White background with blue text along the top rim, red text along the bottom, and an illustration in the center of a red arrow with footsteps on it going around the planet Earth 

Miles for Mankind was a community walk-a-thon movement in the 1970s and 1980s that encouraged participants to raise money for humanitarian and service projects, often under the direction of local YMCA chapters. Walkers collected pledges for each mile completed, with funds supporting programs such as YMCA World Service, which aided international development and relief work. The event reflected the era’s enthusiasm for fitness and philanthropy, uniting civic spirit with charitable giving.

Across the United States, Miles for Mankind became an annual tradition in many towns. Families, students, and service organizations gathered each year to walk together for global and local causes, highlighting the YMCA’s role in promoting both community well-being and international understanding. The event’s widespread popularity demonstrated how grassroots fundraising and volunteerism could transform small-town participation into global impact.

Illustration of a blue elephant on a white background holding a blue banner with white lettering in its trunk; there is white text superimposed on the elephant illustration and blue text below.

In 1940, Republican candidate Forrest C. Donnell ran for governor of Missouri in a hotly contested election against Democrat Larry McDaniel. The race took place during a turbulent period in Missouri politics following the fall of Tom Pendergast’s Kansas City political machine, which had long dominated Democratic power in the state. Donnell’s narrow victory ended more than a decade of one-party control and marked the beginning of a new era in Missouri politics. Once in office, he emphasized fiscal conservatism and efficiency, serving as governor from 1941 to 1945 before being elected to the U.S. Senate.

Donnell’s election nearly sparked a constitutional crisis. After the votes were counted, the Democratic-controlled legislature initially refused to certify his win, effectively blocking him from taking office. The standoff became known as the “Great Governorship Steal”, and it lasted for over a month before the Missouri Supreme Court ruled in Donnell’s favor. His eventual inauguration symbolized both a legal and political turning point in the state’s history.

Green background with orange around the top rim, yellow with orange text around the bottom, and color photograph of baseball player Ozzie Smith wearing a red cap in the center

Ozzie Smith, born Osborne Earl Smith, is a former Major League Baseball (MLB) shortstop who played for the San Diego Padres and the St. Louis Cardinals. Nicknamed “The Wizard of Oz,"—or simply “The Wizard,” by the Yuma Daily Sun in a March, 1981 feature—Smith became renowned for his defensive brilliance, athleticism, and showmanship on the field. He gained national attention not only for his highlight-reel plays at shortstop but also for his signature backflips, which he performed while taking the field and which became a trademark of his career. Over 19 seasons, Smith was selected to 15 All-Star Games, won 13 consecutive Gold Glove Awards, and helped lead the Cardinals to a World Series championship in 1982. After retiring in 1996, his legacy as one of the greatest defensive players in baseball history was cemented with his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002. 

In the center is an illustration of a red, blue, and yellow steamboat above wavy blue and yellow horizontal lines meant to mimic water; black cursive text is on the top right and all is on a white background. 

The Delta Queen is the last fully intact overnight passenger steamboat in the United States. Built in 1926 with her twin, the Delta King, she began service the following year in June, 1927. She ran nightly trips between San Francisco and Sacramento, California for thirteen years through the Great Depression. After the boat's final California voyage in 1940, she served the U.S. Navy during World War II before being restored and moved to the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers for passenger cruises. She is known for her polished wood interiors, stained glass, brass accents, and grand staircase with a crystal chandelier. The Delta Queen was listed as a National Historic Landmark in 1989.

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Black and white photograph of the character Fonzie from the television show Happy Days wearing a leather jacket with his arms outstretched on a white background. Red and blue outlined stars and red-outlined speech bubble with red text surround the photograph on the top half of the button; white text on a blue banner is on the bottom. 

Arthur Fonzarelli, better known as “Fonzie" or "The Fonz," was one of the most recognizable characters on the hit TV show Happy Days (1974–1984). Portrayed by actor Henry Winkler, Fonzie quickly rose from a minor supporting role to the breakout star of the series. Known for his black leather jacket, confident thumbs-up gesture, and signature catchphrase “Aaayy!”, he became a symbol of effortless cool and charm in 1970s American pop culture. His immense popularity led to a flood of merchandise, ranging from lunchboxes and action figures to novelty buttons and posters, cementing his status as a television icon.

The slogan “Fonzie for President” wasn’t linked to any real political movement but instead reflected the humor and marketing trends of the decade. During the 1970s, it was common to feature beloved fictional or celebrity figures in parody campaign slogans, often as lighthearted commentary on fame, popularity, and politics. Fonzie’s image as the ultimate “cool guy”—tough on the outside but caring and moral at heart—made him the perfect figure for such novelty items. Buttons like this one captured both the playful spirit of the era and the lasting affection fans had for the character.

White text on blue around the top, red and blue text on white in the center, and white text on red around the bottom

Hubert Humphrey ran as the Democratic nominee in the 1968 U.S. presidential campaign. At that time, the legal voting age across most U.S. states was 21, making youth-focused campaign slogans powerful tools to court younger adults. The phrase “If I were 21 I’d vote for Humphrey” reflects an appeal to young people who were not yet eligible to vote, suggesting that if they could vote, they would support Humphrey’s candidacy. This type of messaging was common in late-1960s campaign memorabilia aimed at building enthusiasm among younger populations, who may have been politically engaged but disenfranchised by age restrictions.

Importantly, this slogan was also used on official Humphrey campaign buttons produced during the 1968 election season.
The broader political climate provides strong context for why this button mattered; the Vietnam War was intensifying, and many young men under 21 were being drafted, fueling the popular refrain, “old enough to fight, old enough to vote.” By 1971, this pressure helped lead to the adoption of the 26th Amendment, which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. Thus, this button can also be seen as part of the wider youth-voting rights movement during a pivotal moment in U.S. political history.

Sepia-toned photograph of an embracing Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson, a replication of the poster for the movie A Star is Born

A Star is Born was released in 1976 and follows Esther Hoffman (Streisand), an aspiring singer who begins a passionate relationship with established rock star John Norman Howard (Kristofferson). As Esther’s fame rises, John struggles with addiction and professional decline.

The film was itself a remake: the story was first brought to the screen in 1937, remade as a musical starring Judy Garland and James Mason in 1954, and reimagined again in 2018 with Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. Streisand’s version reflects the aesthetics and attitudes of the 1970s, blending rock music culture with Hollywood melodrama and emphasizing themes of celebrity, self-destruction, and sacrifice. It became a commercial success and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song with “Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born),” which Streisand co-wrote and performed.

Blue background with images of the Muppet characters Statler (on the left with dark eyebrows) and Waldorf (on the right with a white mustache) in the center, with yellow text along the top and red text along the bottom

Statler and Waldorf are characters from The Muppet Show, a family television series created by Jim Henson in 1976. The characters were created by Henson, with their puppets being made by designer Bonnie Erickson, also responsible for designing the Muppets character, Miss Piggy. The two old men always appear together, occupying the balcony seats in the Muppet Theater, and are known for their curmudgeonly attitudes and tendency to make fun of other characters and the show at large. Both are named after New York hotels, with Statler being named after the Statler Hotel, and Waldorf after the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel (Waldorf's wife is named Astoria, and she appears only in episode 413 of the show).  

Their banter became a defining feature of The Muppet Show, to the point that the characters are often cited as early pop culture representations of the heckler archetype. They appeared in later Muppet films and series, maintaining their role as comic commentators on the action. Over the years, they have been performed by multiple puppeteers; most notably, Waldorf was performed by Jim Henson until his death in 1990, after which Dave Goelz took over and continues the role as of 2025. Statler was originally performed by Richard Hunt, with Steve Whitmire and later other puppeteers taking on the role. The pair remain two of the most recognizable Muppet characters, beloved for their grouchy charm and sharp one-liners.