Morgantown “March for Science” Demonstration, Posters and Signs
Collection
Collection Number: A&M 4753
79 handmade signs and posters used in the 2017 March for Science held in Morgantown. Materials used range from store-bought cardstock and posterboard to hand-cut cardboard and old boxes. Some signs are hand-written, others painted, and some have printed photographs or other materials attatched. Many of the signs are signed by the creator, and some are dated and mention the event.
The signs cover a broad range of topics, but are generally about promoting the value of science, the validity of scientific evidence and process, and references to specific issues. The signs commonly employ play on words, quotes from well-known scientists, as well as imagery of the earth and scientific symbols. Examples include “Science for the Common Good;” “Ho Ho, Hey Hey, EPA has got to stay;” “Facts Matter;” and “Science Makes America Great.”
Other topics include climate change, vaccines, clean drinking water and air, inventions and progress, funding, education, women in STEM, and politics (references to parties, figures, policies, etc.)
This collection also contains one sign labeled as being from the healthcare march, possibly referring to the "March for Health" which took place 2017 April 1.
No special access restriction applies.
Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.
Signs from the March for Science held Earth Day (April 22nd) 2017 in Morgantown, W.V. The event began at Woodburn Circle, where there were speakers and childrens’ activities, and then proceeded down High Street to Hazel Ruby McQuain Park. The demonstration in Morgantown was one of 600 satellite marches worldwide that joined the March for Science in Washington, D.C.; the event organizers estimated that nearly 1.1 million people participated. The organizers in D.C., as well as many participants in Morgantown, emphasized that the mission of the march was to raise awareness of the importance of using science to create evidenced-based policy. The non-partisan event was held to protest policy and attitude changes instated by the new administration, such as the cutting of programs and funding, climate change denial, and vaccines. Many of the signs reference language used by the new Trump presidential administration, such as the slogan “Make America Great Again,” and the phrase “alternative facts.”
For more information and sources, see the March for Science WV website, and the following articles:
Adrianne Uphold, "West Virginians march for elected officals to pay attention to the environment." The Daily Athenaeum, 24 April 2017. Accessed 2026 June 17.
"March for Science to be held Saturday," WVU ENews, 21 April 2017. Accessed 2026 June 17.
Jake Jarvis, "Hundreds turn out for science marches in Morgantown, Huntington," Gazette-Mail, 22 April 2017. Accessed 2026 June 17.
Jon Swaine, "Donald Trump's team defends 'alternative facts' after widespread protests," The Guardian, 23 Jan 2017. Accessed 2026 June 17.
1.21 Linear Feet (3 oversized flat storage boxes, 3 in. each; 8 unboxed items, 5.5 in. total)
English
West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536 / URL: West Virginia & Regional History Center
Gift from Lori Hostuttler, circa 2017 May.
Part of the West Virginia and Regional History Center Repository