The Me Decade, a retrospective exhibition of the 1970s, will extend to Saturday March, 11 in the Keller Gallery at the McKinley Presidential Library & Museum.
The exhibition features clothing from the era, presented under a disco ball on a dancefloor in the center of the gallery, including bell bottom jeans, halter tops, hot pants, and more. The exhibition also includes artifacts from the decade from the museum’s permanent collection, such as Fisher-Price toys, a Coronamatic typewriter, a CB radio, a Westinghouse Electric tabletop radio, kitchen appliances made by The Hoover Company, a Panasonic microwave, box purses, platform shoes, and commemorative items from the nation’s bicentennial celebration in 1976. The exhibition also features a recreation of a 1970s dining room, complete with an orange shag rug and retro floral wallpaper.
“Every ten years we create an exhibition on a decade from the 20th century,” said Kim Kenney, Executive Director of the McKinley Presidential Library & Museum. “We featured the 1960s back in 2011, but COVID interfered with our plans to showcase the 1970s. We have postponed the exhibition twice, because we wanted to be sure we could have a Disco Party as our fall fundraiser to celebrate the opening of the exhibition. After planning the exhibition and event for two years, we’re glad to finally be able to have both in 2022.”
It is important to study and collect from time periods that are not readily considered “history,” before those items are discarded or otherwise lost. “It’s hard for people to admit that the 1970s are history, but realistically 1970 was more than 50 years ago,” said Kenney. “We started highlighting decades from the 20th century in our exhibitions 20 years ago as a way to remind people that the objects they made and used in their lifetimes are worth preserving. We are also the Stark County Historical Society, so our mission includes collecting and studying local history. Most of our collection is actually not related to President McKinley.”
AT A GLANCE
Exhibition: The Me Decade: A Look Back at the 1970s
Host Organization: McKinley Presidential Library & Museum
Runs: September 23, 2023 to March 11, 2023
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: 800 McKinley Monument Dr NW, Canton OH 44708
Admission: $13 for adults, $12 for seniors, $11 for children 3-18
Contact: 330-455-7043 • www.McKinleyMuseum.org
