Ohio was a political powerhouse in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Between 1869 and 1923, seven men from Ohio held the nation's highest office for 28 years.

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The Western Reserve Historical Society has built an extensive collection of campaign memorabilia with the cooperation and generosity of many members, friends and private collectors. The museum boasts one of the largest collections of presidential campaign memorabilia in the nation.

The earliest memorabilia in the collection are commemorative items created soon after George Washington left office in 1797. Abraham Lincoln’s campaigns in 1860 and 1864 saw the first use of photography in campaign items. William McKinley’s campaign introduced the iconic political button to presidential campaign memorabilia, and by Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s third presidential campaign in 1940, the button was an essential part of the campaign trail.

Explore examples from the collection and discover how the Race for the Presidency has evolved.

Highlights