Objects include a lock of Andrew Jackson's hair, a fence rail split by Abraham Lincoln, a dishtowel used as the flag of truce to end the Civil War, the microphones used by FDR for his Fireside chats and the chairs that seated Nixon and Kennedy in their 1960 television debate. Many of these relics have never before been displayed. They will be unknown to general readers and even to academics from the world of museum and cultural studies.
First, the book is beautifully done. Mine is the Hardcover version and it's full colour throughout, down to coloured footnote/figure markers. Everything is, of course, thoroughly researched, but in addition to the footnoted citations, there's a section in the back of the book that lists each item with its accession number, dimensions and any other relevant data, including transcriptions of any writing on or in the artefact.
I learned a lot about the history of souvenirs and their birth as an industry and there's a history of the beginning of the Smithsonian Institution as well. It's startling now to think about how much destruction relic/souvenir hunters wrought on historic or significant places or objects before anyone thought to control the acquisition process (and make money off it).
But... based on the title of the book I was expecting a more kitschy, fun collection of objects so I was a bit deflated upon opening the book. Quite a few of these objects are the ones that I'd give a passing glance to on my way to see objects that I connected with more (sorry, I find locks of hair boring). Still, there were many here I would stop for, and a couple of the "meh" ones had very interesting stories behind them.
So, 4 stars because the book wasn't quite what I was expecting and the writing a bit dryer than I'd hoped for, but excellent and informative nonetheless.
Reading updates
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Started reading
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23 February, 2015:
Finished reading
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23 February, 2015:
Reviewed