Frame Size (H x L): 27” x 36.5”  
Bandanna Size (H x L): 17” x 26.5”

Offered is a beautiful and desirable 1912 Teddy Roosevelt campaign bandanna.  It is printed on red silk with white and blue printing throughout its field.  Campaign bandannas were initially produced beginning in the first quarter of the nineteenth century, but became a particularly popular campaign tool in the time period between 1850 and 1920.  They were worn, presented in store fronts, waved in parades, flown at political rallies, and hung from buggy whips.  The Progressive Party campaigned heavily with the use of flags and bandannas, yet this style is particularly unique in that it is rectangular in form.    

An example of this bandanna is documented in the Threads of History, written by Herbert Ridgeway Collins (see item number 940), and its notes that an example of this bandanna is held by the Smithsonian Institution.  Mr. Collins’ book is the best reference available for political textile collectors and includes over fifteen-hundred examples, dating from 1775 to 1979.  In writing his book, Mr. Collins sent thousands of letters to collectors, museums, and universities, and requested their assistance in his quest to document every known political textile.   

In the center of the bandanna is a cowboy hat and “1912,” and they are surrounded by a blue circle.  Concentrically surrounding the blue circle is a series of T.R.’s, bear’s holding “big sticks,” and taller “big sticks” standing alone.  The cowboy hat represents a Rough Riders style hat, while the 1912 represents the year in which Roosevelt ran as a progressive, rather than as a Republican.  The “big sticks” represent Roosevelt’s famous quote and foreign policy strategy, “speak softly, and carry a big stick.”  “NATIONAL PROGRESSIVE” is written along each edge of the bandanna, and a moose is featured in each of its corners. 

Theodore Roosevelt—a writer, soldier, naturalist, and statesmen—was the 26th president of the United States from 1901 until 1909.  Roosevelt was elected as the governor of New York in 1898, and in this position, he was a reformer who was best known for removing corrupt officials and regulating corporations.  Such actions irritated Republican leaders.  And in response, they urged him to run as the vice presidential nominee with William McKinley in 1900, the thought being that Roosevelt's vice presidential role would be ceremonial in nature and sidetrack him from continuing to reform and regulate.  In 1901, however, McKinley was assassinated, and Roosevelt became the youngest president in history. 

Roosevelt was known for raising awareness of the nation's role in world politics, trust busting, regulating the railroads, and continuing to fight political corruption.  Notably, in 1902, Roosevelt intervened in the anthracite coal strike upon threats to cut off heating fuel for homes, schools, and hospitals.  He responded by stating that the army would run the mines, and by having Wall Street withhold credit to the coal companies and dump their stocks.  His actions ended the strike and resulted in a pay increase for the miners.  This was the first time that a President had publically intervened in a labor dispute for the laborers, and he characterized his actions as working toward a "Square Deal" between capital and labor.  This became Roosevelt's slogan in his 1904 election, in which he ran against democratic contender Alton Parker.  Roosevelt overwhelmingly defeated him by 336 electoral votes to 140.  He carried every region in the Union, minus the South.  

In 1908, Roosevelt honored his promise not to run for a third term, and he persuaded William Taft to become his Republican successor.  Taft defeated William Jennings Bryan for the presidency in 1908, and he defeated Roosevelt for the Republican nomination in 1912.  Taft was a conservative republican, and Roosevelt was a progressive republican.  Because of this difference and Roosevelt's frustration with not getting the Republican Party's nomination, he formed the Progressive Party, nicknamed the Bull Moose Party following a letter from Roosevelt declaring that he considered himself "as strong as a bull moose."  Roosevelt argued for a "New Nationalism" in support of greater governmental regulation and promotion of social welfare, in hopes of attracting votes from the Democratic nominee, Woodrow Wilson.  Despite Roosevelt's message and popularity, Wilson easily defeated him by 435 electoral votes to Roosevelt's 88.  The Progressive Party elected very few candidates, and as a result, Roosevelt knew it was not a viable long-term party.  He kept it alive, but only to the extent that he could use it as a bargaining chip for his return to the Republican Party.

Conservation Process: This bandanna 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 bandanna, it was first washed in a standard wash and then in a dye setting wash.  The bandanna is positioned behind Optium Museum Acrylic.

Frame: This offering is in our Large Black and Gold Frame. 

Condition Report: Overall, it is nearly perfect and among the most beautiful examples of a 1912 campaign bandanna that we have encountered.  However, to be conservative in our assessment, it does have some extremely minor stains and tears, which can only be identified with a careful inspection.       

Collectability Level: The Great – Perfect for Rising Collectors
Date of Origin: 1912