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Oscar De Priest Lapel Pin

Brown circular lapel pin with a head and shoulder image of Oscar De Priest and text reading, “For Congress De Priest”/tiles/collection/3/34419.xml
Lapel pin reverse with maker’s mark/tiles/collection/3/34420.xml
Brown circular lapel pin with a head and shoulder image of Oscar De Priest and text reading, “For Congress De Priest”
Lapel pin reverse with maker’s mark
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Date

1928-1934

Manufacturer

Geraghty and Company

Dimensions

Diameter: 7/8 x 1/8 in. (2.2 x 0.3 cm)

Accession Number

2008.047.001

Credit Line

Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives

Object Details

This button indicated the wearer’s support of Oscar De Priest, the first African American elected to Congress in the 20th century. His successful election campaign to represent a district in Chicago initiated the trend of Black representation in northern cities, where the Great Migration sharply increased African-American populations. De Priest became a national symbol of hope for African Americans, and he helped lay the groundwork for future Black Members of the House and Senate.

Rights and Reproduction Information

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Office of the Historian: history@mail.house.gov
Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk: art@mail.house.gov, archives@mail.house.gov