Museum Opens "Campaigning for President"

The exhibit opened at 4:00 on Friday, February 27th to a large crowd of Historical Society members. The evening included presentations by Elkhart Mayor Dick Moore and Congressman Mark Souder, as well as music by The New Horizon's band.

Elkhart Mayor Dick Moore spoke about his interactions with President Barack Obama.

Congressman Mark Souder gave a detailed history of political memorabilia.

Congressman Souder to Speak at Exhibit Opening

The Elkhart County Historical Museum is pleased to announce that Congressman Mark Souder will be in attendance at the opening of their new temporary exhibit Campaigning for President, which opens tomorrow, Friday, February 27. The exhibit will be unveiled at 4:00 p.m. with a ribbon cutting ceremony. At 5:00 p.m. Mayor Dick Moore of Elkhart will speak followed by Congressman Souder. The New Horizons band will bring the program to a close with patriotic music. The exhibit will be open for viewing until 7:00 p.m.

This exhibit demonstrates how Elkhart County has supported presidential candidates through party traditions and the eventual outcomes of the election. Presidential election results from 1832 to 2008 will be shown, including a comparison of the national outcome compared to Elkhart County. Republicans generally won Elkhart County, but occasionally Democrats gained the majority. Interesting occurrences like lantern parades, public debates, and presidential visits to Elkhart County, as well as information on how local residents viewed the Lincoln-Douglass debates or mourned assassinations will be discussed.

The exhibit will also feature notable artifacts and manuscripts from the Elkhart County Historical Society’s collection, private collectors, and other regional museums. Over 100 items will be displayed including buttons, ribbons, posters, and banners from 1854 to the present.

Interpretive features will target adults and children. Visitors can test their presidential knowledge by matching slogans with candidates, and visitors will have an opportunity to take the Presidential Oath of Office. Children can also participate in an “I Spy” activity to find and learn about items on display.

Everyone had a blast during our Reverse Glass Painting workshop last Thursday. It turns out we have some talented folk artists living in our midst! These are some of the highlights from the workshop.

Children to Campaign for President

Have you ever wanted to launch your own presidential campaign? Think you can come up with a better slogan than McCain or Obama? On Saturday, March 7th from 1:00-5:00 p.m. you can put your ambitions to the test. The Elkhart County Historical Museum invites children and families to try out their campaign skills by participating in a children’s activity day full of presidential campaigning.

Presidential campaigns have been very creative throughout the years not only with their messages, but also with their means of communication. “Candidates have utilized everything from coins and dolls to cigarettes and neckties to promote their campaigns,” says Curator of Education Rebecca Oestreich. “We wanted to give children the opportunity to explore many of these different campaigning techniques”. For example, children will create a slogan and put it on a button or ribbon. Additionally, they will design their own campaign symbol and make an arm band to take home.

Children will also have the opportunity to paint a parade lantern. “Torch light parades in support of presidential candidates were popular from about the mid to late 1800’s, especially in rural communities,” says Oestreich. “Goshen held several of these large parades which featured banners and hand-painted paper lanterns. Often communities would compete with each other over who would have the most elaborate parade.”

The children’s activity day coincides with the opening of the museum’s latest temporary exhibit Campaigning for President. Within the exhibit, children will have the opportunity to see over 100 campaign artifacts spanning nearly two centuries. They will also complete a scavenger hunt and recreate the face of Glover Cleveland from a sketch of four pigs.

Attendees are encouraged to come dressed in their best patriotic red, white, and blue outfit. Prizes will be awarded for the most patriotic costumes. They should also bring a wallet sized photo of themselves for use in one of the crafts.

For more information, please contact Oestreich at 574-848-4322 or rebecca@elkhartcountyparks.org.

Campaigning for President Opens Feb. 28

Reverse Glass Painting

Explore your artistic side at the Elkhart County Historical Museum by learning the folk art tradition of reverse glass painting. On Thursday, February 19th at 7:00 p.m. the museum will teach a class on creating these beautiful paintings popularized locally by Mennonite and Amish artists.

Often referred to as “mottos,” reverse glass paintings generally feature a scriptural or moral phrase surrounded by pictorial elements from nature such as flowers, birds, plants, and butterflies. As the name implies, the designs are painted on the backside of the glass with a mixture of opaque and translucent paint. The design background typically has a solid color, with black being the prominent color choice before 1940 and white in the years after.

There are several different styles of reverse glass painting, but the class will focus on the technique often called tinsel or foil paintings. In tinsel painting, a sheet of crumpled aluminum foil is placed between the painted glass and the cardboard backing. The foil shines through the translucent areas of paint adding a depth and sparkle to the finished piece.

Workshop attendees will also have the opportunity to view multiple historical examples of reverse glass paintings made in Elkhart County. The height of reverse glass painting was from 1930-1960 While the popularity of the art form has diminished, there are Elkhart County residents who have kept the tradition alive.

Workshop fee is $2/person to cover supplies. Pre-registration for the workshop is also required. For more information or to sign up, please contact Rebecca Oestreich at 574-848-4322 or rebecca@elkhartcountyparks.org.

Campaigning for President

Campaigning for President

Temporary Exhibit: February 28 - August 31, 2009

The Elkhart County Historical Museum is busy preparing for its next temporary exhibit called "Campaigning for President." The exhibit will feature over 200 campaign items including ballots, buttons, bumper stickers, banners, handkerchiefs, and ribbons. Among the most unique items that will be shown is an "I Like Ike" pack of cigarettes. Original items representing nearly every election from Lincoln to Obama will be displayed among a timeline of local political history from 1830 to the present. Do not miss this exciting exhibit!

Gallery preparations will include a new temporary wall, enlarged photographs, bunting, specialized object mounts, and vitrine cases.