Collecting political history with the Smithsonian

There are very few people who attend both major-party political conventions every four years. Most of them are journalists. But that list also includes a small team from the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

They're tasked with gathering buttons, signs, flyers, hats and other "political ephemera." The idea is to preserve the story of America's elections for future generations, and the museum's collection dates back to America's earliest elections.

Guest 

Claire Jerry
Curator in the Division of Political History
Smithsonian National Museum of American History