Illustration of a woman in a blue dress, white bonnet, and red clogs holding a stick as if in motion on a yellow background with black text

Old Dutch Cleanser was developed by the Cudahy Packing Company of Chicago in 1905. Being meatpackers, they were looking for a soap product to use excess animal fat and created a scouring cleanser by combining soap with pumice. Their trademark was a little Dutch woman in a blue dress chasing away dirt with a stick. Around 1926, their advertising started using the tagline, “The symbol of healthful cleanliness.” At the same time, “Clean-Up Week” was becoming a popular trend to promote civic engagement and business development. People pitched in to do civic improvement projects and individual businesses did spring cleaning. Many found that this actually improved business. Clean Up Week partnered with Old Dutch Cleanser between 1927-1934. Cudahy sold Old Dutch to Purex bleach in 1955. As of 2025, the name is currently owned by Lavo in Montreal.

See an alternative version of this button in the museum's collection here.

Red text in the center; the word "TAXES" in blue is repeated multiple times in the background

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Black and white photograph of a condom, slightly unrolled, with yellow text superimposed on top of the photograph.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a condition that develops from an infection of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). AIDS typically creates a disintegration of the immune system that makes the person more susceptible to other infections. HIV/AIDS is primarily spread through unprotected sexual activity or needles contaminated with infected blood. It was first identified in humans in the United States in 1981, when previously healthy young gay men were contracting deadly diseases. As the epidemic spread, its association with gay men and drug use allowed for a damaging stigma that significantly furthered existing homophobia. 

The United States government was—and is, still—critiqued for ignoring the severity of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. President Ronald Regan first spoke the name of the disease when he identified it as a top priority in 1985 after continued outcry from activists. Between 1987 and 1998, over 300,000 people died of AIDS in the US. By 1995, one in fifteen gay men had died of AIDS. 

In 1985, researchers at UC San Francisco confirmed what many AIDS care providers and people with AIDS already assumed: that consistent and correct use of condoms could prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. These findings, along with support from the Office of the Surgeon General of the United States, urged public health departments across the US to create and spread social marketing campaigns that encouraged the practice of safe sex by always wearing a condom. The phrase “Just Wear It!” accompanied by an image of a condom was common imagery in this campaign to promote condom use in all sexual encounters, whether between men or between men and women.  

Black text on an orange background with a color illustration in the center of a boy wearing an orange and black checked suit, orange shoes, and a black top hat with an orange band around the brim; he's pointing at himself and his legs are spread as if he's walking. A thought bubble with black text appears over his left shoulder.

“Just Kids” was a newspaper comic strip by August Daniel “Ad” Carter, which ran from 1923 to 1956. The comic starred Mush Stebbins and other child characters. The series proved popular and spawned many pieces of merchandise. In 1928, the Just Kids Safety Club was formed, with the mission of imparting tips to children on how to be safe and careful. Children could join the club and receive pinback badges like this one in exchange for making a safety pledge. 

Pink text on a white background

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Color illustration of an equestrian event in a Roman amphitheater: eight horses (two of which have riders) are in the foreground and several men in togas feature on the right-hand side of the illustration, along with a typical Roman statue and column.

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White text on a green background on the top half; green text on a white background on the bottom

“To guarantee equality, individual rights, and social justice for a diverse and inclusive society… [we must] advocate the passage and ratification of the Equal Rights Movement” (AAUW).

Initially proposed by Congress in 1923, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) looked to secure full equality for women. Though many Americans believe otherwise, women do not specifically have equal rights under the Constitution; the 14th Amendment explicitly states that “men” are guaranteed equality under law, not women. The ERA’s mission to work against this inequality through legislation and court decisions was slow but vital. This mission—to end gender distinctions relating to divorce, property ownership, and fair employment—failed to be ratified in 1923; it wasn’t until 1965 that legal victories (such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965) led to the codified right for women to vote.

Certainly, there is “no time limit on equality,” as women all through the US continue to fight for equal rights.

White backgroung with blue around the rim and red text in the center with a simple illustration of two hands shaking above the red text 

Solidarity Day was a national labor march that took place at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. on September 19, 1981. The march, attended by over 260,000 people, was organized in solidarity with members of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO), in response to a strike of over 12,000 members that began on August 3, 1981 against high stress working conditions that were put both members' health and the airline safety at risk. After only two days of the strike, then-president Ronald Reagan fired the air controllers and brought in military personnel as strikebreakers. The march was supported by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) and participants came from a variety of organizations, unions, and civil rights groups to protest in favor of labor rights. 

Color illustration of a doberman pinscher dog standing on grass with blue sky and cloud behind it with black text below the dog

The Doberman Pinscher was bred as a personal protection dog. In the 19th century, German tax-collector Louis Dobermann bred this dog to protect him while on the job tax collecting. They are muscular, fast and intelligent dogs that have excelled at police, military and service dog duties.

Green text and a green heart with with longitude and latitude lines on a white background

While Earth Day celebrations have taken place across the United States since 1970, this button commemorates the 1980 Earth Day festivities held in New York City. The event was held from 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, from 42nd to 52nd Streets, and included food and drink, live entertainment, exhibits and other setups on environmental themes, and more. The green heart design seen here was created by graphic designer Lancer Wyman specifically for this event.