Pins

Sandburg aquired these commemorative pins as a memento of a visit to Russia "CCCP" is the Russian translation of "USSR," which stood for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Sandburg however, was critical of the cold war. According to biographer Penelope Niven, Carl Sandburg believed that "People were made of one blood, belonged to one global family, had to understand that and each other if any were to survive." In 1955, he wrote the poem Psalm of the Bloodbank protesting the Cold War and read it to eight thousand people on Boston Common. (page 644, Niven)

Scarlet the sunset, crimson the dawn,
Rising moongold red curves
through the night
to sinking moongold red.

Poppy red a singing woman’s lips.
Ruddy red the blush of true love’s rose.
Fleeting the flash of a birdwing red.
Red the cardinal’s hat.
Red the communist flag.
Token red the corpsman’s right sleeve cross.
Red the emblem cross
of surgeon, nurse, ambulance,
of hospital tent and ship—
crimson blood streams poured
together and together
blended into one likeness
mingled in mute communions,
Catholic in flow with Protestant,
Nordic in flux with Negro.
Scoffers, sinners, deniers, in strength and rest
From blood of Christian believers.
Help and quiet to Christian believers from blood
of thieves, harlots, blasphemers.
Deep, oh deep, brother,
Deep, oh deep, sister,
The scarlet and crimson,
The human bloodbank red.
-Carl Sandburg, Complete Poems
"Sandburg made his third and final trip abroad in 1959 when he and [brother-in-law, Edward] Steichen set off on a landmark journey to open the 'Family of Man' photographic exhibition in the Soviet Union, part of the American National Exhibition sponsored by the State Department and the United States Information Agency. This cultural exchange would bring millions of Soviet citizens to look at the latest American technology, art and lifestyles... Millions came to see the 'Family of Man' exhibit, officially opened by Steichen and Sandburg, Vice President Richard Nixon and Soviet Premier Nikita Kruschev." (page 683, Niven)

Lapel Pin
Metal. L 2.3, W 1.3 cm
Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site, CARL 40761
Lapel Pin
Metal. L 2.5, W 1.4 cm
Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site, CARL 40763

Lapel Pin
Metal. L 1.7, W 1.5 cm
Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site, CARL 40762