Normally, the Dorothea B. Hoover wing of the Joplin Museum Complex is devoid of anything that might be considered political.
But the museum’s acquisition in April 2009 of the Richard Boss Political Americana Collection changed that.
“We have a whole political dimension now that we did not have before,’’ said Brad Belk, director of the museum. “With all attention tuned to this year’s election, we thought we would bring it out of storage and display some of the pieces.
“It’s nearly 7,000 items,’’ Belk said. “We chose some of the best pieces and we tried to be as neutral as possible. Our goal is to educate and entertain.’’
The collection, which starts in the 1870s and moves to the present, includes political sheet music, textiles, magazines, postcards, newspapers, campaign materials, presidential materials and busts, china, glassware, books and medals, as well as civil rights, war and patriotic material.
A private donation from a former museum patron and longtime resident of Joplin was used to acquire the collection, which was appraised at more than $150,000 at the time it was purchased.
Visitors to the museum notice right from the start that something is now different about the Hoover wing. They are greeted at the entrance by life-size cutouts of former presidents George H.W. Bush and William Clinton. Inside, they find more than a half dozen displays devoted to political buttons, posters, artifacts and collectibles.
In order to make room for the collection, several of the museum’s permanent displays were temporarily moved and rotated to storage.
“The amazing depth of this collection allowed us to enhance our other exhibits with political memorabilia that is appropriate to the time of the exhibit,’’ Belk said.
Political material related to Woodrow Wilson, for example, was included in the museum’s exhibit about World War I. References to Dwight Eisenhower appear in the 1950s exhibit. A photo of Herbert Hoover is included in the exhibit about Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. Even the museum’s cookie cutter section has pieces depicting the presidents.
“The staff had a lot of fun with this exhibit,’’ Belk said.
Richard and Lila Boss, of Nevada, started collecting political artifacts more than 40 years ago when, at a garage sale, they purchased a framed and signed photograph of President John F. Kennedy.
Richard Boss, who retired in 1997, was an accountant and chief financial officer for a hospital. His job required him to travel. He would schedule his vacations to coincide with his business trips. The couple would drive and stop at garage sales and flea markets along the way.
At the time the collection was acquired by the museum, Richard Boss said, “We want it to go into a museum so young kids will be better educated on what our country really stands for.
“We all have a common history, be it Republican, Democrat or whatever. We hope this collection will create a deeper sense of patriotism in our children. After seeing this collection, we hope they will think differently about our past, present and future.”
The collection will be on display through Nov. 15 at the museum in Schifferdecker Park.
Part of the Boss collection that involves Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War also will appear in an exhibit that opens on Oct. 2 at the museum. It focuses on “The Civil War in Missouri.’’
Top Stories
Related Photos
-
Brad Belk, director of the Joplin Museum Complex, this week admires a part of the Richard Boss Political Americana Collection that will be on display at the museum through Nov. 12. GLOBE | ROGER NOMER
-
The faces of the presidential campaigns in history are a part of the display at the Joplin Museum Complex. The display ranges from buttons to political sheet music, magazines, postcards, newspapers, campaign materials, presidential materials and busts, china, glassware, books and medals. GLOBE | ROGER NOMER
Discussion
Museum exhibit takes visitors on tour of American politics
- Top Stories
-
-
Joplin City Council to move forward on $130 million recovery proposal; curbside recycling election resurrected
Residents kept the house packed to the end of a 2 1/2-hour meeting of the Joplin City Council on Monday night to encourage the panel to resurrect some kind of curbside recycling proposal and to hear the details or support a $130 million recovery plan.
-
Board chairwoman: Bruce Speck out as MSSU president
Bruce Speck is “no longer president” of Missouri Southern State University, the Board of Governors disclosed Monday. The announcement was made late Monday afternoon following a unanimous vote taken during a closed board meeting Friday.
-
Former disaster relief worker, others indicted for fraud following Joplin tornado
A federal grand jury has indicted a former employee of the Economic Security Corp. in Joplin, her boyfriend and a third alleged conspirator in connection with the defrauding of the government via tornado relief funds. A sealed, three-count indictment was returned June 11 in U.S. District Court in Springfield against Herlana L. Latham, 31, and Christopher L. Smith, 36, both of Memphis, Tenn., and John L. Williams, 30, of Cairo, Ill. T
-
Back on the books: Reassessment numbers reflect rebuilding after 2011 tornado
Owners of nearly 8,000 properties in Jasper County have been notified that the value of real property they own has increased, and rebuilding from the Joplin tornado represents a significant share of that number. Officials in the county assessor’s office recently mailed out notices of higher property values, raised as a result of countywide reassessment.
-
Joplin to proceed with $130 million recovery plan, recycling election
The Joplin City Council on Monday night agreed to go forward with formal consideration of a $130 million recovery plan and revived a bill to hold an April vote of the people on the question of whether to institute curbside recycling.
-
Missouri Southern without president
Bruce Speck is “no longer president” of Missouri Southern State University, the Board of Governors disclosed Monday.
-
Crop-duster takes to skies again after walking away from crash
RIVERTON, Kan. — Two minutes after John “Tim” Kellogg flew over his rural Cherokee County home and waved at his wife on their porch, the oil pressure in his crop-dusting plane dropped and the engine began smoking. “I knew I was going to be on the ground in 15 to 20 seconds, and I knew it was going to be a hard landing,” he said. A former mechanic on F-16s, F-15s and F-4s for the U.S. Air Force, Kellogg, 48, had to make a split-second decision.
-
Council to hear public comments on recycling issue
A curbside recycling initiative that was defeated earlier this month will resurface tonight when several Joplin residents will ask for further consideration and two vendors will offer their services.
Representatives of two recycling businesses, one in Bentonville, Ark., and one in Tulsa, Okla., have filed requests to speak to the City Council. As of Friday morning, four residents also had submitted requests. -
Mission No. 22: Son experiences flight with father
The engines on the B-17 rumble to life one after another. The smell of smoky oil filters into the radio room through the bomb bay doors. Overhead, cables vibrate like strings on a cello. The vibration intensifies and the plane lumbers forward to the runway. Before takeoff, the pilot stops the plane and puts it at full throttle. The massive propellers rock the plane. The plane is then thrust down the runway for a takeoff that is as smooth as silk.
-
Contractor indicted for dumping gasoline in Duenweg’s sewer system
A federal grand jury has charged a hazardous materials handling company and two of its employees with dumping gasoline-contaminated water into Duenweg’s sewer system. A two count indictment was handed up this past week in U.S. District Court in Springfield against Seneca Companies Inc., of Des Moines, Iowa, and employees Robert Morrison, 31, and Greg Gill, 50.
- More Top Stories Headlines
-
Obama: NSA Secret Data Gathering 'Transparent'
Man Who Disrupted Flight Ranted About CIA
Feds: 7-Eleven Stores Exploited Immigrants
Fla. Teen Catches Ride With Whale Shark
G8 Leaders Huddle on Syria
Raw: Obama, Putin Meet at G8
Iran's Rowhani Urges 'Path of Moderation'
Daughter: Mandela Doing 'Very Well'
Investigators Probe Origin of Colo. Wildfire
Ex-NFL Star Chad Johnson Out of Jail
'Game of Thrones' Boosts N. Ireland
Raw: Prince Philip Leaves Hospital After Surgery
Zimmerman Jury Selection Turns to Media Exposure
Raw: FBI Meets Plane After Poison Threat
Family Tweets Say Kim Kardashian Gives Birth
US, EU Leaders Announce Free Trade Talks
