Frame Size (H x L): 15.5” x 15.5”
Kerchief Size (H x L): 8.5” x 8.5” 

Offered is an antique kerchief with the following red and blue overprint: REPEAL THE 18th AMENDMENT | MORE BEER LESS TAXES.  It was made to support the repeal of prohibition and dates to either 1932 or 1933.  The field is made of white cotton.  It includes a blue border and red stripes intersecting therewith.  The center of the kerchief features three marchers wearing red, white, and blue—two of which are playing the drums and one of which is playing the flute.   

The kerchief includes a small “PECK & PECK” inscription.  Brothers, Edward and George Peck, started Peck & Peck 1888 in New York City.  The original was prominently located on 5th Avenue and specialized in women’s clothing.  At its peak, it had 78 locations across the country.  It encountered financial difficulties in the 1970s and was eventually sold in piecemeal to its competitors.   

Two similar examples to this kerchief are documented in the Threads of History, written by Herbert Ridgeway Collins, as entries 1089 and 1090.  Mr. Collins was the curator of the Division of Political History at the Smithsonian Institution.  His book is the best reference available for political textile collectors and includes over 1500 examples, dating from 1775 to 1979.       

Entry 1090—which is identical to the kerchief offered herein—is smaller than entry 1089 and includes a fringed edge.  In most other respects, the two entries are identical.  The Smithsonian Institution has one of each example in its holdings.    

RATIFICATION AND REPEAL OF THE 18^TH AMENDMENT
The 18th Amendment was ratified on January 29th, 1919, and stated the following:

Section 1. After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all the territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.

Section 2. The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.

The National Prohibition Act was enacted to carry out the 18th Amendment’s intent. Wayne Wheeler of the Anti-Saloon League drafted the bill, and in it, he clarified the meaning of “intoxicating liquors” and provided penalties associated with the 18th Amendment. The National Prohibition Act is often referred to as the Volstead Act, named after Andrew Volstead, who managed the legislation and was the Chair of the House Judiciary Committee.

The passage of the 18th Amendment was a result of a long-standing temperance movement that had gained momentum in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Organizations such as the Anti-Saloon League and the Women's Christian Temperance Union were instrumental in advocating for the prohibition of alcohol, citing its negative impact on society, including crime, family violence, and public health.

Despite the amendment's intentions, Prohibition led to unintended consequences. The illegal production and distribution of alcohol, known as bootlegging, became widespread. Speakeasies, which were illegal drinking establishments, proliferated in cities across the country. Organized crime syndicates, such as those led by Al Capone in Chicago, gained significant power and wealth by controlling the illegal alcohol trade. Law enforcement agencies struggled to enforce the ban, leading to widespread corruption and a lack of public respect for the law.

The 18th Amendment and the National Prohibition Act were eventually repealed in 1933 by the 21st Amendment. This was the first and only time in U.S. history that a constitutional amendment was entirely repealed. The repeal was driven by widespread recognition of the law's failure to achieve its goals and the negative social and economic consequences that had arisen. The Great Depression also played a role in the repeal, as the potential for job creation and tax revenue from the legal alcohol industry became increasingly appealing.

Some states continued statewide prohibition after 1933, but by 1966, every state had abandoned their prohibition efforts. Since then, alcohol controls have been managed at the local level, with each state and locality determining its own regulations regarding the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages. The legacy of Prohibition remains a significant chapter in American history, reflecting the complexities of social reform and the challenges of legislating morality.

Conservation Process: This kerchief was hand sewn to cotton fabric, and both were hand sewn to a mounting board.  To prevent the black dye in the cotton fabric from seeping into the kerchief, it was first washed in a standard wash and then in a dye setting wash.  The kerchief is positioned behind Optium Museum Acrylic.

Frame: The frame features a textured, dark wood finish with a wide border, giving it a rustic and aged appearance.

Condition Report: The kerchief is in good condition, with the printed design still clear and vibrant. There is some staining, but the kerchief remains attractive and retains its decorative appeal.

Collectability Level: The Good – Perfect for Beginning Collectors and Gifts  
Date of Origin: 1932-1933