This broadside establishes Elisha Baldwin’s candidacy for county clerk as a member of the American Party in 1855. Baldwin (1821-1865) was at the time a Queens County resident and part of a long-established family there.
On this broadside he informs voters that he has received separate nominations from two political parties, the Independent Party and his own party, the American Party. Baldwin further declares that he accepts only the nomination from his own party.
The American Party, also called the Know Nothing Party, existed for only six years, from 1850 to 1856, before dissolving into other political parties. The broadside bears a dateline of Oct. 27, 1855, Baldwinville, issued about a week before Election Day. Today, Baldwinville is simply Baldwin, a hamlet in the Town of Hempstead, which became part of Nassau County in 1899.
Broadsides like this were used for advertisements, public announcements, and entertainment. They were printed on one side and hung prominently in public places. Many iconic documents, such as the Declaration of Independence, were printed as broadsides and posted throughout cities and towns to inform citizens.
Baldwin lost this race, but won the next one and served as Queens County clerk from 1859 to 1864. In this role, he maintained and created records, including property records. He died shortly after his term ended, survived by his wife, Jane, and their daughter, Sarah. His obituary claims he “performed his duties to the entire satisfaction of all,” suggesting he remained extremely well regarded.
These days we rarely receive our political news or notices on broadsides, and it’s uncommon for a candidate to be nominated by two separately aligned political parties. However, one thing that has not changed in the past 167 years is the importance of local government, which remains responsible for many of the most important historical records, such as land records.
With Election Day approaching on Tuesday, please remember to vote in your local elections, which decide many local government officers.
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Moriah Moore is a librarian and archivist in the East Hampton Library’s Long Island Collection.
