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Primary sourceArtifact10 September 1840

William Henry Harrison Campaign Rally Silk Ribbon

10 September 1840

A silk ribbon made for a Harrison campaign rally at Bunker Hill during the 1840 presidential election.

This ribbon was made for a rally supporting Harrison's 1840 presidential campaign.

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Printed silk campaign ribbon for the 1840 New England Convention at Bunker Hill, September 10, 1840. Text reads 'New England Convention Bunker Hill' above an eagle, with a central oval portrait of William Henry Harrison in a dark coat and a bottom banner dated September 10th 1840. Side medallions show tools and figures.
Campaign rally ribbon for William Henry Harrison, Bunker Hill, 10 September 1840.

About this source

What it is

This printed silk ribbon was made for a political rally, called a "Convention," held in support of William Henry Harrison at Bunker Hill on September 10, 1840. It shows a portrait of Harrison framed by state emblems and an eagle, with text naming the event and date.

Why it matters

Ribbons like this were produced in large numbers for the many "Harrison Conventions" held across the country during the 1840 election. They show how supporters used mass-produced souvenirs and public gatherings to build enthusiasm for Harrison's candidacy, an early example of modern campaign marketing.

Look closer

  • Why might supporters have chosen to wear or display an item like this?
  • What does the choice of symbols—the eagle, the state emblems—tell you about the image Harrison's campaign wanted to project?
  • What does an object like this not tell us about the actual issues of the 1840 election?

This artifact is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of William Henry Harrison on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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