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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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- Jimmy Carter Peanut Bank
- 11.5-inch high by 4.5-inch by 4-inch plastic bank in the shape of a peanut with a wide, smiling mouth. Both the peanut and the wide, toothy grin were common symbols for presidential candidate Jimmy Carter.
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- 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.
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- 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.)
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- 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.)
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- 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.)
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- Kasich Bottled Root Beer
- Bottled root beer with Republican elephant logo and "Kasich" in blue. Produced by Fitz’s Bottling Company
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- LBJ For The USA Bumper Sticker
- Blue and red bumper sticker with white print. Over the blue "LBJ" is printed in white. Over the red "For the USA" is printed in white.
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- La Follette & Wheeler Pin
- Bronze, circular button with profile portraits of Robert M La Follette and Burton K. Wheeler. Pin used in Follette's 1924 presidential campaign. Reverse button has inscriptions for Green Duck Company (Chicago, Il.)
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- Labor is for Roosevelt Button
- 1/2-inch pin back button. The top half is the button has blue text reading "LABOR IS FOR" on a white background. The bottom half has white text reading "ROOSEVELT" on a blue background. Button has label for the Adnov Company (Indianapolis, In.)
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- Letter to Alexander W. Warner from Under Secretary of State Sumner Welles
- 9 inches by 7 inches letter from Sumner Welles in response to a letter from Alexander W. Warner. The top left has the seal of the United States Department of State stamped. The top middle has black letters spelling "THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE WASHINGTON December 5, 1939". Welles signature followed the end of the body of the letter. The bottom of the letter has black letters spelling "Alexander W. Warner, Esq., 1408 Milam Building, San Antonio, Texas".
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- MAGA Card
- 5 inch by 3 1/2 inch card. A blue box contains white letters spelling "TRUMP". Below, blue and red text reads "Make America great again!" A blue border frames the outer edge of the card, with five red stars at the center top and bottom. The reverse contains black text thanking for a donation and requesting engagement with "#TeamTrump" on social media by tagging "@RealDonaldTrump". At the bottom is a small box containing text reading "Paid for by Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.".
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- Malt Bitters Puzzle
- Puzzle trade card. Front has a drawing of wooded scene with the words "Malt Bitters Puzzle" on top and below the drawing "Find our next President" If flipped upside down, one can see an outline of a face. The reverse has advertising information for malt bitters from the Malt Bitters company located in Boston, Ma.
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- Marco Rubio Bumper Sticker
- 3 inches by 10 3/4 inches unused white vinyl bumper sticker with red and blue letters. In the middle there are red and blue letters spelling "marco rubio" with the "rubio" part blue and with a red continental United States over the "i" in place of the dot. Beneath are red letters spelling "A NEW AMREICAN CENTURY". 3 inches by 10 3/4 inches unused.
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- McCain Card
- Card sent out by John McCain 2008 in support of then presidential candidate John McCain. On the front of the card there is a family seated at a table looking forward. In the bottom left corner, "McCain" is printed in blue with a yellow bar separated in the middle with a star above. Printed below McCain, is "Biezczcat Family, Las Vegas, NV". The back of the card has a statement regarding McCain's policies and his support for Hispanic Americans. The bottom right corner has a picture of a family holding American flags facing forward. In front of them is printed "Estamos Unidos McCain", with a white bar separated by a star between "Estamos Unidos" and "McCain". In the bottom right corner "johnmccain.com/espanol" is printed and under it is a white box containing the words "Paid for by John McCain 2008".
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- McCain Mocha Coffee Drink
- Powder cappuccino to be mixed with water for warm or iced coffee.
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- McCarthy for President '68 Bumper Sticker
- Blue and black bumper sticker with "McCarthy" printed in white over the black and "for PRESIDENT '68" printed in white over the blue. A black and white photograph of McCarthy is on the left. This sticker was made by the "Eugene McCarthy for President" group.
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- McCarthy for President Flyer
- Flyer composed of a picture of then presidential candidate Eugene McCarthy looking left. To his right is a picture of people with "McCarthy for President" signs. Above these photos in white print "McCarthy for President, courage...integrity...honor" is written. On the back of the flier there is a photo of McCarthy looking out of a window. To his right, there are quotes by him, as well as information about McCarthy. Below the picture of McCarthy it reads "Eugene McCarthy is the Man for President" and lists his accomplishments.
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- McGovern Bumper Sticker
- 2 3/8 by 12 inch vinyl bumper sticker in red and white printed with the word McGovern.
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- McGovern/Shriver '72 Bumper Sticker
- Blue bumper sticker with white print reading "McGovern/Shriver '72". Created by the "McGovern for President Committee".
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- McKinley Portrait Button
- 1 and 1/4-inch round, pin back button with black and white portrait of William McKinley framed by a gold scroll and the American flag in the background. Button has a paper label on reverse for Allied Printing Trades Council 3, Newark, and Whitehead & Hoag Co., Newark.
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- McKinley Portrait Button (Small)
- 7/8-inch round, pin back button with black and white portrait of William McKinley framed by a gold scroll and the American flag in the background. Button has a paper label on reverse for National Equipment Co., New York and the Whitehead & Hoag Co., Newark, with multiple patent dates.
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- McKinley and Hobart Ribbon
- Yellow ribbon with black text reading "McKinley and Hobart and the whole Republican Ticket." Beneath this is a portrait of congressional candidate Thomas S. Butler. The bottom of the ribbon reads "Thomas S. Butler and Better Times."
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- Michael Dukakis Handbill
- 11 inches by 17 inches white paper handbill. The top half features a black and white American Flag design. In the top left hand corner is a grey-scale photo of Democratic Presidential Candidate Michael Dukakis. Black lettering reads, "Come Join Us for a Get-Out-The-Vote Victory '88 Rally with Michael Dukakis on Thursday, November 3 12:00 Noon 15th and MARKET" and additional text that endorses several other candidates for various positions and along the bottom are phone numbers that can be called to volunteer.
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