Nov. 1, 2000

SMU LIBRARY EXHIBITS COLLECTION OF POLITICAL BUTTONS

DALLAS (SMU) -- Southern Methodist University is currently displaying a private collection of political buttons and inaugural medals to be displayed through Dec. 1 at the Fondren Library Center, 6404 Hilltop Lane.

The collection, lent by Hervey Priddy of Dallas, includes inaugural medals of every president of the 20th century, except the rare Warren Harding medal. The display also features political buttons with contrasting messages. A red outline circles the word "No" on an anti-woman's suffrage button. Another button shows women's feet, stylishly dressed, marching to the caption, "Women's Rights."

Campaign buttons are important to collect and study because they bring politics alive, said Hal Williams, SMU professor of history in Dedman College. "They tell us what a lively interest Americans have long had in the political process."

The buttons also represent a change in Americans' attitudes toward politics. In the beginning of the 20th century, voter participation was 85 to 95 percent in some states compared to 50 percent today, Williams said.

"In the past, voters were fiercely interested in issues," Williams said. "Thousands would listen to candidate's speeches for as long as three hours. In today's media age voters have too many other choices."

The first political buttons date to 1789 and George Washington's presidency -- practical buttons meant to be sewn on clothing. In the 1820s, political buttons resembled pocket change. By the 1830s, steel engraved drawings of candidates dangled from cloth campaign ribbons pinned to lapels. Ferrotypes, photographic image emulsions on metal, were used on campaign buttons by the mid-1800s. The Fondren Library display includes a ferrotype button featuring a photograph of Abraham Lincoln, but without his trademark beard. Celluloid buttons were developed in 1893 and first used in the election of 1896.

The library exhibit also highlights political buttons from the election of 1896, one of the most exciting and interesting elections in U.S. history, Williams said. Money was the issue at stake, with the McKinley-Hobart ticket in favor of the gold standard and the William Jennings Bryan-Arthur Sewall ticket in favor of the silver standard. The silver standard was seen as the metal for the common man, the laborer, or farmer, while the gold standard appealed to members of the middle class and prosperous Americans.

McKinley buttons featured a gold bug with pictures of the candidates on its wings. Bryan buttons used symbols such as a sunflower to appeal to farmers. As winner of the election, McKinley used the golden theme through his inaugural materials. The exhibit includes McKinley's gold embossed 1897 inaugural program and a gold-tassled dance card featuring the second dance, a promenade to The Gold Bug.

A distinctive art form stemming from the tradition of Renaissance medallic art, the inaugural medals are portraits that depict the personality of each president and the circumstances of his office. The reverse side of Franklin Roosevelt's 1933 inaugural medal reflects his suggestion of a naval theme with an image of the USS Constitution and Longfellow's lines, "Thou too sail on, O Ship of State, Sail on, O Union, strong and great."

Felix DeWeldon, known for his Washington, D.C. sculpture of the U.S. Marines raising the flag at Iwo Jima, prepared the likeness for Lyndon Johnson's inaugural medal. The medal pictures Johnson working in his office, despite the artistic challenge posed by Johnson always talking on the telephone, often with a phone on both ears.

Inaugural medals were presented to the president and vice president, members of the inaugural committee and sometimes sold to the general public.

Williams noted that Priddy's collection of medals and buttons is stunning for its rarity and quality. Priddy said collecting buttons and medals is a natural extension of his love for history. A former investment banker, Priddy completed his Master's degree in history at SMU in 1999 and plans to pursue a Ph.D.

"There is no use having the collection in boxes," said Priddy. "I wanted to share the collection with students. To me, campaign buttons make history come alive."