Michael Kelley Political Campaign Ephemera Collection 1896-2008

Michael Kelly is an avid collector of political memorabilia and Editor of The Keynoter, the primary publication of the American Political Items Conservators.

The Michael Kelly Political Campaign Ephemera Collection consists of printed material and other memorabilia related to presidential campaigns from 1896 to 2008. The collection is divided into six series: Presidential File, Presidential Nominees File, Presidential Hopefuls File, Minor Parties File, Non-Party Presidential Candidates File, and Bull Moose Newsletters File. The collection is strongest on the years 1964 to 1992.

The collection contains much material on well-known politicians such as Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Nelson Rockefeller, George Romney, Eugene McCarthy, and Robert Kennedy. Of particular interest are the large number of candidate biographies from the 1964, 1968, 1972, 1980, 1988, and 1992 presidential contests, as well as materials on the civil rights movement, Vietnam War, anti-war protests, labor unions, the Christian right, Watergate, Cold War, Gulf War, and sexual misconduct.

The collection also contains strong materials on minor political parties and obscure presidential candidates. Of interest will be the campaign literature on a variety of ideologies ranging from white nationalism to populism, libertarianism, socialism, communism, and Christian fundamentalism, as well as candidate literature for Homer Tomlinson, Gus Hall, Angela Davis, George Lincoln Rockwell, Lyndon LaRouche, and J Quinn Brisben. Topics include white supremacy, integration, welfare, taxes, black power, labor unions, women’s rights, and Protestant Evangelicalism.

In sum, this collection provides insight into U.S. presidential campaigns and campaign issues over the years, including how candidates utilized language, symbols, and images to make their message known.

Related Materials (April 2018):
Related materials are located in a number of other collections. For example, the Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers contain campaign brochures, memorabilia, newsletters, publications, precinct maps, and other miscellaneous materials relating to Ford's congressional campaigns, 1948‑72. In addition, the President Ford Committee Records contain the working files of the staff of President Ford's 1976 presidential election campaign committee, including materials on public opinion polling, advertising, press relations, and appeals to special interest groups.