Creation Date

circa 1924

Description

Booth, Voting: Set of 4 voting booths from Welch Township. The booths were retired from use shortly before being accessioned, replaced by electronic systems. This design of voting booth was first patented by Elizabeth J. Douglas in 1924. 

The voting booths consist of multiple pieces- a metal frame, writing trays, fabric dividers and panels, and pencils: 
2019.027.001a- Base frame
2019.027.001b-Expansion frame
2019.027.001c-Expansion frame
2019.027.001d-Expansion frame
2019.027.001e-Writing Tray
2019.027.001f-Writing Tray
2019.027.001g-Writing Tray
2019.027.001h-Writing Tray
2019.027.001i-Base dividing panel- "MAIN"
2019.027.001j-Expansion dividing panel- "ANNEX"
2019.027.001k-Expansion dividing panel- "ANNEX"
2019.027.001l-Expansion dividing panel- "ANNEX"
2019.027.001m-Pencil
2019.027.001n-Pencil
2019.027.001o-Pencil
2019.027.001p-Pencil
2019.027.001q-Front panel
2019.027.001r-Front panel
2019.027.001s-Front panel
2019.027.001t-Front panel

The frame is divided into 4 accordion metal pieces. "A" is the largest and creates a full booth. "B", "c", and "d" are smaller and build off of "a." The frame is made from a gray steel. Each individual booth has four legs, although the middle two booths share legs with the outside 2 booths. There are collapsible supports which run around the booths approximately 1/3 of the way up. Each booth also has at least 6 supports, although the base booth has 12 supports. These supports suspend the top of the booths, the writing trays, and enable each booth to connect to and support the top of the neighboring booth to its right. The trays are also attached to metal pegs on the back frame of each booth.

The booths are separated by pieces of off-white canvas, which clips onto the frames and fasten over the trays' metal pegs. The dividers are labeled with black print "MAIN" and "ANNEX." Fabric panels with vertical red, white, and blue stripes enclose the front of the booths. There are red and white stickers at the back of each booth on the top frame which read: "ELECTION Douglas EQUIPMENT/ CRETE, NEBRASKA." There were 4 brown pencils attached to each booth by string, which were present when the booths were retrieved from Welch Township.  

See the accession file for instructions and photos on how to properly assemble the voting booths.