Abraham Lincoln's presidential campaign in 1860. The mass produced election campaign buttons we know today were first created in 1896 for the presidential race between William McKinley and William Jennings Bryan. That very year a patent for a pin-back/celluloid front button design allowed for the mass production. Political buttons, whether to support a political candidate, cause, or party, are still used today.
Extent
0.25 Linear Feet (114 buttons, one scarf; 115 items total)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
114 buttons and one scarf made to advertise American political campaigns, created from circa 1956 - 1992.
Arrangement
This is a single box collection.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Most of the buttons were designed with the needle protruding off to the side. Care needed when handling.
Physical Location
R 72, C 4, S 1
Acquisition Information
Donated by Lynn Spencer in November 2019.
Bibliography
Moenster, Kathleen. "Political Campaign Buttons[.]" National Park Service, Febraury 8, 2019. https://www.nps.gov/jeff/blogs/political-campaign-buttons.htm#:~:text=The%20history%20of%20campaign%20buttons,tintype%20or%20ferrotype%20photo%20process.
Processing Information
Processing and finding aid completed by Amanda Menjivar in March 2023.
- Memorabilia Subject Source: TGM II, Genre and physical characteristic terms
- Political campaigns -- United States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Presidents -- Election Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- United States -- Politics and government Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Guide to Political campaigns button collection
- Subtitle
- Political campaigns button collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Amanda Menjivar
- Date
- March 24, 2023
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center Repository
Fenwick Library, MS2FL
4400 University Dr.
Fairfax Virginia 22030 United States
703-993-2220
703-993-8911 (Fax)
speccoll@gmu.edu
