Campaign collectibles
Political campaign buttons and souvenirs have long been popular. George Washington wore a political button in 1789 for his first inauguration in New York. By 1840 candidates were adopting campaign phrases. When Abraham Lincoln ran for president in 1860 technology allowed for a likeness to be printed on fabric ribbons.
Campaign buttons became popular in 1896 and were used by the campaigns of President William McKinley and William Jennings Bryan. Candidates running for office in Kansas often used a state symbol, like the sunflower, in their materials. The Kansas Museum of History’s collection of political campaign souvenirs features items presidential and state races and presidential visits.
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| Banner for 1880 Garfield and Arthur presidential campaign | Political cartoon related to the 1888 Cleveland and Thurmond presidential campaign | Hat from 1888 Benjamin Harrison presidential campaign |
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| Jacket and sash worn by a supporter of Benjamin Harrison in 1888 | Helmet worn by a supporter of Benjamin Harrison in 1888 | Cane with William McKinley likeness, 1896 |
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| Sound Money standard for McKinley and Hobart presidential candidates, 1896 | Ribbon from Anthony for McKinley and Hobart presidential candidates, 1896 | Medal for 1900 Democratic National Convention |
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| Pennant for Theodore Roosevelt's 1910 visit to Osawatomie | Souvenir button for Theodore Roosevelt's 1910 visit to Osawatomie | Cigar for 1928 Hoover and Curtis presidential campaign |
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| Poster for 1928 Curtis for president campaign | Poster for 1936 Landon and Knox presidential campaign | Hungerford political cartoon related to 1936 Landon president campaign |
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| Kansas delegation sign for 1936 Republican National Convention | 1936 Landon notification poster | Poster for 1936 Landon and Knox presidential campaign |
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| Political cartoon related to the 1936 Landon presidential campaign | Sheet music for 1936 Landon presidential campaign | Sheet music for 1936 Landon presidential campaign |
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| Herschel Logan illustration of 1936 presidential candidate Alfred Landon | Eisenhower inauguration button, January 20, 1953 | Eisenhower inauguration sunflower button and ribbon, January 20, 1953 |
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| Eisenhower/Nixon inauguration pennant, January 20, 1953 | Eisenhower inauguration button and ribbon, January 20, 1953 | Button for President Ford's visit to support 1978 Kassebaum campaign for U.S. senate |
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| Sign for Kansas delegation at the 1996 Republican National Convention | Poster for 1996 Dole presidential campaign |
Entry: Campaign collectibles
Author: Kansas Historical Society
Author information: The Kansas Historical Society is a state agency charged with actively safeguarding and sharing the state's history.
Date Created: January 2016
Date Modified: February 2016
The author of this article is solely responsible for its content.
