Historical Background

Buttons

Medalets

Pins and Watch Fobs

Postcards

Ribbons

Sheet Music

Resources

Political Postcards: Historical Background

Postcards were popular during the early years of the twentieth century from 1900 - 1912. Many were humorous. Some poked fun at the opposing party. Others carried slogans. One of the more novel campaign postcards was the mechanical which featured movement. You could pull a tail on a donkey or elephant and the picture of the candidate would appear.

It was also interesting to see how the political symbols were used. The elephant represented the Republican, the donkey the Democratic, and the moose, the Progressive (Bull Moose) parties.

William Howard Taft was known as Billy Possum. This created a series of postcards with possums. Theodore Roosevelt was associated with the bear which gave us the "teddy bear."

The postcards featured in this exhibit are courtesy of the Macy Hallock collection.

Taft Republican 1908	Bryan Democrat 1908	Taft 1908
Taft vs. Bryan 1908	Taft Republican 1908	Satirical GOP
Taft Republican1912	Wilson Democrat 1912	Roosevelt Bull Moose1912
Taft vs. Bryan 1908	Wilson Democrat 1912	Taft Republican 1912
Taft Republican1908/1912	Taft Republican 1912	Pro Taft 1908
Roosevelt 1912	Taft Popularized Golf	Anti-Republican 1908