Swatch Red and Yellow Comet

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Text on Button SWATCH
Image Description

Red and yellow comet illustrated diagonally across a black background with a dark green and white illustration of a watch face and dark green text on the bottom.  

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In 1986, Halley’s Comet made its return around Earth after 76 years around the sun. Traveling at a speed of 2,000 mph for the past 2,000 years —and as big as the island of Manhattan—Halley's rare visit to Earth was hard to miss! 

Swatch watches dominated youth culture and fashion of the 1980s. To align with this major moment in air and space history, Swatch released a limited edition timepiece: the Cosmic Encounter GS102, seen here on this companion button. Halley’s Comet won’t make another visit to Earth until 2061, but when it does perhaps Swatch watches will recreate this desirable vintage find.  

Sources
Catalog ID AD1118

Industrial Union of Marine and Shipbuilding Workers

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Text on Button IND. UNION OF MARINE & SHIPBLG WORKERS OF AMERICA
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Dark blue outer rim with white text; a mercury dime is sandwiched between the front and back of the button and fills the center

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C.I.O. [on red felt with white text]

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The Industrial Union of Marine and Shipbuilding Workers of America (IUMSWA) was a labor union active between 1933 and 1988. It began in New Jersey, growing to protect many private shipyards on the East and Gulf coasts. The IUMSWA coverage of all production workers in the shipbuilding industry led to disputes with other craft unions, contributing to the American Federation of Labor (AFL) not recognizing the union. IUMSWA was independent until the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) allowed them to join in 1936. It slowly dissipated after the war, with the added issues of internal conflicts, mergers, and other union competition. IUMSWA’s early goals were improving wages, paid time off, and pensions for workers in private shipyards. They soon expanded to public government-owned yards. 

Sources

Industrial Union of Marine and Shipbuilding Workers of America (IUMSWA) records. Collection: Industrial Union of Marine and Shipbuilding Workers of America (IUMSWA) records | Archival Collections. (n.d.). https://archives.lib.umd.edu/repositories/2/resources/981

Stobo, J. R. (2004, March). The Industrial Union of Marine and Shipworkers of America. http://www.columbia.edu/~jrs9/BNY-IUMSWA.html

The toll of neglect. AFL. (n.d.). https://aflcio.org/

Catalog ID CL0703

We're All Living With AIDS

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Text on Button WE'RE ALL LIVING WITH AIDS
Image Description

Teal and red sketch-style background with a black zig-zag outline, black text, and black illustrations of the symbols for "man" and "woman" in various combinations

Curl Text © 1989 SOTOMAYOR, FOR RALPH
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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. In 1982, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) established four risk factors: male homosexuality, intravenous drug use, Haitian origin, and hemophilia A. 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. By the mid-1990s, HIV/AIDS numbers were steadily declining, with the introduction of effective treatment in 1986. 

There is still no cure for AIDS, however, preventative medication and viral suppression medicine has made great strides Infected individuals can reduce the amount of HIV in their blood to an undetectable level, allowing for long lives and dramatically reducing risks for their sexual partners. The sentence "We're All Living With Aids" and the symbols of a variety of genders and gendered pairings work to dismantle the incorrect label of "gay plague" that was rampant in the 1980s and continues to affect the cultural consciousness today. 

Sources
q40 years of HIV discovery: The first cases of a mysterious disease in the early 1980s. (2023, May 11). Institut Pasteur. https://www.pasteur.fr/en/research-journal/news/40-years-hiv-discovery-first-cases-mysterious-disease-early-1980s
First winter climb of Mount Rainier, Washington, 1922 (clip). (n.d.). Retrieved July 31, 2024, from https://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/digital/collection/filmarch/id/499/
Gale (Ed.). (2017). Aids and HIV infection. In Human Diseases and Conditions (3rd ed.). Gale. https://search.credoreference.com/articles/Qm9va0FydGljbGU6NDc3MTkwNA==?aid=113901
HIV/AIDS Timeline. (n.d.). New York City AIDS Memorial. Retrieved August 10, 2024, from https://www.nycaidsmemorial.org/timeline
Inc, G. (2019, June 28). Gallup Vault: Fear and Anxiety During the 1980s AIDS Crisis. Gallup.Com. https://news.gallup.com/vault/259643/gallup-vault-fear-anxiety-during-1980s-aids-crisis.aspx
The AIDS epidemic’s lasting impact on gay men. (n.d.). The British Academy. Retrieved August 10, 2024, from https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/blog/aids-epidemic-lasting-impact-gay-men/
Catalog ID CA0951

California Diamond Jubilee

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Text on Button CALIFORNIA DIAMOND JUBILEE
Image Description

Red, yellow, and green bullseye background with white text and a white illustrated diamond on the green center

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OFFICIAL BOOSTER BUTTON
COMPLIMENTS OF
Roos Bros
6 STORES IN
CALIFORNIA
[union bug]
DIAMOND JUBILEE
APPLICATION FOR PATENT PENDING

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In 1925, California commemorated the 75th anniversary of joining the Union with an extravagant party hosted in San Francisco. The event was named the “Diamond Jubilee,” so called due to a “jewel”-encrusted decorative centerpiece and archway in Civic Center Plaza. Festivities began on September 5th, 1925, with an automobile parade followed by water exhibitions of speed boats and seaplanes. Those in attendance could visit the “Joy Zone,” an area dedicated to fun and delights, including games, circus acts, musical performances. The evening concluded at the Civic Auditorium. In the days that followed, there were more motorcades and parades, including a military car show. The final day, September 12th, saw a night-time “electrical light spectacle” parade.

Sources

Diamond Jubilee: A Closer Look. (2025). Opensfhistory.org. https://www.opensfhistory.org/osfhcrucible/2020/09/13/diamond-jubilee-a-closer-look/

Catalog ID EV0986

Pan-American Exposition Monkeys

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Text on Button PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION.
Image Description

Illustration of two brown monkeys on a teal and white gradient background with red text and a red rim; the monkeys are illustrated in a manner similar to Michelangelo's depiction of God and Adam in the Sistine Chapel.

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COPYRIGHTED
1901
BY
THE NUT-SHELL
PUBLISHING CO.
Buttons made by
The Whitehead & Hoag Co.
Newark, N.J., U.S.A.
Pat. April 14, 1896, 
July 21, 1896

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The Pan-American Exposition was a world's fair event that was held in Buffalo, New York in 1901 from May 1 to November 2. The event was meant to celebrate achievements throughout the American continents, but it is mostly known as the location of President McKinley's assassination.

Raphael Beck is the artist who designed the original Pan-American Exposition logo where the continents of North America and South America are depicted as two women holding hands where the continents meet, incidentally reminiscent of Michelangelo's "The Creation of Adam" on the Sistine Chapel where God and Adam nearly touch hands. While there is little information on the version of the logo where the continents are characterized as monkeys, there are in fact so many monkey species native to Central America and South America that they are referred to as 'New World' monkeys. These primate families contain the only monkeys with prehensile tails, as shown on the monkeys in this button.

Catalog ID EV0985

Frank C. Bostock Surrounded by Animals

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Sepia-toned photograph of a man wearing a brimmed hat in the center surrounded 10 small, circular, super-imposed photographs: an elephant at the top plus nine big cats going around the rim of the button

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In the late 1800s, lion tamer Frank C. Bostock was traveling with his team of lions when chaos ensued as one of his lions broke loose, roaming the streets of Birmingham, UK. Thankfully, Bostock’s cleverness prevented the public from discovering the truth about the lion's whereabouts. He pretended to have captured the loose lion from the sewers and instead used his second lion as 'proof'. Thankfully, the escaped lion in the sewers was captured the next day by Bostock and his traveling crew. 

Raised by a lion tamer, Frank C. Bostock's life was unique from the very beginning. He became well known for entertaining audiences of up to 16,000 at his traveling shows, which featured acts of lion taming and kangaroo boxing! He owned over 1,000 animals, including a pet puma which was a gift from U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. Bostock invented the cage for circus acts and developed taming techniques for lions using chairs, which improved both safety standards and the overall entertainment value of the show. Bostock’s innovations transformed the day's practices of traveling circus shows.

Sources

Felton, J. (2022, January 18). The circus owner who pretended his lion wasn’t on the loose in Birmingham City Center. IFLScience. https://www.iflscience.com/the-circus-owner-who-pretended-his-lion-wasnt-on-the-loose-in-birmingham-city-center-62188

Wikipedia contributors. (2024a, April 10). Frank C. Bostock. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_C._Bostock 
Catalog ID IN0142

Pan A Merry-Can Souvenir 1901

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Text on Button Souvenir PAN A MERRY-CAN N.Y. 1901 COPYRIGHT 1901 BY AUSTIN & CRAW So. NORWALK, CONN.
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Brown text on an off-white background and rebus illustration of a frying pan, a "merry" anthropomorphic can, and a buffalo which depicts the "Pan American Exposition Buffalo, NY 1901".

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AUSTIN & CRAW
SOUTH NORWALK,
CONN.
Buttons made by
The Whitehead & Hoag Co.
Newark, N.J., U.S.A.
Pat. April 14, 1896, 
July 21, 1896

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The 1901 Pan-American Exposition was a prime example of a World Fair, showcasing the art, technological developments, and cultures of North America, including an exhibition where indigenous Americans, most prominently the renown Apache chief Geronimo, were put on display as a sideshow attraction. The exposition was also famed for its pioneering use of electricity, which illuminated the fairgrounds at night, and for being the site of the assassination of then-president William McKinley.

This souvenir button presents a humorous play on words, accompanied by relevant images. The included buffalo is a nod to the location of the exposition, as it was held in Buffalo, New York.

Sources

Buffalo 1901 Pan-American Exposition. The Stamp Forum. (2019, October 5). https://thestampforum.boards.net/thread/6675/buffalo-1901-pan-american-exposition/1000

President McKinley and the Pan-American Exposition of 1901: A tragic encounter. The Library of Congress. (n.d.). https://www.loc.gov/collections/mckinley-and-the-pan-american-expo-films-1901/articles-and-essays/president-mckinley-and-the-panamerican-exposition-of-1901

Wikimedia Foundation. (n.d.). Pan-American Exposition. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan-American_Exposition

Catalog ID EV0984

Iffy Club Member

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Text on Button MEMBER IFFY CLUB
Image Description

Black text around the rim separated by two line-drawn baseballs surroundeding an illustration of an orange and black tiger with a long tail that wraps around it to form a circle.

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THE WHITEHEAD & HOAG CO.
BUTTONS,
BADGES,
NOVELTIES
AND SIGNS
MEMBER NRA
NEWARK, N.J.

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Malcolm W. Bingay's persistence and tenacity led to his meteoric rise through the ranks of the newspaper industry in Detroit. He began his career as a printer's devil after being expelled from school. He cut his teeth at the Detroit News and became the managing editor at the age of 29. 

Bingay came into his own working at the Detroit Free Press. Still he was not a household name, preferring to write under the nom de plume "Iffy the Dopester." Iffy was personified as a baseball wizard by Floyd Nixon, the art director at Detroit Free Press. Bingray wrote the sports column and Nixon created tiger cartoons to celebrate the Detroit Tigers’ wins. Iffy the Dopester buttons became must have flair during Tiger games at Comerica Park.

Sources

1935 Detroit Free Press “Iffy’s book of tiger tales” by Iffy The Dopester Magazine style book with small members pin! Kevin Savage Cards. (n.d.). https://kevinsavagecards.com/1935_Detroit_Free_Press__Iffy_s_Book_of_Tiger_Tale-LOT606586.aspx 

Ahrens, R. (2021, February 17). The daily beat. DBusiness Magazine. https://www.dbusiness.com/business-features/the-daily-beat/ 

Artists, Writers & Publishers of the Boston-Edison Historic District. Artists & Writers of BE | Boston Edison Historical District. (n.d.). https://historicbostonedison.org/Artists-&-Writers-of-BE 

Floyd Sherman Nixon. Collerkin . (n.d.). https://www.collerkin.com/1247.html 

Catalog ID CL0702

I Saw Wrangell, Alaska

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Text on Button I SAW WRANGELL, ALASKA
Image Description

Red text on a color illustration of native Alaskan totem poles and structures situated in an Alaskan landscape

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Located in the southeast tip of Alaska, Wrangell is a small coastal town surrounded by natural beauty and resources. It borders Tongass National Forest and welcomes visitors to explore its wild landscape and cultural heritage as a historically Stikine Tlingit area. Those inclined to watch Alaskan wildlife might see black and brown bears feasting on salmon at the Forest Service-built Anan Bear and Wildlife Observatory.

Downtown Wrangell is home to the Kiks.àdi Totem Park, which was built to honor Kiks.àdi Clan Chief Kahlteen. After its purchase by Sealaska in 1987, the park was transferred to Wrangell’s tribal government in 2018 and is a popular destination.

Sources

Land, W. (2024). Alaska Natives Without Land. Alaska Natives without Land. https://www.withoutland.org/wrangell

‌Maloney, L. (2024, March 11). Wrangell, Where Alaska’s Culture, History and Natural Beauty Are One | Discover by Silversea. Discover by Silversea. https://discover.silversea.com/destinations/culture-history-natural-beauty-become-one-in-alaskas-wrangell/

The, O. (2024). Travel Wrangell. Travel Wrangell. https://travelwrangell.com

Catalog ID IB0876

Jane Byrne for Mayor '87

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Text on Button JANE BYRNE FOR MAYOR '87
Image Description

Blue and red bold text accented by thick blue and red lines on a white background

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Jane Byrne (1933-2014) was the first woman mayor of a major city in the United States, serving as Chicago’s 50th mayor from 1979 to 1983. She lost her bid for re-election in 1983 and 1987, losing the Democratic primary to 51st mayor Harold Washington. Learn about our Washington buttons here. As mayor, Byrne prompted open-air farmers’ markets, started the Taste of Chicago festival, initiated handgun restrictions, declared the first Gay Pride Parade Day in 1981, and welcomed the filming of “The Blues Brothers.” 

Her success in the 1979 election was credited largely to her incumbent opponent Michael Bilandic’s approval dropping due to his lack of plowing efforts and public transportation management during a severe blizzard. She ran on popular sentiments of rebelling against the political machine, which led to disappointment from supporters when she aligned with the establishments and aldermen she had previously disputed. Her term saw high turnover in administration, battles against unions, and contention with the media. The shift she instigated toward the arts, music, and tourism in Chicago has left a lasting impact on the city. 

Sources
Chicago remembers Jane Byrne, city’s only female mayor. (n.d.). Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved July 29, 2024, from https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2014/1115/Chicago-remembers-Jane-Byrne-city-s-only-female-mayor
Chicago’s First (And Only) Female Mayor. (2019, March 12). WTTW Chicago. https://interactive.wttw.com/playlist/2019/03/12/jane-byrne
Kogan, R. (2014, Nov 16). Jane Byrne's lasting impact on the culture. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 29, 2024, from ProQuest.
Sadovi, C., & Sobol, R. (2014, November 14). After death, a question about Jane Byrne’s birth date. Chicago Tribune. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2014/11/14/after-death-a-question-about-jane-byrnes-birth-date/
Schaper, D. (2014, November 14). Jane Byrne Dies: No Woman Has Led A Larger U.S. City. NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2014/11/14/364180983/no-woman-has-led-a-larger-u-s-city-than-jane-byrne-who-died-today
Mayor Jane Byrne Biography. (n.d.). Retrieved July 29, 2024, from https://www.chipublib.org/mayor-jane-byrne-biography
Catalog ID PO1283