Balch Institute political ephemera collection

Table of Contents

Summary Information

Abstract

Administrative Information

Related Materials

Controlled Access Headings

Collection Inventory

Summary Information

Repository

The Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Creator

Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies.

Title

Balch Institute political ephemera collection

ID

3472

Date

1941-1974, undated

Extent

1.4 Linear feet ; 4 boxes, 3 flat files

Author

Finding aid prepared by Cary Hutto

Sponsor

Processing made possible by a generous donation from the Abington Junior High History Club.

Language

English

Mixed materials [Box]

1-4

Mixed materials [Oversize]

1-3

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Abstract

This collection of material that was collected by the Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies contains a variety publications and other printed matter generally related to elections, politic matters, and political parties. The vast majority of the collection dates to the 1970s, however, there are few folders of papers from the 1940s and 1960s. The collection covers, though not widely, national and regional politics, and especially centers on the 1972 presidential election. Some of the material was mailed to or requested by party supporters. Some form letters, personal correspondence, and other documents contain mailing addresses for Frederick Casoni of New Jersey, and Glenn Skillin of Syracuse, New York, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Housed four boxes, the collection is roughly arranged into groups. Taking up all of Box 1 and the first few folders in Box 2 are publications, flyers, advertisements, pamphlets, and other ephemera related to the 1972 president election involving Democratic candidates Geroge McGovern (president) and Sargent Shriver (vice-president) and Republican incumbents, President Richard Nixon and Vice President Spiro Agnew. Highlights from this group include an array of pamphlets describing each party's platform, a folder of pins and bumper stickers from Nixon's campaign (Box 1, folder 10), and a copy of Nixon's acceptance speech that he gave at the Republican National Convention in Miami, Florida. (Box 2, Folder 2). There is also a single folder of material from the campaigns of third party candidates including Ed Muskie and Hubert Humphrey (Box 2, Folder 4).

In the rest of Box 2 and in Box 3, Folder 1, are street lists of registered voters from 1971 for Philadelphia's 10th, 11th, 54th, and 60th wards. These sheets contain alphabetical lists of voters by street in a given ward. Box 3, Folder 2 contains similar street lists from 1972 for the 2nd through 7th and 10th to 11th wards in Chester, Delaware County.

Box 3, Folders 3 to 5 contain the earliest materials in the collection dating from the 1940s, with some items from the 1960s. They consist of documentation produced by the Republican party generally (like mailing lists and and an informational guide to the Republican National Convention), as well as by related organizations, such young Republican clubs, in New York and Florida.

The remaining materials in the collection are comprised of scant and miscellaneous publications and ephemera from different political parties, such as the Prohibition Party (Box 3, Folder 6), the Socialist Party (Box 4, Folder 1), and the Constitution Parties (Box 4, Folder 2), as well as advertisements, pamphlets, and other items produced by local and state politicians for various elections (Box 3, Folder 7). A miscellaneous folder (Box 4, Folder 5) contains a few interesting groups of items like a press release pertaining to and pictures of Bella Abzug, a United States Representative from New York, and a letter and pamphlets from the War Resister's League.

Remaining with this collection though not necessarily related to its contents are a commemorative medal from United Nation World Youth Assembly and a souvenir pen bearing Spiro Agnew's signature, as well as a group of newsletters and photographs of astronauts from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. These materials have been housed in Box 4, Folders 4 and 5, respectively.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

 The Historical Society of Pennsylvania ; 2014

Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Provenance

This is an artificial collection that was created by staff of the Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies mostly through donations and purchases of individual items or groups of items.

Processing note

Material from Republican organizations (Box 3, Folders 3-5) was formerly part of the Anthony Maisano papers (MSS002).

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Related Materials

Separation report

A few items in the collection contain original autographs, and they have been photocopied. The photocopies are available to researchers while the originals are currently closed. For access to the original items, please contact the library.

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Controlled Access Headings

Subject(s)

• Campaign paraphernalia--United States.
• Minorities--Political activity--20th century.
• Political candidates--United States--20th century.
• Political conventions.
• Political participation--United States.
• Political parties--United States--History--20th century.
• Presidential candidates--United States--History--20th century.

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Collection Inventory