ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, November 6, 1996 TAG: 9611060027
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BRISTOL, VA.
SOURCE: ANNE GRUNDON BRISTOL HERALD-COURIER
You probably won't catch Bill Locke wearing a campaign button pledging support for any candidate. But he's collected dozens of them over the years - some dating back a century.
Some have fairly routine messages such as ``I like Ike.'' Others, however, are more unusual, such as one that says ``No red without the white and blue. Miles Poindexter for president.''
That one had even Locke, a history professor at Virginia Highlands Community College in Abingdon, poring through reference books.
``Every now and then I'll find one for someone I've never heard of,'' he said. ``That makes me go to the books, and sometimes they're hard to find. That's part of the fun.''
The hobby started for the 60-year-old Locke almost 30 years ago while helping his stepfather, John Riley, who owned a Bristol antique store called Riley's Curios.
Locke was given the task of digging through a manure pile to look for collectibles. He happened upon a copper-colored item he initially thought was a flattened penny. After it was cleaned, however, he realized it was a baggage check for those traveling with William Jennings Bryan's 1908 campaign.
``These were tags the reporters would put on their baggage when they traveled on the trains to show they were with Bryan's campaign,'' Locke said. ``Bryan traveled quite a bit, while [William] McKinley let the people come to him. That was the first thing in my collection.''
Over the years, he has added lots of items to his collection. Some represent well-known candidates like Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman ever to run for president. Others depict folks who never campaigned, like the Archie Bunker button.
Republicans, Democrats, Communists and Libertarians are all part of the collection, and Locke said he makes the effort not to reflect his own politics. He has a ``Bury Goldwater in 1964'' button and a ``Close the Credibility Gap. Vote Nixon and Agnew.''
Some seem to be aimed at the young, such as ``If I were 21, I'd vote for Wallace.'' Others contain catchy phrases like ``Nix Nixon Now.''
Remember Gus Hall? Locke has a button that says ``Gus Hall for president. Vote Communist.''
Most valuable among his items is a gold bug from 1896. The bug has wings decorated with pictures of William Jennings Bryan and his running mate.
``I have no idea what the collection is worth,'' Locke said. ``I've never had it appraised. In fact, I've never even thought about it.''
Locke said the first buttons showed up during that campaign 100 years ago between McKinley and Bryan. Prior to that, Americans showed their loyalty to candidates with pin cushions, bracelets, handkerchiefs and pillows.
As the button gained popularity, it became a fairly inexpensive way for candidates to advertise, he said, and they were given free to anyone who would wear one.
``They're probably still popular with the party faithful, but I don't think you see people sporting them in the general public like they used to,'' he said. ``I guess because they've gotten more expensive and the parties are using their money for other things.''
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Bristo Herald Courier. Bill Locke with a portion of hisby CNBlarge collection of campaign paraphenalia.