Exhibition Statement

The American Election exhibition showcases materials from the University of Kansas Libraries and other area libraries and museums. In so doing, the exhibit highlights the integral role that these institutions play in the successful completion of scholarly research and output.

Materials from the KU Spencer Museum of Art, the University Press of Kansas, the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics Archive, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum and the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum can be seen here along with items from the KU Libraries and the scholarship of KU faculty and students. These materials demonstrate the breadth of resources to be found in our area and encourage future research and scholarship in the area of the American campaign and election process

American elections are an expansive research area that spans not just time but subject areas as well. KU Libraries, as well as all of the exhibit partners, provide access to essential materials for researching this broad, interdisciplinary topic. Traditional library materials, such as books and journal articles, are included in the exhibit because they still represent the dominant form of scholarly output. These items come from political science, communication studies, women’s studies, history, and more. However, examples of electronic databases are also present because they represent the changes in how research is conducted and the reliance on library resources. In addition, historical items, images, and government documents are included because these items are also integral to the scholarly research related to American elections. A student web site, PoliticalFiber.com, represents not just student scholarly products, but also the shift in the use of freely available online materials and the necessity of “collecting the web” to help people find the appropriate resources for their information needs.

Amalia Monroe-Gulick
Political Science and Public Administration Bibliographer
University of Kansas Libraries