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On September 14, 1901, Theodore Roosevelt took the oath of office as the 26th president of the United States in Buffalo, New York, at the home of Ansley Wilcox. Roosevelt’s predecessor, William McKinley, had been shot by an assassin at the Pan-American Exposition on September 6, dying at 2:15 a.m. on September 14. Wilcox’s home is now the site of the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site.
Currently, a collection of Buffalo newspapers regarding the shooting of President McKinley from September 7 to 25, 1901, as well as the scrapbook kept by Ansley Wilcox following the assassination attempt to Roosevelt’s inauguration in his library are available from the Inaugural’s collections.
Items from the Inaugural site’s collections were digitized and cataloged on-site and then transferred to the Theodore Roosevelt Center for inclusion in the digital library. As TR Center staff received materials from the Inaugural, the items were added to the digital library. See below to view items from this collection.
Digitization of items at the National Park sites was possible thanks to National Park Service Centennial Challenge Funding in partnership with Dickinson State University.
Tin cigar box for Simon’s Havanas with illustration of Theodore Roosevelt on the lid. Tin would have originally held ten cigars.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
Unknown
Set of two stickpins with miniature paper flags featuring images of President Roosevelt and Charles W. Fairbanks, the candidates for the 1904 Republican presidential ticket.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1904
Postcard featuring a photograph of President Roosevelt and his guests at the ceremony where he was notified that he was nominated by the Republican Party to be their 1904 presidential candidate.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1904
Celluloid campaign pin from a First Voters Club promoting President Roosevelt’s 1904 presidential campaign. The pin features a photograph of Roosevelt and a “First Voters Club” banner.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1904
Celluloid campaign pin promoting Alton B. Parker, the 1904 Democratic presidential candidate.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1904
Celluloid 1904 presidential campaign pin for President Roosevelt with ribbon and rabbit’s foot suspended beneath. Roosevelt’s image is on a gold edged shield with an American flag background. A bald eagle sits on top of the shield.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1904
Round celluloid pin for the 1900 presidential campaign with black and white portraits of President McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1900
Round celluloid pin with black and white portraits of President McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, and Samuel Rinnah Van Sant on a dark brown background. McKinley and Roosevelt were the Republican presidential ticket for 1900 and Van Sant was the Republican candidate for governor of Minnesota.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1900
Round celluloid pin with sepia tone photograph of Theodore Roosevelt.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1901
Round celluloid campaign pin with black and white portraits of President McKinley and Governor Roosevelt. Portraits are on a gold background with a red, white, and blue ribbon at the top of the picture.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1900
Round celluloid campaign pin with black and white images of President Roosevelt and Charles W. Fairbanks.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1904
Round celluloid campaign pin with black and white oval portraits of President McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. Portraits are on a gold background with a red, white, and blue bow at the top of the picture and ribbon between the portraits.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1900
Round celluloid campaign pin with black and white oval portraits of President McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. Portraits are on a gold background with a red, white, and blue bow at the top of the picture and ribbon between the portraits.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1900
Small round celluloid pin with stud backing. The pin has a dark blue stripe at the top and bottom. In the center are the initials “T. R.” in blue on a white background.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1912
Round celluloid pin with colorized portrait of Theodore Roosevelt on a cream background.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1901-1909
Round celluloid pin with black and white portrait of Theodore Roosevelt above a colorized eagle in flight with an American shield in its talons.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1899
Round celluloid pin with colorized portraits of President McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt on a dark brown background with a tan decorative design at the top and bottom.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1900
Round celluloid pin with sepia tone portraits of President McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt in the middle of a dinner pail with the slogan “A Full Dinner Bucket Sound Money-Good Markets.” On the handle is printed “Prosperity” and a mug on top of the pail has the slogan “Employment for Labor.” Entire design is set on a dark brown background.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1900
Small round celluloid perfume holder with cork top and black and white portraits of President McKinley and Governor Roosevelt set on a cream colored background.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1900
Round celluloid pendant with oval black and white portraits of President McKinley and Governor Roosevelt on a red, white, and blue American shield against a gold background. On the reverse side is an American flag on a white background. Pendant is rimmed in brass with a brass hanger.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1900