Smithsonian Curators Prepare for RNC Memorabilia

Tags: Memorabilia, Politics, Smithsonian, Washington DC

Two curators from the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, Harry Rubenstein and Larry Bird, are revving up in preparation for this year’s Republican National Convention; however, unlike the candidates, delegates, pundits and news anchors, this duo is less interested the political content of the convention and more interested in the souvenirs it will produce.

Every four years since the late 1980s, the pair has visited both parties’ conventions, speaking with visitors of every type–from supporters to protesters–about their engagement with politics. Then, they scope the floor for various types of memorabilia to reflect these ideas that will ultimately find its way into the Smithsonian’s political history collection.

Their idea of “memorabilia” can be anything from signs and posters to buttons and hats.

They will join other items in the collection, including the desk on which Thomas Jefferson signed the Declaration of Independence and the top hat that Abraham Lincoln was wearing the night of his assassination.

[via ArtDaily.org]

Photo courtesy of Getty Images