branding block
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
draggable directories
Pages
-
- I Didn't Vote for Reagan
- 2 1/8 inch diameter round, pin back button with background of a red stripe at the top, white stripe in the center, and blue strip at the bottom and the words "I'm glad I didn't vote for Reagan" in red, white, and blue letters. This is an anti-Ronald Reagan button, most likely from his second term.
-
- I Voted Sticker
- Large white oval sticker with the words "I Voted" in blue lettering along with a waving American flag, issued in Avondale, Pennsylvania
-
- I Voted Sticker (NC)
- Small white oval sticker with the words "I Voted" in blue lettering along with a waving American flag, issued in Dunn, North Carolina
-
- I Voted* Bloomberg Magazine Cover
- Bloomberg Businessweek magazine featuring a story over faulty voting machines. The cover has a picture of the "Accuvote-TSX".
-
- I Voted; NYC Votes Sticker
- Printed circular pale blue sticker displaying the Statue of Liberty with the words "I Voted" in red, white, and blue, and with the words "NYC Votes", issued in Brooklyn, New York
-
- I Want FDR Again Button
- 1/2-inch diameter round red and white pin back button that reads, "I Want FDR Again." A white donkey charm is attached to the back with green string. Reverse has label for Green Duck Company (Chicago, Il.)
-
- I Want Roosevelt Again Button
- 7/8-inch pin back button. A red stripe covers the top third of the button. A blue stripe covers the bottom third. The center third is white. Blue and white text reads "I Want ROOSEVELT Again". Button has label for St. Louis Button Company.
-
- I Will Crow in November Button
- Metal button showing a rooster, referencing the former symbol of the Democratic party, with "Cox" written on its side. A ring with the words "I will crow in November" encircle the rooster.
-
- I Will Vote Button
- Round pin back button with blue background and the words "I WILL VOTE" with a check mark inside the O of Vote and the web address IWILLVOTE.COM in white letters. "I Will Vote" was a 2016 campaign associated with the Democrat National Committee.
-
- I am Opposed to Woman's Suffrage; Mrs R. Taylor Card
- Card stating opposition to woman's suffrage signed by Mrs. R. Taylor
-
- I'm a Georgia Voter Sticker
- Printed circular white sticker with an image of a peach hanging from a small branch and displaying the words "I'm a Georgia Voter", issued in Gainesville, Georgia
-
- I'm for STU Sticker
- 4 inch by 2 1/2 inch textile sticker. Red text over a white background reads "I'm for STU" above a red stripe horizontally bisecting the sticker and containing text reading "SYMINGTON".
-
- IAFF Fire Fighter for Gore Bumper Sticker
- Yellow bumper sticker with black print reading "IAFF Fire Fighters for Gore 2000" to the left the IAFF logo is printed.
-
- In Gold We Trust Button
- 7/8-inch round, pin back button with black lettering on white background. Button has paper label on reverse for the Whitehead & Hoag 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"
-
- 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".
-
- Jackson Centennial Celebration Token
- 1 and 1/2-inch bronze token with low relief portrait of Andrew Jackson and featuring Captain Alex Laverty, Horace Blackman and Indian guide Pe-wy-tum shown standing in front of a landscape featuring the Grand River. Token commemorates the 100th anniversary of Jackson, Michigan and the birthplace of the Republican party. The reverse of the token has a profile portrait of Abraham Lincoln flanked by the American flag and the Michigan flag. Underneath the small portrait are the words "Jackson, Michigan. Here under the oaks July 6th 1854 was born the Republican Party destined in the throes of civil strife to abolish slavery, vindicate democracy and perpetuate the union" in low relief.
-
- James A. Garfield Plate
- Glass plate (6"x6") embossed with a profile portrait of James A. Garfield with "James A. Garfield" written along the bottom of the portrait. The edges of the plate has 13 stars.
-
- James Buchanan, President of the United States Token
- 1 and 1/14-inch gold-tone token with profile portrait of James Buchanan and the text "James Buchanan, President of the United States 1857" in low relief surrounding the portrait. On the reverse, the figures of a male settler and a Native American stand facing one another in front of an American flag with the words "Labor, Virtue, Honor" above the scene, all in low relief.
-
- Jas. G. Blaine Medal
- Medal with leafed border depicting a profile of presidential candidate James G. Blaine with the words "Jas. G. Blaine" surrounding the image on both sides. On the opposite side of the medal is the Lord's Prayer.
-
- Jimmy Carter "Dear Voter" Postcard
- 5 1/2 by 3 1/2 cared with a grey scale image of President Jimmy Carter on the right half, and on the left half smaller images of Presidents Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Lyndon Johnson, and John F. Kennedy. The reverse has text headlined "Dear Voter" above a message invoking Truman, Roosevelt, and Kennedy and urging the voter to support Carter's reelection. Small text at the bottom reads "Paid for by Carter-Mondale Re-Election Committee, Incorporated".
-
- Joe Fifer Club, Harrison and Morton Ribbon
- White ribbon with blue portraits of both Republican nominee Benjamin Harrison and his running mate Levi P. Morton. Above the portraits reads "Joe Fifer Club Donnellson" in red text. The portraits and red text are bordered by blue text reading "1888" at the top and "Harrison and Morton" at the bottom. The "Joe Fifer Club" makes reference to the republican candidate for Governor in the state of Illinois, "Private Joe" Fifer.
-
- John F. Kennedy and Rocking Chair Salt & Pepper Set
- Ceramic figurine (3.5" x 1.75" x 3") of John F. Kennedy in a rocking chair. The young John F. Kennedy figurine dressed in a white shirt and black tie and slacks functions as the pepper shaker and the rocking chair which is white with 'JFK' emblazoned in gold on the back of the chair functions as the salt shaker. The bottom of the rocking chair has an inscription for Arrow (New York City, N.Y.)
-
- John W. Davis for President Button
- 7/8-inch pin back button with black and white portrait of presidential candidate, John W. Davis for his 1924 campaign. Reverse has paperback label for The Whitehead and Hoag Company (Newark, N.J.)
-
- 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.)
-
- Kasich Bottled Root Beer
- Bottled root beer with Republican elephant logo and "Kasich" in blue. Produced by Fitz’s Bottling Company
-
- Keep Coolidge Button
- 7/8-inch, pin back button featuring black and white portrait of President Calvin Coolidge with the words "Keep Coolidge" written along the bottom in promotion of President Calvin Coolidge's 1924 presidential campaign.
-
- Keep U.S. Out of War Button
- White button with red and blue lettering reading "Keep U.S. Out of War" with a sketch of the contiguous United States in the center.
Pages
Mercantile Library Collections Directory
Mercantile Special Collections Directory
Barriger Library Collections Directory
Barriger Special Collections Directory