The Game of Politics: Race for the Presidency Board Game, 1887-1890
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Artifact Overview
Two teams race for the presidency in this late-1880s board game published by the W. S. Reed Toy Company. The would-be politicians must first get elected to various offices before running for president. Vote cards help teams capture the nomination and later a state's electoral vote. The team receiving the majority of the Electoral College votes (just like today's elections) wins!
Artifact Details
Artifact
Board game (Game set)
Date Made
1887-1890
Creator Notes
Manufactured by W.S. Reed Toy Co. in Leominster, Massachusetts. Lithography by Jeanie P. Clarke, Boston, Massachusetts
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
69.145.61
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Material
Cardboard
Paper (Fiber product)
Technique
Lithography
Dimensions
Width: 23.75 in
Length: 24.5 in
Inscriptions
on paper label: THE / GAME OF POLITICS / RACE FOR THE PRESIDENCY
Keywords |
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Related Content
SetThinking Inside the Box: Board Games in America
- 18 Artifacts
Board games have engaged Americans in friendly competition for two hundred years. Reaching their height of popularity from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s, board games remain a widespread leisure activity. Colorful graphics and a playful purpose belie their cultural significance, but a closer look reveals important shifts in American society.