Soap Baby, William McKinley

Grade Range: 6-12
Resource Type(s): Artifacts
Date Posted: 12/30/2020

A box of soap baby that was sold as a campaign tool for Former President William McKinley during the 1896 United States presidential election. An identical box of soap baby was created for the opposing Democrat candidate, William Jennings Bryan. These were produced by the soap manufacturer and not the campaign offices. One theory for why the soap manufacturer created this object was to demonstrate soap technology, and their ability to mold and shape soap. Unfortunately, it was not a very popular item as it reminded people of a baby in a coffin.


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