COLONIE — Former social studies teacher Jim Kirk was introduced to the world of political memorabilia collecting in 1967 by one of his 10th-grade students who had a sprawling historic button collection. Enthralled by the items, it wasn’t long before Kirk took on the title of collector himself.
More than a half-century later, Kirk and his former student, Tom Keefe, were two of several sellers showcasing their collections at the Political Memorabilia Show & Sale Saturday morning. The event included historic posters, paintings and clothing but was primarily comprised of buttons from political campaigns and movements.
“It’s a great opportunity to learn about history, about people and biographies and learn about the social issues of the time. All of that makes us richer people, we are enriched by what we learn, what we do, where we travel and all of this hobby feeds into that,” Kirk, 79, said.
The niche event, which took place at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites off Wolf Road, was hosted by the New York chapter of the American Political Items Collectors.
Most of the hobbyists built their collections around a time or political figure. Kirk’s collection is vast, spanning from items relating to Abraham Lincoln to Franklin Roosevelt, who is one of his favorite presidents. He doesn’t purchase any items newer than 1948 and is particularly drawn to left-wing causes and radical labor unions.
“I like the cause stuff, the left-wing stuff because a lot of times those causes that happened years ago are things that are normal today,” Kirk, who held ribbons from the Western Federation of Miners, said. “They got into a lot of trouble for this stuff, went to jail, got killed in strikes.”
Within an hour of being at the day-long event, Kirk purchased a $300 pin bearing the face of trade unionist, political activist and presidential candidate Eugene Debs. He said that the political collectibles could be purchased anywhere from 50 cents to $1,000.
Keefe piled multiple tables at the event with his collection. The former Albany City Court judge began collecting when he was just 12 years old after receiving a handful of free political buttons from a Barry Goldwater headquarters. A week later, he remembers finding a William McKinley button at an antique shop; it was then that he decided he would find a button for every president.
Several decades later, he’s currently at 45 – with just James Madison left to hunt down before successfully completing his lifelong mission.
When asked what his favorite item in his collection is, Keefe said it’s like choosing a favorite child. He, too, is more of a generalist, with material dating back to George Washington’s presidency (like coat buttons from his inauguration). One of his purchases from Saturday morning was a silk thread manufactured with Theodore Roosevelt’s face on it.
“One of the wonderful things about this hobby is there is stuff that turns up because it’s found in an attic and it’s something that a collector has never seen before, whereas when you collect stamps and coins there’s no mystery to it,” said Keefe, who got to the event hours before it officially began to start looking through the display.
For many, it’s a hobby that runs in the family. For Keefe’s two sons, much of their childhood was spent traveling to conventions and contributing to their dad’s collection – so much so that one night, his visibly upset 11-year-old asked him, “why didn’t you tell me that not everybody collected buttons?” after bringing it up at school and confusing classmates. To the child, button-collecting was as normal as watching television.
It’s also a hobby that attracts a very specific demographic. As noted by event organizer Bill McPherson, the venue was filled mainly by an older crowd. “Attracting younger people is a challenge,” he revealed.
McPherson, a retired Ballston Spa High School social studies teacher, said he encourages young people to get out to events like this and explore the collectibles, which he calls works of art, to learn more about their heritage.
“I taught American history, and collecting political memorabilia is an extension of that; it’s an opportunity to actually touch the things that you talk about in the past, and it’s also aesthetically appealing,” the passionate hobbyist said. “I just wish it attracted more people.”
