Blue and red text on a cream background; a blue stylized letter "A" is above the blue text and the word "first" is underlined in red

On July 20th, 1969, Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, becoming the first man to achieve the feat. He is credited as saying, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” as he stepped out of the Apollo 11 NASA lunar module and onto the moon’s crust.

Much promotional merchandise was manufactured and sold for the momentous event, including commemorative t-shirts, stamps, coins, and buttons. People gathered together to watch the landing, which was televised and celebrated. But for some Americans, simply watching and listening to the televised event was not enough; for these Americans, “Moon Parties” satisfied this itch, as did recording their thoughts and memories in letters and photographs.

Armstrong and his fellow astronaut, Buzz Aldrin, returned to Earth as heroes.

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The phrase "I am not a spook" is most widely attributed to Ralph Ellison's 1952 novel Invisible Man. In the prologue, the narrator declares, "I am an invisible man. No, I am not a spook like those who haunted Edgar Allan Poe; nor am I one of your Hollywood-movie ectoplasms. I am a man of substance, of flesh and bone, fiber and liquids—and I might even be said to possess a mind." 

This line underscores the narrator's assertion of his humanity and individuality, rejecting the dehumanizing stereotypes imposed upon Black individuals.

The button itself likely emerged in the 1970s during a period when Halloween-themed buttons gained popularity. Its playful design and message suggest a humorous take on the term "spook," which colloquially refers to a ghost or phantom. However, the term "spook" also carries a derogatory connotation when used to refer to Black individuals, dating back to the 1940s. In this context, the button may serve as a tongue-in-cheek response to such racial slurs, reclaiming the term with a sense of irony and empowerment.

Large black zig-zag with a white outline and red and white watch hands in the center; left and right sides are gray with short, thick horizontal black lines (three on the left and two on the right) and black text on the right-hand side 

Swatch is a Swiss watch and jewelry manufacturing company founded in 1983. Swatch owns 12 luxury brands and is considered the largest watch company in the world. This button’s design matches the Tonga GL100 Swatch Watch face. The Tonga GL100 was part of Swatch’s 1986 Spring Summer collection. Swatch no longer sells the Tonga GL100 model, leaving interested buyers to purchase this particular watch from second-hand retail sites. The watch is considered vintage and is sought after by people with extensive watch collections. 

Illustration of a gray mouse with a white beard and Santa hat in the center with bold, black text above and red, italicized text below

Santa Mouse is a children’s book character created by Michael Brown and illustrated by Elfrieda De Witt. Originally published in 1966, Santa Mouse embarks on holiday-themed adventures as “Santa’s littlest helper” with a big heart as he shares his cheese after realizing no one gives Santa gifts on Christmas. The books are written for an audience of primarily four to eight-year-olds with parents and grandparents passing down the beloved story. Brown wrote his final Santa Mouse book in 2011 before his death in 2014. New Santa Mouse adventures were published in 2021, 2022, and 2024 in memory of Michael Brown and his little holiday helper. 

Blue-toned photograph portrait of Sargent Shriver with white text along the bottom right rim

Robert Sargent Shriver was known for his work in American politics, diplomacy, and activism. Shriver was related to the Kennedy family through his marriage to Eunice Kennedy, sister to former president John F. Kennedy. During the 1950s, Shriver was the director of the Catholic Interracial Council, an organization that worked to desegregate schools. In the 1960s, Shriver worked for the Kennedy presidential administration and sought out candidates for top administrative and ambassadorial positions. From 1961 to 1966, Shriver was the director of the Peace Corps. He was also the first director of the Office of Economic Opportunity after President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the act in 1964. Shriver became the United States ambassador to France in 1968. During the 1972 United States presidential election, Shriver replaced Thomas Eagleton as George McGovern’s vice presidential running mate after it was revealed that Eagleton received electroshock therapy for depression. McGovern and Shriver lost the election to Republican incumbents President Richard Nixon and Vice President Spiro Agnew. Shriver failed to obtain the Democratic presidential nomination in 1976 and returned to private life as a partner at a D.C. law firm specializing in international law and foreign affairs. Shriver passed away in 2011 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

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Black and white illustration of a bald man dipping a red doughnut into a coffee cup with black text on a red background 

The first popularized doughnut machine was credited to Russian immigrant Adolph Levitt in New York City in 1920. After crowds flocked to his bakery for his fried doughnuts, the growing demand prompted him to create a device that would boost efficiency—thus, the doughnut machine was born. In the following decades, mass-produced doughnuts became a staple across the United States.

In order to manufacture and distribute his doughnut machines, Levitt founded the Doughnut Corporation of America (DCA) and in 1931, the DCA opened its first Mayflower Coffee Shop in Times Square, New York City. To further spread the popularization of doughnuts, the DCA created the National Dunking Association. The lighthearted membership-based organization geared towards doughnut enthusiasts hosted dunking contests and facilitated discussions on proper dunking etiquette.

The Mayflower Coffee Shop eventually became a chain, with 24 locations around the country by 1949. Each of the shop’s boxes featured Levitt’s motto, also nicknamed the Optimist’s Creed, which read, “As you ramble on through life, brother, whatever be your goal, keep your eye upon the doughnut, and not upon the hole!”

Blue text around the rim with a blue illustration of an archer holding pulling back a bow, about to release an arrow. 

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Illustration of a yellow dog looking at an open book, surrounded by a pile of more books, with brown text above

When patrons register for their own library card at a public library, they may receive some exciting perks, like a stylish bookmark or a button similar to this one. Along with access to thousands of resources, man libraries also offer literary-themed merchandise as a thank-you to patrons for their support.