One donor has threatened to sue to stop the auction.

ABC News reports.

Outrage Over College’s Plans to Sell Political Memorabilia

One of America’s largest troves of political and campaign memorabilia is headed for the auction block, spurring protests from some who do not want to see it divided up and sold to private collectors.

The University of Hartford plans to hire an auction house and sell off more than 70,000 items, many of them donated by the late J. Doyle DeWitt, a former chairman of the Connecticut-based Travelers Cos. who spent decades amassing letters from presidents, campaign posters, buttons and advertisements dating to the 18th century.

The artifacts include a pin worn by George Washington at his inauguration and torchlights used by a political group, The Wide Awakes, which marched at night in northern states during the 1860 campaign in support of Abraham Lincoln.