Delegate's Cheesehead Hat
date: label: date made
content: 1996
label: associated dates
content: 1996-08-11-1996-08-16
label: associated dates
content: 1996-08-24-1996-08-30
name: label: described
content: Clinton, Bill
label: described
content: Gore, Jr., Albert A.
notes: label: Description
content: Patricia Hawley decorated and wore this hat while serving as a Wisconsin delegate to the 1996 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois. The hat is an official "cheesehead" manufactured by Foamation Inc. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Before arriving at the Chicago convention, Hawley collected the bumper stickers from earlier political events and purchased the pinwheel at the Ford Pharmacy in Appleton, Wisconsin.
label: Description
content: It is not known when delegates began the tradition of decorating their hats at political conventions. Over time, delegates' decorations have become more elaborate assemblages. These creations are often statements of a party loyalty, emblematic of a particular cause, or, as was the case of this cheese hat, expressions of local pride. Most are meant to be fun and a celebration of individual participation in the political process.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: associated place
content: United States: Illinois, Chicago, United Center
topic: label: related event
content: Presidential Campaign of 1996
label: related event
content: Democratic National Convention of 1996
setName: label: See more items in
content: Political History: Political History, Campaign Collection
label: See more items in
content: Government, Politics, and Reform
label: See more items in
content: Clothing & Accessories
label: See more items in
content: National Treasures exhibit
publisher: label: Related Publication
content: Kendrick, Kathleen M. and Peter C. Liebhold. Smithsonian Treasures of American History
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1996.0311.01
label: catalog number
content: 1996.0311.01
label: accession number
content: 1996.0311
objectType: label: Object Name
content: hat
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: paper (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: styrofoam (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: plastic (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: orange (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: red (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: white (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: blue (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: black (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: neon green (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: triangle (overall shape)
label: Measurements
content: average spatial: 14 1/2 in x 13 1/2 in x 14 in; 36.83 cm x 34.29 cm x 35.56 cm