Most people attending the Saturday Franklin Farmers Market do not realize that vendor Tom Peeling is a lifelong and now nationally recognized collector of Theodore Roosevelt memorabilia.
Now, memorabilia from his home museum in Macon County which includes countless items sporting the 26th president’s likeness or actual photographs of him will reside at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
This past Saturday, on America’s 250th birthday, 38 items from Peeling’s collection were on display at the newly opened presidential library in Medora, N.D. They represent the largest on-loan items from any private collection.
Interestingly, prior to a designated presidential library, Theodore Roosevelt-related historic artifacts, political memorabilia, paintings, and more have been stored primarily at Harvard University or in various museum sites and private homes, like Peeling’s.
Even though Roosevelt died more than a century ago, the new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library’s construction just began in 2023. What visitors will find when they visit it, is an expansive modern building that blends into the Badlands landscape, a perfect metaphor for a president that ushered in many modern government regulations with a love our America’s ancient and natural land.
From Franklin to North Dakota
Peeling said that for the last two years, he has been working with a Roosevelt presidential library curator to work out the details of the exhibit loan.
“After some texts and phone calls, my wife and I invited [the curator] to our home to see my collection,” Peeling said. “She flew down from New York and spent a couple days going through my items and taking photos. Eventually, she asked me about 38 items and whether I would be willing to loan them to the museum for three years. I agreed, and in May of this year the items were shipped to the museum in Medora, North Dakota, to be used in the displays.”
According to its website, the presidential library seeks to tell “the story of Theodore Roosevelt’s life, leadership, and lasting influence through original artifacts, historical media, and interactive elements woven throughout the galleries.”
Items in Peeling’s collection include a vice-presidential button featuring an image of Roosevelt in a slouch hat when he was a Rough Rider fighting in the Spanish American War (above); and, a presidential button with a moose image representing his Bull Moose Party (below).
President Donald Trump cut the ribbon on the presidential library July 1. Peeling said that although he and his wife were invited to the opening on July 4, they decided to visit it after public excitement has somewhat dissipated.
Peeling first became enamored with Theodore Roosevelt as a boy when he found some memorabilia in his grandfather’s attic.
“I’ve been a fan of TR for most of my life, so having so many items from my collection on loan to the new library is pretty special,” he said.
Peeling sometimes wears his Roosevelt items while selling produce and plants on Saturdays at the market alongside his wife, who sells baked goods and homemade dog treats.
He is happy to share with customers about the dynamic, early 20th century president and the honor of knowing part of his collection is included in the new presidential library.