Political memorabilia ranging from posters and letters to campaign buttons and political cartoons are now being featured in two Starkville exhibits.
"Elections USA: The Republicans . . . The Democrats" is on display through Nov. 26 at the Starkville High School library. At Mississippi State, "Elections USA : The Race for the American Presidency" may be viewed through Dec. 19 in the second and third floor atriums of the university's Mitchell Memorial Library.
Both collections draw on extensive politically-based materials housed at the MSU library. In addition, the exhibits feature items donated to the MSU Libraries by Starkville Republican Party activist Barbara Bouchillon, as well as her Democrat Party contemporaries, Jeanne Marszalek and the late Dr. Douglas Conner.
The SHS exhibit includes posters, letters, brochures, campaign buttons, and other unusual political memorabilia from national and Mississippi campaigns. Weekday display hours are 8 a.m.-3 p.m. and visitors should sign in at the school office.
The MSU exhibit features broadsides, photographs, political cartoons, letters, newspapers, and other memorabilia from primarily 20th century United States presidential campaigns, with some materials also representing 19th century contests.
The MSU library's vast array of political materials is housed in the Special Collections department and the recently opened Congressional and Political Research Center.
For more information, telephone Mattie Sink of MSU at (662) 325-3848 or Florence Box of SHS at 320-6460.
