From George to George:
Presidential Elections in the United States from 1789 to the Present

Every four years, the American people—the press, the politicians, and the voters—turn their attention to one of the most quintessential of American institutions, the presidential campaign. The event can be alternately exciting and monotonous, stirring and soporific, dignified and indecorous. To understand the phenomenon and in recognition of the 2004 presidential campaign, Bridwell Library organized an exhibition on the history of presidential campaigns in America from 1789 to 2004. SMU professor R. Hal Williams and collector Hervey Priddy curated the exhibition. Hervey Priddy recently donated an important presidential campaign collection that served as the basis for the exhibition. Using historical documents and memorabilia such as letters, buttons, books, ribbons, banners, medals, cartoons, and music, the curators explored significant themes in presidential campaigns over the last 215 years. In addition to Bridwell’s holdings, the exhibit showcased items on loan from the Smithsonian Institution, the Museum of American Political Life, the DeGolyer Library at SMU, the Amon Carter Museum, and several private collectors in the area. This catalog offers two essays, an historical look at presidential campaigns by R. Hal Williams, and a personal view of electing and collecting by Hervey Priddy. It is beautifully illustrated with several images of items from the exhibit.

From George to George: Presidential Elections in the United States from 1789 to the Present, by R. Hal Williams and Hervey A. Priddy, preface by James A. McMillin. Bridwell Library, Dallas, Texas, 2004. 97 pp., 25 illus., $19.97 (plus shipping and handling).

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