History & Notes: Young Roberta Blondel wore this unique coat advertising the Republican ticket at the federal and state level for the election of 1920. Roberta's left arm endorses Warren G. Harding, who became the 29th president of the United States of America, and governor turned senate candidate, Frank R. Gooding. On her back is a reproduction of Idaho's full Republican ticket. Born in Caldwell in 1918, Roberta attended school in Oregon, but tragically lost her life to encephalitis while traveling home on the Portland Rose train in 1936. Governor Robert Smylie and his wife, Lucille, were friends of the family and donated the coat after Roberta's passing.
Description: Cream child's pea coat with black lettering painted onto the fabric which advertises the Republican ticket. "Gooding" and "Harding" are printed on the left and right arms respectively. The front reads "Prosperity" across the right breast "and" across the belt, and "Protection" along the bottom panel. The back reproduces the Republican ticket itself and the belt reads "VOTE STRAIGHT". Front closure features three iridescent white buttons with a fourth tucked under the right collar. Closure and collar are trimmed in a sateen weave ribbon.
Object Number: 1962.206.0032
Object: jacket, pea
Category: Children's Garments
Circa: 1920
Materials:
Donor: Mr. and Mrs. Robert Smylie