Election Ephemera, the Material Culture of Political Campaigns
Some of the exhibit items displayed on this page may contain multiple images. Please click on the thumbnails to explore the exhibit items in greater detail.
During presidential and state election campaigns, a large amount of ephemera is produced to market candidates. These materials include printed posters and flyers, buttons, clothing, banners, and flags, as well as songs composed in honor of candidates and even election-inspired recipes. Before the advent of television advertisements geared at mass audiences, the most common campaign advertisements were leaflets distributed during events and gatherings. Campaign buttons, which have proved more durable, emerged in the early 19th century and have been an integral part of American political campaigns and social activism ever since.
As the use of automobiles increased in the mid-20th century, bumper stickers became a common political marketing tool. Made with self-adhesives that allowed the stickers to be affixed to a car, bumper stickers provided an easy way to share one’s politics during a drive to work or the store.
Taken together, these items have played an important role in political communication and marketing and served as methods of civic participation and activism. Their production has evolved overtime due to changes in technology, the availability of inexpensive materials and manufacturers, and copyright regulations. The artifacts in this section capture sensibilities and aesthetics of specific moments in history, documenting how material culture has been used to communicate affinities among politicians, activists, and citizens. As you make your way through, consider: what materials from a political campaign are likely to captivate your attention? Why?