Dark orange cat with red and yellow features hand-painted in relief

In 1961 John A. Kurtz received a scholarship to attend the School of the Art Institute in Chicago. After a stint in the Navy and an early career in photography, he turned to painting in 1968 and has continued since. Influences include comics such as George Herriman’s Krazy Kat and Walt Kelly’s Pogo, and Mad Magazine artists Wally Wood, Jack Davis, and Basil Wolverton. His colorful art continues to be displayed in galleries around Chicago.

Purple cat with red and yellow features hand-painted in relief

In 1961 John A. Kurtz received a scholarship to attend the School of the Art Institute in Chicago. After a stint in the Navy and an early career in photography, he turned to painting in 1968 and has continued since. Influences include comics such as George Herriman’s Krazy Kat and Walt Kelly’s Pogo, and Mad Magazine artists Wally Wood, Jack Davis, and Basil Wolverton. His colorful art continues to be displayed in galleries around Chicago.

Black text on a red background with an illustration of a deer in the center making the button a rebus, with the illustration meant to be read as part of the text 

The Conservation Federation of Missouri was formed in 1935, and originally called the Restoration and Conservation Federation of Missouri. Formed by state citizens, the purpose behind the organization was to generate citizen involvement in protecting wildlife in the state—not to curb hunters and fishers, but to keep that wildlife population sustainable. As of 2024, the organization is still in existence and partners with the Conservation Department of Missouri’s government on a program called Share The Harvest, which encourages hunters to donate deer they hunt so that the venison can be processed and donated to community members experiencing food insecurity and financial hardship. 

Black and white photograph of Richard Nixon on a white background with red text about and white text on a blue background below. A brown ribbon with tan text and a gray elephant fob are attached to the bottom. 

White text on a red background with a white illustration of a fox head in the center of the button

The Aurora Foxes were a baseball team established in 1915 to be a part of the newly formed Class D Bi-State League. The league was made up of teams from Illinois and Wisconsin, with the Foxes representing Aurora Illinois. Unfortunately the Bi-State League only lasted part of the season before folding, and the Foxes only played for 52 games before disbanding. The Foxes finished 4th out of the 6 teams in the league.

White text on a blue background with a small illustration of a computer hard drive above the text on the bottom of the button

Computerworld is a technology trade journal which has been in publication for over 50 years. In 1967 Patrick J. McGovern had the foresight to create a magazine to inform companies about the benefits of revolutionary new computing technology and how they could use it to grow their business. Computerworld continues to be “The Voice of Business Technology” as an online presence for a global audience today. (About Us)

Black text on a white background with a green rim; an illustration of three holly berries with green leaves is on the upper left-hand side.

Wieboldt’s was a chain of department stores founded in Chicago, Illinois. Its first storefront was opened by William Wieboldt in 1883. This location’s success led to a number of other locations opening throughout the 19th and 20th centuries in the Chicago area. The chain was one of many department stores in the country that sponsored The Cinnamon Bear radio program during the holiday season. The Cinnamon Bear began in 1937 as a children’s radio show centered on the adventures of a toy bear named Paddy O’Cinnamon before moving to a television format in the 1950s. 

Black text on a white background with a color illustration of a small mouse staring up at a block of Swiss cheese that at least twice its size. 

Sandra Boynton began her career as an illustrator designing greeting cards for Recycled Paper Greetings in the 1970s. In the 1980s, Recycled Paper was selling 50 to 80 million Boynton cards each year. Boynton wrote her first book, Hippos Go Berserk, in 1977 and has since written and illustrated more than 50 books for children and adults. Boynton also designs characters and animals for companies to use instead of licensing her illustrations to be adapted. Her creations can be found on calendars, buttons, clothing, wrapping paper, and other items.

"The Big Cheese" illustration is often found on coffee mugs from this era in Boynton's career. 

Black text on a yellow background with a black illustration of the comics character Felix the Cat

The Chicago Herald and Examiner was founded in 1902 as the Chicago Morning American, then was renamed in 1907 as the Chicago Herald. It was renamed again when it merged with another paper to become the Chicago Herald-Examiner.

Felix the Cat got his start in 1919 in animated shorts, created by either Otto Messmer or Pat Sullivan or both, depending on whom you ask*. His popularity skyrocketed, so much so that he was introduced to the “funny pages” in 1923. Sunday strips continued through 1943, and a daily strip ran from 1927 to 1967. Felix continues to be revived and turns up in pop culture to this day.

*(the controversy continues to this day)

Red text on a white circular background in the center, with a black and white photograph of John Glenn in his astronaut gear around the rim

John Glenn was an astronaut and American politician who lived from 1921-2016. Glenn served in the marines before joining NASA as one of the Mercury Seven astronauts. At age forty he was the oldest member on the team. He was the first American to go into space on the Friendship 7 and orbit the planet, a risky endeavor in 1962. 

Glenn had difficulty breaking into politics, but eventually was elected to the US Senate for the state of Ohio in 1974. He was considered as a Vice Presidential candidate to Jimmy Carter in the 1976 presidential campaign, but was not selected. He also unsuccessfully ran for president in the 1984 election, though he remained popular amidst his constituents and held his senate seat for four terms.