Herbert R. Collins 



POLITICAL CAMPAIGN TORCHES 



The political custom of the torchlight parade so characteristic 

 of mid-19 th-century campaigning reached its peak in 1876 and 

 continued until the end of the century, ivhen campaign techniques 

 changed. From the collections of the Smithsonian Institution, 

 the Patent Office, and elsewhere, have been gathered pictures of 

 these torches and information about them. Although tnost polit- 

 ical campaign torches are not marked with any type of identifica- 

 tion, many have been identified by means of the patent drawings 

 submitted by the patentees. The torches illustrated in this study 

 are listed by date from 181)7 to 1900. 



The Author: Herbert R. Collins is assistant curator of 

 political history in the Smithsonian Institution s Museum of 

 History and Technology . 



Introduction 



THIS CATALOG is a descripti\e and interpretive 

 listing of political campaign torches and related 

 lighting devices used in street parades and rallies. 

 Although political campaign torches were patented as 

 early as 1837, it was not until 1860, with the organiza- 

 tion of the "Wide-Awakes" and other marching clubs, 

 that torchlight parades achieved prominence in 

 political campaigning. The author will not attempt 

 to analyze what prompted the beginning or ending 

 of torchlight parades. The fact that the parades 

 served as entertainment in the communities, when 

 other types of diversion were unknown, was probably 

 an important factor. It is a recognized fact that 



these celebrations did much to advertise the candi- 

 dates, in addition to entertaining the spectators. The 

 parades were given wide coverage throughout this 

 country and even abroad. As early as 1864, The 

 Illustrated London News printed exciting stories about 

 the American celebrations. 



The marching habit, developed by the "Wide- 

 Awakes" organized for Lincoln in 1860 and continued 

 by veterans' groups after the Civil War, also served 

 to maintain the tradition of marching groups in 

 political parades in the late 19th century. The 

 groups which participated in the torchlight parades 

 were sometimes highly trained paraders who executed 

 a manual of arms similar to that used by the military 

 marching groups. Many were hired marchers who 



PAPER 4 5 : POLITICAL CAMPAIGN TORCHES 



