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
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 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.
Democratic National Convention 1924 - Active Press Ticket
Green admission ticket reading "Democratic National Convention New York, June 24th Active Press." There is an oval portrait of former President Thomas Jefferson flanked by branches on the left side of the ticket and the United States Capitol in the center. The back of the ticket has the seal of New York State.
Democratic National Convention 1952 - Guest Ticket
Guest admission ticket for the 1952 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois. The front of the ticket has a sketch of former President Thomas Jefferson with a quote reading "The last hope of human liberty in this world rests with us." The opposite side of the ticket has the Great Seal of the United States.
GOP National Convention 1960 Ribbon
White ribbon with golden ribbon badge reading "Illinois" in blue text. The ribbon reads "1960 GOP National Convention, Chicago, Illinois," also in blue text. The circular medal hanging from the ribbon depicts a profile image of former President Abraham Lincoln.
Harper's Magazine - Political Developments of 1864
Article in "Harper's Weekly" depicting "Political Developments Of 1864". On page 667 the happenings of August 1864 are recorded. A large portion is dedicated to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and then-governor of New York Horatio Seymour serving as president of the convention. Page 668 is headlines "Harper's Pictorial History of the Civil War [September, 1864." The top half of the page contains a drawing of an army camp with soldiers lining up to a table covered in an American flag. The caption reads "Soldiers voting for president." The paragraphs below describe former General George B. McClellan's selection as the Democratic nominee for president in 1864.
Newsweek Democratic Convention Scorecard
10 7/8 inches by 13 1/2 inches cardboard card with rounded corners. At the top of the sign is red lettering that reads, "Newsweek". Below is a red bracket with black lettering inside that reads, "know the POLITICAL SCORE read NEWSWEEK". On the back of the sign is black lettering that reads, "Newsweek's DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION SCORE CARD". The majority of the back is taken up by a large graph, with labels across the top reading, "1st BALLOT", "2nd BALLOT", "3rd BALLOT", and, "4th BALLOT"; each section is subdivided into columns for each candidate (Stevenson, Harriman, Symington, and Johnson) . The left side has a label for each state reading, "ALABAMA", "ARIZONA", "ARKANSAS", etc. Much of the 1st and 2nd ballot sections are filled out in pencil and pen, tracking delegates from various states that had voted for various candidates.
Republican National Convention 1896 - Souvenir Medal
Red, white, and blue ribbon with golden ribbon badge reading "Souvenir". Gold text reading "Patriotism Protection Prosperity" is printed on the ribbon, with all three words sharing a large "P". The medal hanging from the ribbon depicts a profiled portrait of presidential candidate William McKinley with the text "Protection '96 William McKinley" along the border. The back of the medal depicts a landscape with the sun behind a mountain range. In the foreground is a bundle of wheat and a bundle of arrows in an open field. Within the border is text reading "St. Louis Convention June 16, 1896."
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."
Vote Art Poster
11 inches by 17 inches poster with an orange background featuring a stylized image of Grant Wood's painting American Gothic but with the two figures wearing "I VOTED" buttons. Underneath the image of the painting are the words "AMERICANS FAVOR CANDIDATES WHO SUPPORT DOUBLING FEDERAL ARTS FUNDING TO $1 PER CAPITA.", "An overwhelming majority of Americans see the arts as important to improving education, quality of life, and the economy. People who participate in the arts are also more likely to vote.", "LISTEN. REFLECT. CHOOSE. VOTE ART." Below this are the dates and locations for the 2016 Republican and Democratic National Conventions. The lettering is white except for the dates, which are in yellow. The bottom of the poster features a white stripe with the logos for Americans for the Arts ACTION Fund and AMERICANS for the ARTS, along with where to get further information.
Young Men's National Whig Convention of Ratification Ribbon
Silk ribbon printed in black text reading "Young Men's National Whig Convention of Ratification" above an image of the American eagle seated on the shield emblem of the United States that is laid over tools and industrial implements while the eagle holds in its beak a ribbon reading "Protection", referring to Clay's belief in tariffs as protection for American manufacturing industries. Below this are the words "Henry Clay" above a black and white portrait of Clay; beneath the portrait are the words "Mind Your Business", again referring to Clay's platform; below these words is a color image of a farmer behind a plow pulled by one white and one grey horse with a large white house flanked by trees in the distance. Below the farm image are the words "The Ashland Farm" referring to the Clay home in Lexington, Kentucky. The ribbon is dated "Baltimore, May 2d 1844. Lith. by E. Weber & Co. Balto." Clay had been selected as the Whig party candidate for president at the convention in Baltimore on May 1, 1844.

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