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 Clean Sweep" Button
Button with an image of a rooster with a broom. Surrounding the rooster, text reads "A CLEAN SWEEP". The rooster references the former symbol of the Democratic Party.
"Bet on Bush" Bubble Gum Cigar Set
Set of bubble gum cigars in red, white, and blue designed box (6.25" x 5.25" x 1.5") that features a black and white portrait of George H. W. Bush to promote Bush's 1988 presidential campaign. Produced by Swell Philadelphia Chewing Gum Corporation.
"Campaign '88, Dukakis For President" Cigarette Pack
Pack of cigarettes (3.5"x2.25"x.75") featuring a blue profile portrait of Michael Dukakis to promote his 1988 presidential candidacy. A red, white and blue stripe flows behind Dukakis’s head.
"Carpenters and Hillary" T-shirt
Blue cotton t-shirt with "Carpenters & Hilary 2016" in red, white, and blue using Clinton's signature arrow design on the chest. The back of the t-shirt has the same symbol with the words "Building a Strong America" in white. Produced and distributed by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America.
"Clinton for President" Bubble Gum Cigar
Bubble gum cigar with the words "Clinton For President" written on the wrapper in white. Produced by Swell Philadelphia Chewing Gum Corporation.
"Happy Days are Here Again" Shot Glass
Shot glass featuring a silhouette image of a donkey and the words "Happy Days Are Here."
"I Like Ike" Tie
Grey necktie with the words “I Like Ike” written in blue surrounded by a cluster of 5 stars. These motifs are repeated throughout the tie.
"I Like Kennedy" Cigar
Cigar with the words "I Like Kennedy" printed on the wrapper.
"Our Choice Cleve & Steve" Glass Bottle
Aqua glass, barrel-shaped bottle (5.5”x2.75”x1.5”) celebrating the election and inauguration of President Grover Cleveland and Vice President Adlai Stevenson in 1893. Text “Our Choice/Cleve & Steve/November 8th 92/March 4th 93” and jugate busts of Cleveland and Stevenson are on one side and a rooster – an early symbol of the Democratic party – on the other.
"Our Choice, Harding and Coolidge" Framed Decal
Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge Campaign window decal (10.5"x7") framed in ornate, oval, gold-tone wood frame.
"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.
"The Duke in '88" Bubble Gum Cigar
Bubble gum cigar with the words "The Duke in '88" written on the wrapper in white. Produced by Swell Philadelphia Chewing Gum Corporation.
"The Great Society" Comic Book
10 inches by 7 inches comic book with the title "THE GREAT SOCIETY COMIC BOOK". The cover has a caricature of Lyndon B. Johnson as a superhero named "SuperLBJ". The comic book was made by Parallax Comic Books and Pocket Books. It was written by D.J. Arneson and illustrated by Tony Tallarico. The comic book has Lyndon B. Johnson, members of his cabinet and famous political figures in a superhero story as fictional heroes or villains. The heroes are a part of the GREAT Society "The Group Resigned to End All Threats". The story is about a missing SuperLBJ and members of the GREAT Society must find him on their own adventures. However, they all fail while SuperLBJ breaks free from being captive and rescues all the other heroes and beats all the villains.
"The New Deal" Franklin D. Roosevelt Mug
Ochre-colored barrel mug featuring a profile picture of Franklin D. Roosevelt in a shield. The text reads “The New Deal."
"To Men and Women Who Have Served" Leaflet
9 5/16 inches by 3 13/16 inches white leaflet with black writing. At the top of the front page there are black letters spelling “TO MEN and WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED". In the middle of the front page there is a photo of Alf Landon. Alongside the right hand side of both the front and back there are black stars. Beginning on the front and continuing onto the back, Alf Landon discusses the character of soldiers in times of war representing the best of America but also the need to carry that into times of peace as well. At the bottom of the back page there are black letters spelling "REPUBLICAN SERVICE LEAGUE 920 McCormick Bldg., Chicago". Union imprint on the bottom left of the back page.
"Vote Democratic" Bookmark
White bookmark reading "Vote" in blue text and "Democratic" in vertical red text. Along the right and left sides are red and blue stripes split by three red stars. A blue outlined star is at the bottom below the letter "C".
"Wallace" Straw Hat
Adult size boater, a traditional straw hat with a flat brim and ribbon band, with a red, white and blue striped band and a striped pin with the word “Wallace” at the front of the hat.
"Win With Bush" Bubble Gum Cigar
Bubble gum cigar with the words "Win With Bush" written on the wrapper in white. Produced by Swell Philadelphia Chewing Gum Corporation.
"democracy: some assembly required" Bumper Sticker
3 3/4 inches by 11 inches unused white vinyl bumper sticker with blue and red writing. There are blue and red letters spelling "democracy: some assembly required". The "democracy" part is the only blue and has white starts inside the letters. At the bottom there are blue letters spelling "www.DemocracyCaravan.org 1-866-GOT-VOTE?".
11th APIC National Convention Program
8 1/2 inches by 5 1/2 inches white program with red writing and blue images. The top portion of the cover has stylized red letters spelling "Welcome to Chicago". In the middle there are blue images of campaign buttons for Mayor of Chicago from Daley, Harold Washington, and Jane Byrne. Above the images are red letters spelling "Republican Stronghold from the Lincoln elections to 1931... Bastion of Democratic power ever since". Below the images are red letters spelling "ELEVENTH APIC NATIONAL CONVENTION Sheraton O'Hare Hotel, August 11-13, 1983". The contents of the program provide brief political history of Chicago, especially about the mayors, names of the officers of APIC and the schedule of the convention.
23rd President U.S.A., Benjamin Harrison Token
1-inch copper token with low-relief profile portrait of Benjamin Harrison. The words "23rd President U.S.A. 1889 - 1893" are in low-relief block letters above the portrait and "Benjamin Harrison" is in block letters below it. On the reverse of the token in low-relief block letters is extensive text about his career that begins with "Backbone Ben, Son of his Grandfather."
7 Reasons Print Ad
Print ad for Automatic Voting Machine Corporation of Jamestown, New York, in operation "since 1898". Headline reads "7 Reasons Why More Than 5,500 Cities, Towns and Villages in the United States Use AUTOMATC [sic] VOTING MACHINES". A black and white image of a man using the automatic voting machine in a voting booth is to the right of a bulleted list of reasons, below the headline.
A March to Eisenhower Sheet Music
11 15/16 inches by 8 7/8 inches white music sheet with cover page. The cover page is white with blue and red letters. At the top is blue letters spelling "A MARCH TO EISENHOWER". Beneath the title are blue letters spelling "WORDS BY HIRAM D. HIRSH MUSIC BY JEWEL M. FRANK". There is an American flag on a pole in the center of the page. Next to the flag are red letters spelling "Souvenir of Inauguration 1953". Below the flag is a photograph of Dwight D. Eisenhower. In the background of the cover page is a sketch of the White House. The two inside pages are white with black writing and feature the music and lyrics.
Automatic Voting Machine "Avoid Costly Election Contests" Print Ad
Print ad in "The American City" magazine for "Automatic Registering Machine Co., Inc." of Jamestown, New York. A headline at the top reads "Avoid Costly Election Contests Once and for All By Using Voting Machines". Below is text describing the voting machines' benefits. Near the top right side is a black and white photograph of the back of the automatic voting machine. Text at the bottom reads "AUTOMATIC REGISTERING MACHINE CO., Inc. Jamestown New York".
Automatic Voting Machine Matchbook Cover
Matchbook cover advertising Automatic Voting Machines of Jamestown, N.Y. The front cover is metallic silver with a three-color printed photo showing a hand pointing to a switch. Black text above the photo reads "AUTOMATIC VOTING MACHINE Jamestown, N.Y.". Text below the photo reads "BUILDERS OF VOTING MACHINES SINCE 1896" and below, "CLOSE COVER BEFORE STRIKING MATCH". The back of the cover has a three-color printed photo of a woman exiting the automatic voting machine booth. Text below reads "Made in U.S.A. THE DIAMOND MATCH CO. N.Y.C.". Text on the inside of the cover is headlines "Advantages of Jamestown Automatic Voting Machines" above a numbered list of seven advantages.
Automatic Voting Machines 1944 Election Print Ad
Advertisment for the Automatic Voting Machine Corporation, printed in "The American City". A headline at the top reads "AUTOMATIC VOTING MACHINES were used by 12 million* voters at the 1944 presidential election". Text below contains more information about the voting machines and their use. In the center, a black and white photograph shows a man using the voting machine in a voting booth.
Barack Obama: Eight Years Magazine
10 7/8 inches by 8 inches grey Time Magazine special edition titled in white and black letters "Barack Obama: Eight Years". In the top left corner there are red and black letters spelling "TIME SPECIAL EDITION". The front cover is mostly taken up by a photograph of Barack Obama. The magazine is divided into three sections "A Distinctive Agenda", History in the Making", and Beyond the White House". There are 96 pages. The back cover has a photograph of President Obama in the Oval Office at his desk talking of the phone.
Bernie Sanders Skate Flier
6 inch by 4 inch event flier for a free rollerskating event in support of Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign. Yellow and white text and illustrations over a black background.

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