American Historical and Political Memorabilia Exhibit Now on Display in Swirbul

By Joseph D’Andrea

Just in time for the upcoming presidential election,“American Ideas in Full Color” is now open to visitors on the First Floor Gallery of the Swirbul Library. The exhibit, which I curated, focuses on the importance of being an active participant in society and showcases historical and political memorabilia dating back to the 1900s.

The thought of curating this exhibit came as a combination of ideas. A major motivator for bringing my collection to other students at Adelphi is my belief that history is more than just the words you read in a textbook. It’s easy to feel detached from events of the past while reading about them or even watching old, grainy footage. Not until you look around and realize that there’s history all around you will you feel a stronger connection to past cultures, no matter how big or small that trigger may be. For some, it may come in the form of a campaign button you find in your grandparent’s dresser drawer, while others might appreciate the past by collecting coins, or maybe even listening to decades-old music that transports you to a bygone era. 

Pin-back buttons used to be a staple of the American political scene, especially when candidates were running for office. Photo by Joseph D'Andrea

These may feel minor by first impression, but you can learn quite a bit about a society that you were never a part of just by putting sentimental and historical value into the items from their time. As a future history teacher, I believe that it’s very important that students understand that the past never simply stays behind us. History is continual and past cultural, economic and political practices are all interpreted in one way or another from the ones that preceded them. To actually be able to touch or at least be in front of a piece of history is invaluable because it breaks down the wall between past and present and gives a tangible importance to the “things” of years past. This applies to anyone learning about history, and you can be a student of it without sitting behind a desk; there’s something to learn every day by going outside and observing and understanding why your surroundings look the way they do, at least as a starting point. 

Having worked at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City for more than two years, I’ve gained an even greater appreciation for artifacts. Sometimes I’ll walk into work and be handed a piece of history to keep, which really enhances my love for many things from the past. But even before I began as an intern there, I always had an interest in collecting. Whether that be hats, baseball cards, coins, pins or anything else I could display in one way or another on my shelves, since I was in elementary school, I’ve loved having my own personal museum at home. Yes, I even had laminated business cards made for the baseball museum in my room. That, combined with museums being my favorite places to visit, made the opportunity to put my collection of historical memorabilia and other ephemera on show at Adelphi a real dream come true.

The exhibit runs through November 9 and is open seven days a week to any visitors of Adelphi’s campus. Photo by Joseph D'Andrea

With this exhibit, my collection that began with the four main American coins, evolved into including political campaign pin-back buttons (with the earliest president-related button being from Theodore Roosevelt’s 1904 run for office) and continued to grow, including magazines, pamphlets, books, newspapers, vinyl records and more. 

I hope visitors will reflect on the ideas I outlined when viewing the gallery’s tangible history of American political and cultural history, and maybe even become more aware of how they can find importance in the small things they may come across and be conscious enough to possibly save some items for future generations to look back on.

“American Ideas in Full Color” is open seven days a week and runs through Nov. 9.