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The Great American Political Poster
Album Description
I was delighted to see that Saint Mary's College of California is going to feature the exhibition "Sign of the Times, The Great American Political Poster 1844 - 2009".
Perfect timing for the caucus/primary season! We have had several posts in our TPS network on campaign/election signs or ads and the Library put out a wonderful book in 2012 - webinar here.
As I looked for digital images available in the Library of Congress, I could see that students might like to take campaign posters or signs from the past and pair them with similar slogans or brands from today's campaigns. What slogans or approaches are similar to each of the the historic posters? Please add your comments (or analysis) :) below the photos or add your own selections from the Library.
campaign politics Political Posters election campaign posters bestof
Sign at Saint Mary's College of California
Teaching Notes
Upcoming exhibition at Saint Mary's College of California
Bring U.S. together. Vote Chisholm 1972, unbought and unbossed.
Teaching Notes
Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2014646807/
Reference note
Summary: Poster shows portrait of presidential candidate and U.S. Representative Shirley Chisholm.
Created / Published: [United States] : N.G. Slater Corporation, [1972]
Subject Headings: - Chisholm, Shirley,--1924-2005--Political activity
- Political campaigns--1970-1980
- Presidential elections--1970-1980
Genre: Offset lithographs--1970-1980
Political posters--American--1970-1980
Notes: - Title from item.
- Date of publication supplied by Library staff.
- Forms part of the Artist poster filing series (Library of Congress)
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: ppmsca 42048 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsca.42048
ds 00863 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ds.00863
Abraham Lincoln, Republican candidate for president of the United States
Teaching Notes
Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/resource/ppmsca.19254/
Reference note
Summary: A print for a large campaign banner or poster for Republican presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln. It features a central roundel with a bust portrait of the candidate, flanked by standing deities Justice and Liberty. Justice (left) holds scales and a sword, while Liberty (right) holds the Constitution and a staff with Phrygian cap. An eagle with wings spread perches atop the roundel, behind which are several American flags on pointed staffs. Below the roundel a document "The Union" and a fasces lie on the ground. The image appears to have been printed from the same blocks (or a stereotype of them) as Baker & Godwin's 1856 banner for Millard Fillmore (no. 1856-6). Only the central portrait has changed.
Contributor Names: Baker & Godwin, engraver
Created / Published: [New York] : Published and for sale by Baker & Godwin, Tribune Buildings, N.Y., c1860.
Subject Headings: - Banners, campaign
- Fasces (symbol)
- Justice (personified)
- Lincoln, Abraham, presidential candidate
- Liberty (personified)
Genre: Portrait prints--1860
Woodcuts--1860
Notes: - Caption label from exhibit "American Treasures Memory": Lincoln for President. In the 1860 presidential campaign, brightly colored banners, outrageous political cartoons, sentimental sheet music covers, and patriotic portraits were printed to win the vote. This campaign banner supports the candidacy of Abraham Lincoln during his first (and victorious) presidential campaign in 1860. The Library has a rich collection of graphic political ephemera, some of which has come through copyright deposit.
- Title from item.
- Entered ... 1860 by Baker & Godwin ...
- The Library's impression of the banner is a copyright proof printed on paper. The design may have been intended for printing on cloth as well. This impression was deposited for copyright registration on May 29, 1860.
- Published in: American political prints, 1766-1876 / Bernard F. Reilly. Boston : G.K. Hall, 1991, entry 1860-13.
- Exhibited: American Treasures, Library of Congress, 1997.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Digital Id: ppmsca 19254 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsca.19254
cph 3a50777 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3a50777
I am willing, no matter what my personal fortunes may be, to play for the verdict of mankind
Teaching Notes
Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2012647854/
Reference note
Summary: Political poster for Woodrow Wilson 1916 presidential election campaign shows Wilson in head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left.
Contributor Names: Harris & Ewing, copyright claimant
Created / Published: 1916.
Subject Headings: - Wilson, Woodrow,--1856-1924
- Political campaigns--1910-1920
- Presidential elections--1910-1920
Notes: - Amalgamated Lithographers of America, Local No. 4, Chicago, Union Label.
- Copyright 1916 by Harris & Ewing.
- Title from item.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: ppss 00481 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppss.00481
Prosperity at home, prestige abroad
Teaching Notes
Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2002719195/
Reference note
Summary: Campaign poster showing William McKinley holding U.S. flag and standing on gold coin "sound money", held up by group of men, in front of ships "commerce" and factories "civilization".
Created / Published: [between 1895 and 1900]
Notes: - Color lithograph by Northwestern Litho. Co., Milwaukee.
- This record contains unverified, old data from caption card.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Digital Id: cph 3b52834 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3b52834
cph 3a36017 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3a36017
cph 3b48113 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3b48113
[Wendell Lewis Willkie, 1892-1944]
Teaching Notes
Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2005686057/
Reference note
Summary: Presidential campaign poster showing composite of Willkie action photos.
Created / Published: c1940.
Notes: - Copyright by F. A. Russo.
- This record contains unverified, old data from caption card.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Digital Id: cph 3a48982 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3a48982
[Campaign poster showing Cleveland's stepping stones from "the village clerk" through "the tidal wave governor" to "our next president"]
Teaching Notes
Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2005694606/
Reference note
Created / Published: c1884.
Notes: - Photo by Tierney, New Haven, Conn., of sign by Rawson & Harris, sign painters.
- This record contains unverified, old data from caption card.
- Caption card tracings: Presidential contests 1884; Campaign devices; Shelf.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Digital Id: cph 3b06898 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3b06898
Angela Davis urges -- declare your independence : vote for Hall and Tyner
Teaching Notes
Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2016648082/
Reference note
Contributor Names: Communist Party of the United States of America, sponsor/advertiser
Created / Published: [1976]
Subject Headings: - Hall, Gus
- Tyner, Jarvis
- Davis, Angela Y.--(Angela Yvonne),--1944
- United States.--Declaration of Independence
- Communist Party of the United States of America
- Presidential elections--1970-1980
Genre: Posters--American--1970-1980
Prints--Color--1970-1980
Notes: - Title from item.
- Gift; Gary Yanker; 1975-1983.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: cph 3g06510 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3g06510
yan 1a38349 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/yan.1a38349
cph 3c23084 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3c23084
Wm. H. Taft - "good times"
Teaching Notes
Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2005685906/
Reference note
Date Created/Published: Cleveland : Allied Printing Trades Council, c1908.
Summary: Print shows William Howard Taft, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing slightly right, against red, white, and blue background, with "Good Times" printed on a label attached to his coat.
Call Number: PGA - Allied Printing--Wm. H. Taft (E size) [P&P]
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Notes: Title from item. Copyrighted 1908. Allied Printing Trades Council, Cleveland, union label printed in lower right corner.
Subjects: Taft, William H.--(William Howard),--1857-1930. Presidential elections--United States--1900-1910.