Curators at the Smithsonian Institution are wasting no time in collecting objects from President-elect Barack Obama (webbio) 's historic campaign victory.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture scooped up maps, strategy boards and campaign literature from one of Obama's campaign offices in northern Virginia shortly after the election. Curators on Wednesday thanked Obama's Virginia staff for saving the items, which are often thrown away or taken as souvenirs after the campaign.

Virginia was a key swing state for Obama's win. He was the first Democratic presidential candidate to win the state since 1964.

Museum director Lonnie Bunch says the items are proof of "one of the most historically significant elections in American history."

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