Collecting Campaign Memorabilia
How to Collect Presidential Election Buttons, Posters, Signs, Quotes
Mar 19, 2008
For all of you who love collections, here is a great election year idea. Start a collection of election memorabilia.
This Presidential election will never happen again. It may be historic in more ways than one. We may elect our first woman president or our first black president. Maybe Ralph Nader will finally get his day in the White House! No matter who wins the election, items saved from that election are always going to be valuable later.
Campaign Buttons
Campaign buttons were once a popular thing to collect. People wore the buttons to let everyone know who they planned to vote for. The campaign button that is the most collected was the "I Like Ike" button from the year 1952. This slogan was for President Dwight D. Eisenhower who went by the nickname of “Ike.
Inauguration buttons were also popular after the candidate was elected. Eisenhower’s read, “ 43rd inauguration 1957, Consent of the Governed.” It featured pictures of Mrs. Eisenhower, Mamie, Ike and Richard Nixon, the vice president and his wife, Pat.
Memorabilia to Collect
Some people saved hats with the candidate’s slogan, which were worn at the political conventions for each party. Items used to advertise a candidate can be saved. You can collect all sorts of election items:
- T-shirts
- Bumper stickers
- Posters
- Campaign signs
- Ball caps
- Items with the candidate's name or slogan
- Printed copies of slogans
- Newspaper articles
- Vote tallies from primaries
- News headlines
- Dated copies of actual election day results
- Magazine articles (put in sheet protectors and save in a binder)
- toys
- Quotations of the candidates
- Coffee mugs
- Fans
- Postcards
- Keychains
- Postcards
- Handbills
- Ballots or samples cut from local newspapers
- Banners
- Toys
- Armbands
Where to get Collectables
- Most collectible memorabilia can be purchased.
- Find some items on the internet. Try e-bay.
- Check political party headquarters.
- Watch at garage sales.
- Ask friends and family members.
Study Project
- Study some of your “finds.”
- Find out who designed the pieces and how the campaign items worked in favor or against the candidate for office.
- What items had good effect on the election and why?
- Did the symbols, colors, shapes or slogans have a purpose or represent something?
- Design an election button slogan or logo for an imaginary candidate.
- Write several sentences explaining why you choose the design.
- Print in color and cut out to decorate shirts, hats, posters and banners.
- Hold an election. Let the students or participants make up ballots and vote for the candidate of his choice based on his opinion of the slogans.
What to Do With Collections
- A group, club, or class may display the items in glass cases in the school or public library.
- Make a scrapbook.
- Label each piece with the information about where it was found, date, the year of the campaign, the runner’s name, the purpose of the item, who found it ,and where?
- Store bulky items in banker’s boxes or in plastic tubs.
- Put flat small items inside a binder or scrapbook for saving.
- Trinkets and small hard items can be housed on a shelf, in a shadow box, or glass case.
- Hang posters and signs on the walls in your classroom or home.
- Divide the collection later among the club members according to who obtained each item.
Presidential campaigns are exciting days in the history of our nation. Keepsakes from the election will be fun to look at later and fun to trade and sell with other collectors. Start now!
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