Political History Curators Larry Bird and Harry Rubenstein of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History will wind their way through the crowds at the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, not to find a better vantage, but to scout out the best political memorabilia. Since the late 1980s, the duo have been attending party primaries and conventions to collect signs, buttons, posters, hats, sunglasses and other novelties for the museum. It is just one step in the ongoing effort to preserve materials for future generations to study the American political movements.
Every four years “Harry and Larry,” as they are known, attend both conventions to speak with delegates, volunteers, vendors, supporters and protestors about the ways they personally engage in the political process. The curators’ goal is to bring back material that speaks to the atmosphere of the conventions. Their collecting forms part of a large research collection in American presidential politics, and the objects are used to tell campaign stories in museum exhibitions such as “The American Presidency” and “The First Ladies.”
Through their longtime collecting, Rubenstein and Bird have achieved notable national recognition for their collecting at both major party conventions, the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primaries, and have appeared on national news shows.
The National Museum of American History collects, preserves and displays American heritage in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific and military history. For information about the museum, please visit http://americanhistory.si.edu or call Smithsonian Information at (202) 633-1000.