National Archives and PBS series American Experience Launch #ElectionCollection Challenge
Press Release · Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Washington, DC

Get out your historic buttons, bumper stickers, hats, and banners! Today, the Presidential Libraries of the National Archives and the PBS series American Experience are partnering for the first time on social media to host #ElectionCollection, a weekly Instagram challenge to feature Presidential campaign memorabilia.

In honor of Election Tuesday, Presidential Libraries and American Experience will feature a new #ElectionCollection challenge every Tuesday from July 26th until the Presidential election on November 8, 2016. Each challenge will ask people to feature election memorabilia from a new category.

To kick off every challenge, the National Archives will highlight historic campaign memorabilia from the 13 Presidential Libraries and Museums and American Experience will feature footage from their award-winning series of Presidential biographies, “The Presidents.” Each #ElectionCollection challenge will also invite the public and cultural organizations to post images of mementos they have kept from previous elections and tag them with #ElectionCollection.

“Memorabilia from the National Archives Presidential Libraries reflect the excitement and advocacy of those who shaped our national campaigns,” said Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero. “These personal touchstones for political activists and regular citizens alike uniquely show the personality and passion behind the politics. We are happy to partner with American Experience on this #ElectionCollection Challenge.”

“Each campaign memento from the past gives us the opportunity to go back to that moment and reflect on how the outcome of each election changed the course of history,” said Mark Samels, American Experience Executive Producer. “This partnership provides us with a unique way to explore all those stories.”

Beyond the eye-catching pageantry of campaign memorabilia is a unique history of the American Presidency. Cultural organizations think these mementos are historically important, and people save them for the feelings they evoke on a personal level.

• #ElectionCollection is a space for people to share the mementos that they cared enough to keep from past campaigns.
• #ElectionCollection is a space for cultural organizations to share and discuss historic memorabilia.

Platforms:

• Instagram. #ElectionCollection challenges and images of quirky, cool, and surprising historic memorabilia will be featured every Tuesday on Instagram.
• More memorabilia will be highlighted on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and the blogs of the National Archives, the Presidential Libraries, and American Experience.

Instagram:
@USNatArchives
@WJCLibrary

Facebook:
@USNatArchives
@HooverPresLib
@FDRLibrary
@TrumanPresidentialLibrary
@JFKLibrary
@IkeLibrary
@LBJLibrary
@NixonPresidentialLibrary
@FordPresidentialLibrary
@CarterPresidentialLibrary
@ReaganLibrary
@Bush41Library
@GWBLibrary

Twitter: @OurPresidents
Pinterest: @USNatArchives
Tumblr: @OurPresidents

American Experience:

Instagram: @AmericanExperiencePBS
Facebook: @AmericanExperience
Twitter: @AmExperiencePBS

About the Presidential Libraries

The Presidential Library system is administered by the National Archives and Records Administration. The Presidential Libraries and Museums house the records of Presidents Herbert Hoover through George W. Bush and preserve and provide access to historical materials, support research, and create interactive programs and exhibits that educate and inspire. See more online.

About the U.S. National Archives

The National Archives and Records Administration is an independent Federal agency that serves American democracy by safeguarding and preserving the records of our Government, so people can discover, use, and learn from this documentary heritage. The National Archives ensures continuing access to the essential documentation of the rights of American citizens and the actions of their government. From the Declaration of Independence to accounts of ordinary Americans, the holdings of the National Archives directly touch the lives of millions of people. The agency supports democracy, promotes civic education, and facilitates historical understanding of our national experience. The National Archives carries out its mission through a nationwide network of archives, records centers, and Presidential Libraries, and online at: archives.gov.

About American Experience

For more than 28 years, AMERICAN EXPERIENCE has been television’s most-watched history series. The series has been hailed as “peerless” (The Wall Street Journal), “the most consistently enriching program on television” (Chicago Tribune) and “a beacon of intelligence and purpose” (Houston Chronicle). On air and online, the series brings to life the incredible characters and epic stories that have shaped America’s past and present. Acclaimed by viewers and critics alike, AMERICAN EXPERIENCE documentaries have been honored with every major broadcast award, including 30 Emmy Awards, four duPont-Columbia Awards and 17 George Foster Peabody Awards; the series received an Academy Award® nomination for Best Documentary Feature in 2015 for Last Days in Vietnam. Visit pbs.org/americanexperience and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to learn more.

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For press information contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at 202-357-5300.

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