Black and white photograph of the musician Jim Skafish on a black background with red text above the image

Skafish is a Chicago-based punk band founded by Jim Skafish in 1976. In 1977, Skafish opened for the American rock & roll group Sha Na Na at the Arie Crown Theatre in Chicago. In a Billboard article, Alan Penchansky described Skafish as a “peculiar appetizer” with the frontman dressed androgynously, sporting a pageboy haircut. Jim Skafish was described to be “skipping” and “prancing” around the stage before dressing down to a woman’s bathing suit and anxiously applying lipstick. The 50-minute performance left the audience confused, with one audience member reportedly pointing a gun at Skafish during the performance. 

The band—which included members Barbie Goodrich, Ken Bronowski, Larry Mysliwiec, Larry Mazalan, and Javier Cruz in addition to Joim Skafish— signed with I.R.S. Records and began recording their first self-titled album in 1979. Due to production over-spend, the album was mixed on a low budget and its release delayed until 1980. That same year, Skafish embarked on a European tour with post-punk, reggae, and ska bands like The Police, XTC, English Beat, UB40, and Steel Pulse. Their second I.R.S. album, Conversation, was released in 1983 and leaned towards a “beat-based dance style” that was not well received by audiences. The band broke up in 1985, but Jim Skafish continues to release music as a solo act. In 2006, he produced a jazz-style Christmas album titled Tidings Of Comfort And Joy: A Jazz Piano Trio Christmas.

Illustration of a white hand icon shaking a black hand icon

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White text on a blue background

One of several slightly different versions of this slogan, “Nuke a Gay Whale for Christ” reflects the perceived superficial nature of many social activist movements of the 1970s. The slogan, and its several variations, touches on the nuclear anxieties, the growing push for gay rights, the Greenpeace “Save the Whales” campaign, and the popular adage that “Jesus Saves,” all of which permeated the ethos of 1970s America. Other than buttons, the slogan was also a popular bumper sticker in the 1970s and 1980s.

Black and white photograph of Andy Warhol surrounded by white text on a black background

This button is a reference to pop artist Andy Warhol’s iconic “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.” quote, but a closer look makes this a peculiar item. There is heavy speculation that Warhol never actually said the line that has now become so famous, and that it has been mistakenly attributed to him. But even if he did, this button appears to be poking fun at the quote and at Warhol himself. Is it a mean-spirited joke created after the artist’s untimely death? Or is it an indictment of the viewer of the button, implying that our own fame has come and gone without our having even noticed it? Hard to say, but Warhol’s take on it probably would have been quote-worthy.

Red text on a yellow background

The Knickerbocker Leather & Novelty Company, also known as the K.C. Leather Novelty Co., was established in 1909 by Saul L. Kowarsky at 314 Broadway in New York City. It became well known for its miniature leather-bound books—especially its Shakespeare collections—and other novelty items. The company operated until 1956, when it went bankrupt.

Knickerbocker was part of New York’s active leather goods industry, where unions like the Pocketbook Workers Local 1 and the International Leather Goods, Plastic and Novelty Workers’ Union played a significant role in organizing workers. A key 1916 strike by leather workers and the industry-wide contract in 1918 helped pave the way for shops like Knickerbocker to come under union influence. In this field, union affiliation was often indicated by the “union bug,” a small emblem that showed a product was made under union standards, with fair wages and safer working conditions. Although there’s no record of Knickerbocker taking part in major strikes, the company appeared in National Labor Relations Board cases in the 1950s related to illegal anti-union practices, highlighting the common employer resistance during that time. 

Union bugs held a strong meaning: they weren’t just logos but symbols of solidarity and pride in union labor, especially when employers resisted organizing efforts. Buttons also contributed to this culture of expression—simple messages like “NO” or “YES” often conveyed support or opposition to political, social, and labor causes, turning minimal designs into powerful symbols. Thus, Knickerbocker’s story blends product creativity with the labor struggles and symbolic tools of solidarity that defined its era.

Black text on a light blue background and illustrations of the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the Betsy Ross House and an American flag with an eagle over a picture of George Washington. A red, white, and blue ribbon connects the button to a metal fob depicting the liberty bell with its distinctive crack. 

Philadelphia is the city where Thomas Paine published his groundbreaking pamphlet "Common Sense," where the Liberty Bell was first rung, and where Betsy Ross sewn the original American flag. Philadelphia was home to Benjamin Franklin, one of America’s founding fathers, and represented the most populous city in the Colonies at the time. The Second Continental Congress also convened in the city of brotherly love in 1776, where its members drafted and adopted the Declaration of Independence.

Click here to see an alternate version of this button in the Button Museum's collection.

Black and white headshot photo of a smiling woman in the center surrounded by a green shamrock with white text on a white background; black text on a light green background surrounds the shamrock

“Pretty Kitty Kelly” was a serial radio drama made by CBS that aired on weekdays from 1937-1940. Sponsored by the makers of Wonder Bread and Hostess Cakes, “Pretty Kitty Kelly” told the story of Kitty Kelly, a young Irish immigrant voiced by Arline Blackburn. Having recently arrived in New York City, Kelly is struck with amnesia and is left with no memory of her past life in a Dublin orphanage. Written by Frank Dahm, episodes measured fifteen minutes in length and chronicled Kitty Kelly’s many adventures and escapades as she explored New York and found herself in a multitude of sticky situations. From jewel robberies and mysterious murders to handsome suitors and English countesses, “Pretty Kitty Kelly” handled it all armed with bravery and her inimitable Irish charm. 

Color illustration of baseball player Riggs Stephenson (wearing a blue hat with a capital letter "C" on it) on a green background with dark blue text on a yellow background below

Riggs Stephenson is a former major league baseball player who primarily played for the Chicago Cubs. Between 1921 and 1934 he played 14 seasons, 9 of which were with the Cubs. Stephenson is known for having a career batting average of .336. To this day his career batting average is tied for first in Cubs franchise history. He primarily played left field and was nicknamed "Old Hoss" for his reliable hitting. 

Black text and a red heart on a white background

“From the heart of” was a slogan trademarked by Lucy’s Canvas in 1978. By 1982, the trademark was abandoned. Lucy’s Canvas started as a canvas tote bag retailer in Boston but the owner quickly created other themed specialty stores, including “have a heart” gift stores, full of merchandise with hearts on it, and “from the heart of” stores which celebrated a particular city with a wide range of products.

Boston is the capital of Massachusetts and the largest city in New England with a population of 694,583. The city was settled by Puritans from England in 1630, although indigenous people have inhabited the area since 2400 B.C.E. Boston is known historically for several famous events that preceded the American Revolution such as the Boston Massacre in 1770 and the Boston Tea Party in 1773. Today, the city is known for its educational institutions which have a focus on law, science, and technology.  

Illustration of Snoopy with is paw around Woodstock on a red background with green text and green mistletoe above; both characters are wearing green Santa hats

Inspired by classic comic strips such as Mickey Mouse and Popeye, American Cartoonist Charles M. Schulz (1922-2000) brought to life the iconic characters Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and Woodstock with his first Peanuts strip in October of 1950. By the 1960s, Peanuts branded merchandise was all the rage. Characters like Snoopy and Woodstock could be found on everything from buttons, as seen here, to sweatshirts and t-shirts.

Schulz’s Peanuts televised special, A Charlie Brown Christmas, came out in 1965, and this "Happy Holidays" button dated 1966, complete with green Santa hats and mistletoe, would’ve been a great piece of merchandise for the special. Schulz passed away in 2000, though his legacy remains. Schulz received multiple Emmy Awards nominations for his animated Peanuts specials, such as A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) and A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1974), and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.