Political Button

Q: I found an old lithographed tin political button in my garage. There’s a picture of the boxer Joe Louis in the center surrounded by the words, “Vote for Roberts Says Joe Louis.” What is the historical background of this button and what is it worth?

A: The “Roberts” named on your button is probably Frederick Madison Roberts (1879-1952), a Los Angeles mortician who served in the California State Assembly from 1918 to 1934. A Republican, he was the first black to serve in the assembly. Later, in 1938 and 1946, he ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Since Joe Louis didn’t become heavyweight champion until 1937, your button must date from one of Roberts’s congressional races. A similar Joe Louis photo button endorsing Wendell Willkie auctioned recently for more than $350. Roberts, by the way, was a descendent of Sally Hemmings and, presumably, Thomas Jefferson.