MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University leaders and prominent Tennessee policy makers recently unveiled an exhibit by the Albert Gore Research Center celebrating American democracy through a display of campaign posters, political buttons, and other political memorabilia.

“The Art and History of Political Campaign Communication: Selections from the Johnny Hayes Political Memorabilia Collection” features a wide array of campaign materials collected by the late Johnny Hayes, a Gallatin businessman and public servant whose passion for Tennessee and American politics led him to assemble a rich collection of political memorabilia, now housed at the Gore Center. 

The exhibit runs through Nov. 5 at the Todd Art Gallery, Room 224A, in Todd Hall, located at 542 Old Main Circle on the MTSU campus. Free and open to the public, the exhibit can be visited from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

The exhibit invites audiences to reflect on the power of campaign imagery and messaging in the evolving political landscape that has shaped American democracy, said Gore Center Director Louis Kyriakoudes, who kicked off the exhibit by leading an Oct. 1 panel discussion of Tennessee political experts on how candidates communicate with the public and how that has changed over time. 

Sharing their expertise before a large audience was Beth Harwell, former Republican Tennessee House speaker and MTSU Distinguished Professor of Public Policy; Lisa Quigley, chief of staff for former Democratic Rep. Jim Cooper and director of the “Solving Hunger” initiative at Tusk Philanthropies (via videoconference); MTSU political science professor Kent Syler, former chief of staff for Democratic Rep. Bart Gordon; and Mark Tipps, former chief of staff for Republican Sen. Bill Frist and operating partner and counsel for Frist-Cressey Ventures. 

“The Hayes Political Memorabilia Collection helps tell the history of our nation’s democracy with eye catching political posters and campaign materials,” said Kyriakoudes, a professor of history.

The exhibit features campaign materials such as an 1844 presidential campaign lithograph for James Knox Polk of Tennessee and an Abraham Lincoln-Andrew Johnson banner from the 1864 presidential election. 

Tennessee’s political history takes center stage in the exhibit, featuring posters and broadsides from the campaigns of prominent political figures Lamar Alexander, Howard Baker, Frank Clement, Bob Clement, Bill Frist, Albert Gore Sr., Al Gore Jr., Estes Kefauver, Kenneth McKellar, Fred Thompson and many others. 

Among those attending the panel and reception was former Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen, who also has memorabilia featuring his campaigns on display in the exhibit.

Off-campus visitors visiting the exhibit can obtain a temporary permit from the Parking and Transportation Services office at 205 City View Drive or pay by plate by visiting this webpage, https://bit.ly/mtvisitorparking, and clicking the appropriate link under “Visitor Parking.” Visitor permits are $2 per day. 

A parking map and more information is available at https://mtsu.edu/parking/.

For more information about the exhibit, contact Kyriakoudes at Louis.Kyriakoudes@mtsu.edu.