Getting the Word Out: The Delaware Political Ephemera Collection
By David Cardillo, Digital Initiatives and Preservation
The Delaware Ephemera Collection Related to Politics, Policy and Government is an incredibly valuable digital collection available through the UD Library, Museums and Press. A robust collection of fliers, postcards, posters and other ephemeral material, it sheds light on nearly 150 years of Delaware politics and campaigns.
The collection contains political advertisements from as far back as 1882. Back then, trade cards, like those shown below, were one form of promotion, and often featured a variety of designs for a particular candidate.
Trade card, a type of business card used for advertising, for Frank Stidham for Sheriff of New Castle County in 1882.
Another trade card for Frank Stidham. This one is for the 1884 campaign for Sheriff of New Castle County.
By 1970, we see elements still used in political advertisements today. Below, in the 1970 advertisement for the Delaware general election, we see the familiar compare-and-contrast technique.
A “compare and contrast” advertisement between John F. Lynch Jr. and Vincent P. Meconi.
Not only does this advertisement tout candidate John F. Lynch Jr.’s experience with a longer list than his political opponent, Vincent P. Meconi, but the group behind this advertisement also used a quality headshot of Lynch that is well-suited for a mass-produced mailer while incorporating a lower-quality image of Meconi to underscore the differences.
The collection also includes more recent local and national political advertisements, like those below. While there are some ephemeral presidential advertising materials in the collection, it mainly focuses on local politics.
Advertisement for Chris Coons for County Executive of New Castle County.
Advertisement for Christine O’Donnell for U.S. Senate.
The collection is constantly growing and relies on donated material. If you are interested in donating postcards, posters and other ephemeral material from Delaware politics, please contact Special Collections.
The Delaware Ephemera Collection Related to Politics, Policy and Government is freely and digitally accessible through the UD Library, Museums and Press. It includes fliers, clippings, postcards, campaign posters and other ephemeral materials dating as far back as the late 1800s. Researchers interested in local and federal election campaigns, environmental groups, grassroots organizations, and political groups within Delaware are likely to find this collection especially useful.