M-322: Dr. Allen B. and Helen S. Shopmaker American Political Collection

The Shopmaker Collection contains over three thousand items ranging from a George Washington token dated 1789 to buttons and textiles endorsing candidates in the 2008 election. The variety of objects reflects the changing tastes of the American public and the available production technologies, ranging from 19th century brass jewelry and clothing buttons embossed with candidate's names and party symbols to today's modern, mass-produced buttons, and from porcelain plates embellished with a portrait of First Lady Helen Taft to Nancy Reagan paper dolls. With artifacts representing nearly every American election, the Shopmaker Collection provides the viewer with a broad look at how candidates have used images, slogans and symbols to woo the public, and how the public has expressed its own, often outspoken, opinions on both individuals and issues.
St. Louis Mercantile Library Art Museum

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"A Full Dinner Bucket" Button
1 and 1/4-inch round pin back button with image of a white metal dinner bucket over a blue background. Text on a cup on the top of the bucket reads "EMPLOYMENT FOR LABOR". Text on the lid of the bucket reads "A FULL DINNER BUCKET". Across the front of the bucket is a gold oval containing black and white portraits of William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. Text on the handle reads "PROSPERITY". Text on the bottom of the bucket reads "Sound Money - Good Markets". Button has paper label on reverse for Allied Printing Trades Council of Newark and The Whitehead & Hoag Co.
Col. Theodore Roosevelt Button
7/8-inch round, pin back button with black and white portrait of Col. Theodore Roosevelt with American flag drapery in upper left corner, all on white background. Button has paper label on reverse for National Equipment Co., New York & Whitehead & Hoag Co., Newark.
Fair Play and A Square Deal Ribbon
White ribbon with blue text reading "Fair Play and A Square Deal." Beneath the text is a depiction of a button with an image of presidential candidate Theodore Roosevelt and blue ribbons hanging down. The white text on the ribbons reads "Republican Ticket 1906." Below the button is blue text reading "Vote For Magistrate Charles P. Rooney and The Whole Republican Ticket" inside an ornate frame.
Full Dinner Pail Button
1 and 1/4-inch round, pin back button on white with tin pail in the center in front of orange circle.
Full Dinner Pail Button (Small)
7/8-inch round pin back button with dinner pail over a blue circle on a white button. Button has paper label on reverse for Baldwin & Gleason, Co.
In Memoriam Theodore Roosevelt Button
7/8-inch round pin back button with black and white portrait of Theodore Roosevelt with a gold star over his head. Arched along the bottom edge is gold text reading "In Memoriam"
McKinley and Roosevelt Jugate, Blue Button
7/8-inch round, pin back button with black and white portrait jugate of William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt framed by a golden scroll on a dark blue background. Button has paper label on reverse for Whitehead & Hoag Co., Newark and Allied Printing Trades Council 3, Newark.
McKinley and Roosevelt, Jugate Button
7/8-inch round, pin back button with black and white portraits of McKinley and Roosevelt in oval frames over an American flag with a gold background. Button has paper label on reverse for Baldwin and Gleason Co., Ltd, New York.
Member Roosevelt Memorial Ass'n Button
5/8-inch round pin back button with black text on white background. Button back has paper label on reverse for St. Louis Button Co., St Louis and Allied Printing Trades Council, St. Louis.
North Dakota, The Roosevelt Cabin Button
1 and1/4-inch round, pin back button with image of a wooden cabin on an off-white background.
Our Choice Button
1 and 1/4-inch round, pin back button with black and white portrait of Theodore Roosevelt and Charles Fairbanks over a shield with an American flag motif. Above the portraits is text reading "OUR CHOICE".
Portrait of Theodore Roosevelt with Eagle on Gold button
1 1/8-inch round, pin back button with black and white portrait of Theodore Roosevelt in a white circle on gold with an eagle overhead and two American flags below. Button has paper back label with St. Louis Button Co., St. Louis and Allied Printing Trades Council 3, Newark (N.J.).
Progressive Moose Button
7/8-inch round, pin back button with profile of a moose head in yellow on a dark blue background.
Progressive Party, Roosevelt/Johnson Certificate
Receipt for a one dollar contribution to the campaign fund of the Progressive Party. The receipt also serves as a "Charter Membership Certificate." Photographic images of presidential candidate Theodore Roosevelt and vice presidential candidate Hiram W. Johnson are found on the receipt, as well as the words "Pass Prosperity Around." The opposite side of the receipt has an image of a bull moose, the political symbol of the Progressive Party, along with two quotes, one from Roosevelt and one from Johnson.
Prosperity At Home, Prestige Abroad Button
7/8-inch round, pin back button with black and white portrait of Williams McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt encased in a white circle surrounded by gold written on a dark teal background. Button back inscribed with J.H. Shaw Co., Phila.
Republican Party, District Attorney John C. Bell Ribbon
Ribbon promoting the Republican ticket for various city positions in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Below the black and white image of district attorney hopeful John C. Bell is a color depiction of then President Theodore Roosevelt riding in a horse drawn chariot with workers in the foreground cheering. The words "Protection, Sound Money, Prosperity" are on a drawn ribbon beside the workers, making reference to Roosevelt and William McKinley's platform during the 1900 presidential campaign.
Republican State Convention Coin
Circular medal with oval portraits of presidential candidate William McKinley and vice presidential candidate Theodore Roosevelt. Above the portraits is an American eagle with wings spread. Below the portraits is a shield with flag motif surrounded by the words "Aug. 8th 1900." The border of the medal reads "Republican State Convention Milwaukee, Wisconsin," while the opposite side depicts part of the Great Seal of the State of Wisconsin.
Republican State Convention, Delegate Ribbon
Convention button with an image of presidential candidate Theodore Roosevelt. The red, white, and blue ribbon hanging from the button reads "Delegate, Republican State Convention, Jefferson City, MO, June 24, 1902."
Roosevelt 1912 Button
6/8-inch round, pin back button with with text on navy blue background. Button has paper back label on reverse for the Ohio Badge Company, Columbus and Allied Printing Trades Council, Columbus.
Roosevelt Can Win, All American Button
7/8-inch round, pin back button with text in red and blue on a white background.
Roosevelt Followers Pamphlet
9 inches by 4 inches tan pamphlet with black writing. The top of the front page has black letters spelling "Roosevelt Followers Brand LaFollette As Socialist Not Entitled to Progressive Support". The pamphlet is from progressive supporters of Theodore Roosevelt who do not believe progressives should back LaFollette's progressive candidacy for President in 1924. There are four sections of this argument "LaFollette Party Socialistic Not Progressive", "LaFollette for Party Regularity in 1912", "Would Deprive People of Electing Their President", and "LaFollette Program Would Wreck U.S. Constitution". The pamphlet was signed by 48 names. The back page has a quote from LaFollete about not supporting Roosevelt in 1912. Beneath the quote is black letters spelling "Issued by the REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE Chicago, ILL.". Union imprint lower center bottom of back page.
Roosevelt Meeting Ribbon
Ribbon with ribbon badge reading "Reception" in a gold border. The red, white, and blue ribbon reads "Roosevelt Meeting, Armory Hall" with a medal hanging from the ribbon. The medal has a photographic portrait of presidential candidate Theodore Roosevelt surrounded by a gold border. Roosevelt was campaigning across the northern half of the US during the months leading up to the 1912 Republican Convention. When the party gave the nomination to Taft, Roosevelt left the party and became the candidate of the Progressive Party. This ribbon badge from a one-day event in St. Louis documents the end of Roosevelt's campaign as a Republican.
Roosevelt and Fairbanks Jugate with Flag Button
1 and 1/4-inch round, pin back button with black and white oval jugate portraits of Theodore Roosevelt and Charles Fairbanks framed by a rope and flanking an American Flag.
T.R. Button
9/16-inch round, pin back button with text in navy blue over a horizontal, white stripe on a navy blue background. Button has paper label on reverse for Bastian Bros. Front of button has imprint of Allied Trades Council 19.
Taft Watch Fob
Metal watch fob with four separate two-sided medals linked by rings, each with an embossed image and/or text. The medal closest to the clasp features an image of crossed American flags on one side, and an image of an elephant with the letters "G.O.P." on the reverse. The second medal has text reading "Look at the doughnut not the hole" and "Compliments of Judge Co. Copyrighted Judge Co. 1908" arched around a depressed doughnut shape; text within the doughnut reads "BIG CROPS Great Natural Resources" and text inside the doughnut's hole reads "Business Depression". The reverse of this medal depicts a row of soldiers with text reading "Regular army should be increased". The third medal has an image of a battleship at sea with text reading "Upbuilding of Navy must be continued"; the reverse depicts former president Theodore Roosevelt in military uniform playing a drum with text reading "Use T.R.'s nerve tonic for business troubles". The fourth medal features on both sides a low-relief image of presidential candidate William Howard Taft with text above reading "For President" flanked by three stars to the left and right.
Teddy Roosevelt Gold Button
7/8-inch round, clothing button with gold-tone teddy bear in the center and ornate trim framing the edges of the button.
Teddy Roosevelt Sepia Button
7/8-inch round, pin back button with portrait of Theodore Roosevelt in sepia. Below the image are the words "Copyright 1963 by C.M. Bell, Washington, D.C.". Button has paper label on reverse for Allied Printing Trades Council 20, Chicago, and Photo Jewelry Mfg., Chicago
Teddy Roosevelt on Black Button
3/4-inch round, clothing button with gold toned teddy bear on black background.

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