Description
The Peanut Brigade Guest book from “The Train Depot,” the 1976 Presidential Campaign Headquarters in Plains, Georgia.
Signed by President Jimmy Carter on the last leaf, affixed to the rear board. The guest book covers July 5, 1976 – July 18, 1976. From the private collection of Maxine Newsberry Reese (1932-2000), who spearheaded the effort to make Plains, Georgia a National Historic District. Octavo, [100 leaves]. A few leaves torn from book, all individually signed. Wood boards, bound at the spine with leather lace. Both covers lacquered.
This campaign piece includes over 1000 signatures from visitors to the Plains Train Depot, the campaign headquarters of Jimmy Carter. Rear endpaper with Lillian Carter’s handwriting, noting that “Jimmy was born Oct.1st, Friday (ex) 7 A.M. 1924.” This book was presented to Jimmy Carter in 2018, who confirmed that the handwriting on the rear pastedown was his mother’s.
The 1976 Peanut Brigade were a devoted group of Georgians who campaigned for Jimmy Carter beginning with his first run for the Georgia Senate in 1963. During the 1976 presidential primary, they traveled to seven primary states, at their own expense, to endorse Jimmy Carter door-to-door. By July of 1976, Jimmy Carter had secured the Democratic nomination, and many of his supporters traveled to Plains to pay their respects to the democratic nominee.
