Image of man's face surrounded by blue text upper and red text lower on American flag red, white, and blue background.

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Blue and red text on white background.

“Catalyst for change” was one of the slogans during Shirley Chisholm’s presidential run in 1972; she was the first black major-party candidate to run for President of the United States. Chisholm was also the first black woman to run for and win a seat in Congress, which she did in 1968 after serving for four years in the New York state assembly. Chisholm’s most famous slogan was: “Shirley Chisholm – unbought and unbossed.” Ultimately, Chisholm won 151 delegates, but lost to Senator George McGovern. She went on to serve ten more years and retired in 1982 after seven terms in Congress. Over the course of her career, Chisholm had a significant impact on anti-poverty and education reform and was a founding member of both the Congressional Black Caucus and the National Women’s Political Caucus.

Red text and illustration of stars and stripes on white background.

Born in 1820, Susan B. Anthony became one of the top leaders in the women’s suffrage movement and other social causes. Anthony championed abolition and labor rights including equal pay for women. Her father was friends with other abolitionists such as William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass. Interacting with them made Anthony also join the abolitionist movement.

Anthony’s most notable event came in 1872 when she and other women with her were arrested and fined for voting. This event sparked outrage and brought attention to the women’s suffrage movement which was much needed. Anthony would continue to fight for the cause, even helping to form the National American Women’s Suffrage Association in 1888. Unfortunately, Anthony died in 1906, before she could see her dream realized. Her hard effort was not in vain, as the 19th amendment gave women the right to vote in 1920, something that could not have happened without Anthony’s many years of work.

Image of man driving car with black text on yellow background. When turned, woman appears in car and hearts surround them.

This is a lenticular graphic that uses a specific lens that allows the viewer to see different images depending on the angle the pin is viewed. One image shows a single man in a convertible with the text “Have Car,” and when the button is tilted, we see he is no longer alone, and the text reads “Will Date.”  The image is made of two graphics cut into strips and interlaced together. That graphic is then printed directly on the back of the plastic lens. The lens is a special plastic made of individual cylindrical lenses (lenticules) that perfectly align with the interlaced image. The lenticules isolate and magnify the image underneath. Tilting the lens creates the effect of the image changing back and forth depending on the angle of the button.

White text on green background. Button is affixed to yellow card with red writing that measures 6 x 9. Card reads: There are a hundred ways to get a customer's attention. Here's an example. Pin this button on next time you're talking advertising specialties to a bank prospect. BANK: 100% interest? Who are you kidding? What's that all about? ANSWER: Funny you should ask. It's hard not to read a button, isn't it? What it means is that every-one who sees this button has expressed an interest in it --- especially in a bank. Now, about your promotion... Union bug ASI5951

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Blue calendar with white text and numbers over images of apple picking supplies in orchard and watermelons.

Pocket diaries, including pocket calendars, were an extremely popular item from the time of their invention in the late 18th century through to the development of digital options in the mid 20th century. During the latter half of the 19th century, advertisers began printing calendars as promotional items to increase their sales and drive business. As a producer of novelty and advertising goods, Whitehead & Hoag produced a monthly calendar button between 1896 and through at least November, 1897. Today, examples from this series are rare.

Top third of button features black illustration of man with beard and red text with black and yellow background. Middle third features black text on yellow background. Lower third features black text on orange background.

In 1958, during the Sesquicentennial, or 150th anniversary, of the County of Cortland, a festival was held in New York to celebrate the history of the area.

The town of Homer had a long parade down Main Street, complete with floats and horses and bewhiskered members of the “Brothers of the Brush.” Being hirsute was not only “in," it was required of male citizens, or you paid a two dollar “fine.”

The Brothers of the Brush are a group of socially conscience men who honor the memory of their states' founders by growing beards. They usually wear a top hat and bow tie, dapperly dressed with well-groomed breads and mustaches during celebrations. There are sometimes ceremonies during celebrations where townspeople act as mourners in a funeral procession carrying a old fashioned razor to be buried or thrown over a bridge and then to announce that the men of the town have no use for razors or shaving.

Brown ink creates glasses and mustache smiley faces on yellow background with felt hats that have gold text names on them. Pins are affixed to tan holiday greeting card that measures 5 x 7. Card reads Happy Holidays From~ ROBIN TOM your little ol' Button Makers ASI5951 HAND TIP & NOVELTY CO., INC

The Little Ole’ Button Maker was a registered trademark of the Hand Tip and Novelty Co. for the promotional buttons in their line, based out of Newburg, New York. The trademark was registered in 1970 and notes the first commercial use of the Little Ole’ Button Maker was in 1965. The trademark expired in 1993. Hand and Tip Novelty Co. eventually became Hantico Line which was a New York City and Newburgh New York advertising specialty company. Hantico was later purchased by Uniflex, a bag manufacturer in 1992. In 1995, Uniflex Inc. sold Hantico to American Greenwood Inc. that had a similar promotional product line.

The Hand Tip and Novelty Co. was founded in Manhattan, New York in 1900 and was a manufacturer of promotional items such as ornate brass medallions and political buttons. As advertisements became popular in the 1950’s, there was a shift towards utilizing buttons for promoting items, people, and events. Hand and Tip Novelty Co. eventually became Hantico Line which was a specialty advertising company which later moved its base to Newburg, New York in 1984. Though the Hantico Line produced other items such as ribbons, clips, and clipboards, buttons were always the main focus of the company.

White banner with blue text across center. White circle with blue text and blue illustration in smaller circle surrounded by white text on blue background.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) is a labor union that represents nearly 750,000 workers and retirees in the electrical industry in the United States, Canada, Panama, Guam, and several Caribbean island nations; particularly electricians, or inside wiremen, in the construction industry and lineworkers and other employees of public utilities. The union also represents some workers in the computer, telecommunications, broadcasting, and other fields related to electrical work.

IBEW was founded in 1891, two years before George Westinghouse lit up the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition with AC current and homes and businesses in the United States began receiving electricity. The local 110 chapter celebrated it's 100 year anniversary in 2012. Their chapter had originally begun in 1910 as eight workers under the banner of 23 who later formed the chapter.

Red text and illustration of Santa on white background.

The Magic Forest is an amusement park located in Lake George, NY along Route 9. Opened in 1963 by Arthur Gillette, it featured the largest Uncle Sam statue in the world (as of May 9, 2019, the statue has since moved back home to Danbury, CT), a magic show, and cottages and attractions which follow the themes of children's tales and adventure stories. The park's famous Santa Claus overlooks the parking lot. Magic Forest was absorbed into a larger park named ‘Lake George Expedition Park’ in 2019. Magic Forest also has a small petting zoo where children can feed the animals. Magic Forest has accumulated the majority of their rides from defunct or failing amusement parks and these were repaired by Gillette and his family business. Gillette never met an old amusement ride that he couldn’t find a home for, bringing rides in from at least seven or eight other theme parks.