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
"Souvenir Folder of McKinley's Birthplace, Niles, Ohio." Postcards
Envelope containing a collection of nine doublesided full-color postcards that fold out accordian style. The front of the envelope has text in black and red that reads "SOUVENIR FOLDER of McKINLEY'S BIRTHPLACE NILES, OHIO." The front of the envelope features a portrait of William McKinley along with a picture of a statue of McKinley. Subjects include monuments and buildings named for McKinley, and buildings and business in Niles, Ohio. The location pictured is identified in a label below the image.
American Labor Party Button
7/8-inch pin back button in white with black and white portrait of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Along the outer edge is small text reading "AMERICAN LABOR PARTY". Reverse has label for Green Duck Company (Chicago, Il.)
Back Up; You've Batted Twice Card
A cartoon portrays Uncle Sam serving as referee and instructing a stylized Theodore Roosevelt to step away and allow a stylized Taft to take bat in a baseball game. Text beside Uncle Sam reads "Back up; you've batted twice".
Big Stars and Stripes Roosevelt Button
1/2-inch pin back button. The top third of the button is dark blue with three small white stars along the top edge. Across the center is black text reading "ROOSEVELT". Below are five vertical red stripes on a white background.
Champ Clark for President Button
7/8-inch, white, pin back button which reads "Clark For President" in blue lettering for Champ Clark's 1912 presidential campaign. Reverse has label for St. Louis Button Company (St. Louis, Mo.)
Charles E. Hughes for Governor Button
7/8-inch, white, pin back button featuring black and white portrait of Charles E. Hughes and which reads, "For Governor, Charles E. Hughes" written across the top. Button used for Hughes' 1906 gubernatorial campaign in New York. Reverse has paperback label for Whitehead & Hoag Company (Newark, N.J.)
Democratic National Convention 1916 - Guest's Ticket
Admission ticket reading "1916 Democratic National Convention Guest's Ticket." Sketched images of the United States Captiol Building and the Saint Louis, Missouri riverfront and bridges are shown flanking a sketch of former President Thomas Jefferson. On the opposite side of the ticket is a sketched image of King Louis IX, namesake of Saint Louis, on horseback.
Democratic National Convention 1916 - Messenger Ribbon
Ribbon with ribbon badge reading "Messenger". The medal hanging from the ribbon has an oval image of the Missouri state capital building surrounded by the words "Democratic National Convention St. Louis." Beneath the image is the American eagle standing on a shield flanked by laurel branches.
Democratic National Convention 1916 - Messenger Ticket
Admission ticket reading "Messenger Democratic National Convention." The ticket has a place to fill in the recipient's name, as well as a depiction of former President Thomas Jefferson. The opposite side of the ticket shows a sketched image of King Louis IX, namesake of Saint Louis, on horseback.
FDR Button
7-8-inch red pin with blue text reading "FDR" surrounded by a white circle. Reverse has label for Green Duck Company (Chicago, Il.)
For Governor, Martin G. Brumbaugh Button
7/8-inch round, pin back button with a black and white portrait of Martin G. Brumbaugh over a flag-motif shield on a blue background. The rim of the button is lined in gold. The words "For Governor, Martin G. Brumbaugh" in gold block letters surround the image. Reverse has paper label for A. J. Keil Co (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Hughes Red, White, and Blue Button
13/16-inch, red, white, and blue, pin back button which reads, "Hughes" in blue lettering for Charles E. Hughes 1916 Presidential campaign. Reverse has paperback label for Whitehead & Hoag Company (Newark, N.J.)
Hughes Red, White, and Blue Button (small)
1/2-inch, red, white, and blue, pin back button with blue text reading "Hughes". This button refers to Charles E. Hughes' 1916 Presidential campaign.
Itinerary for Charles E. Hughes Third Western Trip, New York Central
Paper pamphlet with a decorative border surrounding black lettering that reads, "Itinerary Third Western Trip, Hon. Charles E. Hughes Republican Candidate For President, Staff and Newspaper Representatives, October 9th - October 20th, 1916, Arranged By New York Central Lines. The railroad is identified by its logo. The pamphlet text consists of train schedules and destinations arranged by date. The last two pages are titled "Personnel of Hughes Special Train" and "Press Representatives".
Just Roosevelt Button
7/8-inch, red button featuring a silhouette of rooster and reads, "Just Roosevelt" in blye text. Reverse has label for Green Duck Company (Chicago, Il.)
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.
National Hughes Alliance Pin
Metal pin in the shape of a shield that reads, "National Hughes Alliance." This pin refers to Charles E. Hughes' 1916 presidential campaign.
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.
Registered 1917 Belleville, Illinois Button
Round pin-back button with background of a red stripe at top, a white stripe at center and a blue stripe at the bottom, with the words "Registered 1917 Belleville Illinois" in white letters. The Selective Service Act was passed by Congress on May 18, 1917 and authorized the President of the United States to increase military numbers through mandatory enlistment. All men aged 21 to 30 years of age were required to register for military service for a period of 12 months. Buttons like this seem to commemorate the act of registering with the Selective Service.
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 Agricultural Committee Button
7/8-inch pin back button in blue with a yellow image of an ear of corn in the center. Yellow text reads, "Roosevelt Agricultural Committee." Reverse has label for Green Duck Company (Chicago, Il.)
Roosevelt Regan Repeal Button
1/2-inch, red, pin back button with a white circle in the middle and text that reads "Roosevelt Regan Repeal." Reverse has label for Green Duck Compnay (Chicago, Il.)
Roosevelt on Red Button
7/8-inch, red, pin back button featuring monochromatic blue portrait of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Below is a white stripe surrounding blue text reading "Roosevelt". Reverse has label for Green Duck Company (Chicago, Il.)
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.
Where All Men Are Equal Cartoon
Political cartoon from "Harper's Weekly" depicting men dressed in various types of clothing, denoting wealth and status, all standing in line at a "polling place". Below the cartoon "Where All Men Are Equal, Drawn by Hanson Booth" is printed. "Hanson Booth" is also signed at the bottom of the cartoon.
Wilson/Marshall Button
White button with red text reading "Wilson Marshall." The button references presidential candidate Woodrow Wilson and vice presidential candidate Thomas R. Marshall. One 's' is shared between 'Wilson' and 'Marshall', connecting the two names. Prominent union label for Allied Printing Trades Council, Chicago (232).
Woodrow Wilson Button
Button with photographic portrait of presidential candidate Woodrow Wilson with a narrow border of white stars on a blue ground and red and white stripes surrounding the image. A metal, decorative border surrounds the button.

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