Portrait of Sam Rayburn
Jun 02, 2014
This week's artifact is a pastel rendering of former Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn (1970.4.5). Recognized for his legislative integrity, the Texas-raised Rayburn was Speaker of the House of Representatives for a total of seventeen years between 1940 and 1961. President Johnson benefited from Rayburn’s friendship, counsel, and support… view exhibit
Paintings of President Johnson’s beagles
May 29, 2014
This week's artifacts are two oil paintings of President Johnson’s beagles Him and Her (1970.3.19; 1970.3.20). Throughout the Johnson years, the First Family was extended to include several canine friends, of which Him and Her are perhaps the most well-known. Supporting the idea that presidential pets can acquire a… view exhibit
First Day Issue Stamp
May 29, 2014
This week's artifact is part of our philatelic collection or, in layman’s terms, our stamp collection. A number of our stamps, like these addressed to Mrs. Charles Robb (Lynda Johnson), were First Day Issue stamps mailed by the Postmaster General to the White House. These… view exhibit
The key to the city of Seoul, Korea
May 12, 2014
This week's artifact is the key to the city of Seoul, Korea, (1970.25.39) given to President Johnson during his 1966 Asian trip. Remarks on Departing for the Asia-Pacific Trip (October 17, 1966) Lyndon Baines Johnson Secretary Rusk, and members of the Cabinet, Mr. Speaker McCormack, Leaders Mansfield and Dirksen, ladies and gentlemen: … view exhibit
Pocket watch
May 08, 2014
This week's artifact is pocket watch (1971.4.19) owned by Sam Ealy Johnson Sr. and Sam Ealy Johnson Jr., LBJ’s grandfather and father. LBJ was known to give away Hamilton watches that had been inscribed with his initials and the "golden rule" — Do unto others as you… view exhibit
Brass knuckles from the Island of Ponape
May 07, 2014
This week's artifact is a weapon -- a set of “brass knuckles” (1973.6057.1) made of hardwood and inset with 18 shark teeth. This type of weapon was once used by residents of the Island of Ponape, a former U.S. Territory. Ponape is now known as Pohnpei, a state… view exhibit
Republican Elephant Baseball Cap
Apr 29, 2014
This week's artifact is a novelty hat collected at the 1988 Republican National Convention. It's a baseball cap with attached elephant ears, eyes, and trunk. The real selling point is the cords attached to the ears that feed through the hat and tie under the chin. … view exhibit
Southwest Texas State Teachers College
Apr 22, 2014
This week's artifact is a (1979.140.1) Southwest Texas State Teachers College sweater from donor G. Preston Smith. The “D” on the insignia indicates that this sweater belonged to a debate team member. The most prestigious alumnus of Southwest Texas State Teachers College (now called Texas State University-San Marcos),… view exhibit
Painting by President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Apr 11, 2014
Did you know that President Dwight D. Eisenhower was a painter? This week's artifact (1983.48.1) is a painting of a mountain scene done by Eisenhower in 1958 – while he was still the President of the United States. He never had ambitions to sell his paintings, preferring to give… view exhibit
LBJ’s Longhorn Jacket
Mar 24, 2014
This week's artifact is a burnt orange jacket (2009.8.1) worn by President Johnson while attending University of Texas at Austin football games. This silk jacket, especially made for LBJ, is complete with buttons featuring the Presidential seal. The LBJ Presidential Library is on the UT-Austin campus. view exhibit
A Boxing Glove Signed by Muhammad Ali
Mar 11, 2014
This week's artifact is a boxing glove (2003.8.3) signed by Mohammad Ali. This object was last featured in the LBJ Library and Museum exhibit “Signs of the Times: Life in the Swingin' Sixties.” View a list of past exhibits at the LBJ Library and Museum. view exhibit
Sunglasses with transistor radio
Feb 24, 2014
This week's artifact is a pair of sunglasses with a built-in transistor radio and earbud. (1973.3594.1) This was a gift from Benjamin H. Oehlert, whom President Johnson appointed as the Ambassador to Pakistan in 1967. There is little evidence to whether or not LBJ wore these sunglasses, however, he nonetheless held… view exhibit
Brass cowbell
Jan 21, 2014
This week's artifact is a brass cowbell (1970.48.903) given to LBJ by a German resident with the intention that it would be used at the LBJ Ranch. More cowbell! view exhibit
Peanut-shaped Pill Container
Jan 13, 2014
This week's artifact is a peanut- shaped pill container. (1999.29.1) Story has it that Mrs. Johnson served tea to Betty Ford in the LBJ Library Presidential Suite during a campaign stop Mrs. Ford made during the 1976 Carter/Ford election. Without realizing the faux pas, guest Martha Tiller offered Mrs.… view exhibit
Relief sculpture of LBJ
Dec 17, 2013
This week's artifact is a relief sculpture bust of LBJ (1966.49.16) made from white capiz shells with a background of dark gray capiz shells. This bust is a part of our Head of State collection and was given by Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos during a trip to the Philippines. … view exhibit
Yuki’s dog collar
Dec 09, 2013
This week's artifact is a dog collar worn by President Johnson’s dog, Yuki, while living in the White House. (1973.3572.8) The inscription on the tag reads “DC Dog Tag 1.” To learn more about and see pictures of Yuki and the other Johnson White House… view exhibit
A bowl made from Kilkenny marble
Dec 03, 2013
This week's artifact is a bowl (1968.9.1) made from Kilkenny marble in Ireland. A tradition starting in 1952, the “Shamrock Ceremony” has the Ambassador from Ireland giving a gift of a bowl filled with shamrocks to the President of the United States. This bowl was given to LBJ in 1968… view exhibit
LBJ’s Air Force One flight map
Nov 19, 2013
This week's artifact is a map that charts the flights of LBJ aboard Air Force One between 1966 and 1968. President Johnson spent so much time aboard the plane that he had his own spacious leather seat installed. (1973.2665.1) view exhibit
Temporary Stage Designed for the East Room of the White House
Nov 13, 2013
This week's artifact is a 1:24 scale model of the temporary stage designed for the East Room of the White House. (1969.65.1) Included in the scale model are miniature ballet dancers and actual working chandelier and backstage lighting instruments. The dedication performance was by the Harkness Ballet on Sept 29, 1965. view exhibit
LBJ Halloween mask
Oct 30, 2013
Imagine opening a cabinet, and seeing LBJ staring back at you. That's just what happened here. This LBJ mask was a gift from Dr. and Mrs. Frank Serman to the Library in 1974. One could really give ghosts and ghouls the “Johnson Treatment” while donning this unusual artifact. (1974.46.1)… view exhibit
LBJ’s sofa
Oct 22, 2013
This week's artifact is a sofa (1970.21.16) used by LBJ during his tenure as Senate Majority Leader. LBJ was known to work long hours and spend many a late night on this obliging couch. At over 7 feet long, it was one of the few sofas that could fit his 6' 4”… view exhibit
Envelope with three special postmarks
Oct 17, 2013
This week's artifact is an envelope (1973.9412.1) with three postmarks created by Rev. G. Sherman Ott after some travel across the USA in 1968. The postmarks (from Lyndon, OH, Bains, LA and Johnson, AR) spell out the President’s name. The envelope was then autographed by the President himself. view exhibit
Football helmet signed by Joe Namath
Sep 23, 2013
This week's artifact is a football helmet (2003.9.3) signed by Joe Namath. This Hall-of-Famer played in the NFL from 1965 to 1977, and led the New York Jets to a Super Bowl victory in 1969. view exhibit
Scale model of LBJ’s boyhood home
Aug 26, 2013
This week's artifact is a scale model (1:87 ratio) of the LBJ boyhood home circa 1913 (1997.15.1). Two weeks after his fifth birthday, Lyndon Johnson's family moved from his birthplace, a farm near Stonewall, Texas, to Johnson City, fourteen miles away. They lived in this house for more than… view exhibit
Julia Child’s Cookbook
Aug 20, 2013
This week's artifact is a 1967 edition of Mastering the Art of French Cooking (1973.1047.1) by Julia Child. This copy has a personal inscription of admiration: "To Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson—All good wishes from one of your many admirers—Julia Child." While Julia Child made French cooking… view exhibit
An oil painting of LBJ done by an inmate at the Texas Department of Corrections
Aug 05, 2013
This week's artifact is an oil painting (1973.10329.1) done by an inmate at the Texas Department of Corrections in 1971 and given to the LBJ Library in 1973. The Huntsville prison provided art classes in the 1970s. view exhibit
A fan from the Sultan of Bamoun, Cameroon
Jul 29, 2013
This week's artifact is a fan (1964.27.2) presented to the First Lady from the Sultan of Bamoun of Cameroon. G. Mennen Williams, the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, brought this back to Lady Bird after a 1964 trip to Africa. view exhibit
A retractable toothpick
Jul 22, 2013
This week's artifact is a retractable toothpick (1973.2736.1) – about the size of a golf pencil – given to LBJ by his Senate office staff. An attached note read, “To Sen. Johnson – But please don’t use on Senate Floor! From Your Office Staff” view exhibit
World War II American flag
Jul 01, 2013
This week's artifact is an American flag (1970.20.34) of the type carried by U.S. Servicemen during WWII in the Far East and South Pacific. On it is the text of seven different languages which translates that the soldier is an American aviator with a disabled plane – and… view exhibit
Malachite box with a hinged lid
Jun 24, 2013
This malachite box has a gilt bronze frame and base with a velvet interior. It also includes a gold key with two faceted stones. The box was given to Lyndon B. Johnson by His Excellency Aleksey N. Kosygin, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Soviet Socialist… view exhibit
Jade and quartz necklace from the President of Mexico
Jun 10, 2013
This week's artifact is a Head of State gift from Gustavo Diaz Ordaz, the President of Mexico. This necklace (1964.41.2) consists of pale green jade and white quartz beads, with gold beads interspersed throughout. The jade beads are believed to be of pre-Columbian age and of Guatemalan origin. view exhibit
A set of longhorns
Jun 03, 2013
This week's artifact is a set of longhorns [1973.9384.1.jpg]. We always knew LBJ was a true Texan, but finding this quintessentially Texas object really solidified the fact. Wildlife thrives at the LBJ Ranch, including American bison, white-tailed deer, and Texas longhorn cattle. In the video "Homeplace," here's… view exhibit
A pair of straw golf shoes from the President of the Philippines
May 20, 2013
This week's artifact is a pair of brown/tan straw golf shoes (1964.37.10) given to LBJ by the President of the Philippines, Diosdado Macapagal. LBJ had this to say about golf: “One lesson you better learn if you want to be in politics is that you never go… view exhibit
Gold necklace from the President of the Republic of Senegal
May 06, 2013
This week's artifact is a Head of State gift from Leopold Sedar Senghor, the President of the Republic of Senegal. This gold necklace (1966.40.1) was presented to Lady Bird during a 1966 official visit to the United States by the President of Senegal. Senghor served at the first president of Senegal… view exhibit
Navigational stick chart
Apr 29, 2013
This week's artifact is a navigational “stick-chart” (1973.8710.1) used by Marshall Islanders to travel long distances by sea. They fixed their position between atolls – the shells – by interpreting wave patterns indicated by the sticks. view exhibit
Black lacquered box from Seoul, Korea
Apr 22, 2013
This week's artifact is a black lacquered box (1970.23.398) with raised mother-of-pearl peacocks and abalone shell tail feathers. This beautiful piece of craftsmanship was a gift to Lady Bird from the Ewha Womans University in Seoul, Korea. The Ewha Womans University is the world’s largest female educational institute. view exhibit
Model of the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto, Japan
Apr 15, 2013
This week's artifact is an architectural model of the Golden Pavilion (other wise known as Kinkaku-ji) in Kyoto, Japan. (1966.25.1) This was a gift from His Excellency Eisaku Sato, Prime Minister of Japan. view exhibit
Butter knife from Berchtesgarten
Apr 09, 2013
This week's artifact is a butter knife (1973.10156.1) taken from the Nazi mountain retreat of Berchtesgarten by Col. Willard White when the town was captured by the Allies at the end of WWII. At the time, Col. White was married to LBJ’s sister, Josefa Johnson, and brought back… view exhibit
![[LBJ Library photo by Ruth Goerger]](/cache/assets/uploads/exhibits_online/1970.46.7_140_140_s_c1.jpg)
Russian sniper rifle
Mar 25, 2013
This week's artifact is a Russian sniper rifle (1970.46.7) captured in War Zone D, Republic of Vietnam, by Troopers for the 173rd Airborne Brigade. view exhibit
Redwood salad bowl
Mar 18, 2013
This week's artifact is a salad bowl (1970.23.379) made from a redwood burl. This bowl was given to Lady Bird by the Eureka, CA Chamber of Commerce. Because of Lady Bird’s conservation efforts, the Lady Bird Johnson Grove was named after her at the Redwood National Park. The… view exhibit
LBJ campaign art on an artificial fingernail
Feb 12, 2013
This week's artifact was found the in the LBJ political collection. It's an artificial fingernail (1997.16.1)—a novelty made to commemorate Johnson’s 1964 campaign by donor Jeffrey Vallance. Who says you can’t be political, yet fashionable? Vallance, an artist who lives and works in Los… view exhibit
Electric toothbrush stamped with the Presidential seal
Feb 05, 2013
This week's artifact is an electric toothbrush set stamped with the Presidential Seal. (1973.8831.1) LBJ kept “give-away” items in the Oval Office and often gave out sets like this. Rumor has it that Doris Kearns Goodwin amassed 5 during her tenure as a White House intern, and finally… view exhibit
Children’s drawings of the 1965 Inauguration
Jan 24, 2013
The Museum Collections department came across a scrapbook (1973.7994.1) that contains images from the 1965 inauguration drawn by a group of 2nd graders. Juxtaposed with photographs, we can see an inaugural celebration from the perspective of a child. view exhibit
George Foreman’s warm-up robe
Jan 14, 2013
This week's artifact is a warm-up robe (1983.61.1) worn by Heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman. The lettering reads "George Foreman - The Fighting Corpsman." In a letter to Lady Bird, George said, “I wore the robe with pride because it had been President Johnson’s Job Corps which… view exhibit
Painting by Vincenzo Fodera
Jan 02, 2013
This week's artifact is a painting done by Vincenzo Fodera, and gifted to the President in 1966. It shows soldiers from the State of Georgia fighting in Vietnam. (1970.3.280) Rodney M. Davis was a Marine from Macon, Georgia who fought in Vietnam. For his heroic actions, he posthumously… view exhibit
