Blue text around a blue circle with a red maple leaf over white wavy lines on a white background

1998 was dubbed International Year of the Ocean (YOTO) by the United Nations (UN). The oceans are a dominant aspect of our world and environment so the UN wanted to promote public awareness and understanding of them. Ocean-related headlines had been dominating newspaper headlines such as El Niño, hurricanes, and the rising sea levels. The UN hoped to encourage citizens around the globe to learn more and become interested in oceans as they effect the climate and weather, provide food and oxygen as well as jobs, and are home to such diverse life. Participating countries around the globe had activities and events planned to engage its residents to want to help protect oceans.

Green and pink text on a white upper third of the button over a photograph of three women holding a green dollar sign on a black background

International Women’s Day (IWD) was first celebrated nationally in the U.S. in 1909 and then internationally in 1911 on March 19. Later recorded celebrations have it taking place near the end of February. The official date, March 8, was first celebrated during International Women’s year in 1975 by the United Nations.

The phrase “Pay Equity” pictured on the button refers to the gender wage gap. Historically women have continually made less per hour than men for the same work. This has been addressed over time and the National Committee on Pay Equity (NCPE) formed in 1979 as a result. Also pictured on the button is the Public Service Alliance of Canada (Alliance de la Fonction publique du Canada) logo. This is a union that currently represents federal service workers across Canada.

Black text and an illustration of a person holding a ring on a yellow background

In 1979, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared that year the International Year of the Child. The declaration was intended to bring attention to issues that affect children worldwide, like access to education, food, and healthcare. Over 150 countries participated in promoting the needs of the world's 1.5 billion children. Many created special programs for underprivileged children, held seminars to bring awareness and wrote their own declarations. On January 9th, a benefit concert was held in the United Nations General Assembly Hall in New York. Performers included the Bee Gees, Earth, Wind & Fire, ABBA, and Donna Sommer. The concert was aired as a television special, Music for UNICEF Concert: A Gift of Song.

Black text on a off-white background

Black text over an illustration of a red rose on a white background

On December 6, 1989, fourteen female students at an engineering school in Montreal were murdered by an armed gunman named Marc Lépine. The event became known as both the École Polytechnique massacre and the Montreal massacre. Lépine targeted women. He entered classrooms and separated the students by gender before shooting the female students. After the twenty minute massacre, Lépine shot himself with his final bullet. The fourteen women who lost their lives on that day were Geneviève Bergeron, Hélène Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Maryse Laganière, Maryse Leclair, Anne-Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michèle Richard, Annie St-Arneault, Annie Turcotte, and Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz. While the futures of these women had been bright, the past of shooter Marc Lépine had been shadowed by abuse, misogyny, and rejection. After applying to and being rejected by the École Polytechnique in 1986 and 1989, Lépine apparently refused to accept that it was due to the fact that he failed to meet the requirements for admission. Instead, he blamed the female students who attended instead of him, specifically, “feminists.” Lépine’s suicide letter was leaked to the press, including the list of women’s names whom Lépine planned to kill for being feminists.

Illustration of the state of Illinois on a green circle with an outer white edge with green text

June is designated the Illinois Rivers Appreciation Month and consists of several river-related events coordinated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. In 1985, the Iron Ores Marathon was launched by the Chicago River Aquatic Center and Friends of the Chicago River to raise awareness of river ecosystems and the benefits of rivers as natural, recreational, and community assets. The marathon began in Evanston and ended at the Columbus Bridge downtown with a best time of 1:56:50.

Red text and an illustration of a tree, flowers, a fish, a boat, bridge and a mountain on an off-white background

The state of Alaska was admitted into the United States union in 1959 by President Eisenhower. Alaska Day was designated October 18th of that year by Governor William Egan for celebration of the land’s history and has become a yearly event. There is traditionally an Alaska Day Festival during which residents and tourists can enjoy a parade led by the pipe and drum regiment of the Seattle Fire Department, a ball with music by the Fort Wainwright’s 9th Army Band, historical reenactments, panel discussions, and occasional visits by governors and senators.

Black text and an illustration of a person with a hammer and a strength tester on a green background

The high striker or strongman game is a popular attraction at amusement parks and carnivals.  Contestants use a mallet or hammer to hit a target in order to send a puck up to the top of the tower and ring the bell.  Those who are able to ring the bell are rewarded with a prize.  In the 1930s it was revealed that many high striker machines were rigged at carnivals in order to keep contestants from winning a prize.

Blue text on a white background with an outer blue edge

“I Have Seen the Future” was a phrase that appeared on souvenir buttons from Nelson Bel Geddes “Futurama” ride at the 1939 New York City World’s Fair. The ride was part of General Motors’ “Highways and Horizons” exhibit. It  took up approximately 35,000 square feet of exhibit space and was ridden by more than five million people between 1930 and 1940.

“Futurama” consisted of 408 sections showing Bel Geddes’ perception of the future of America, or “world of tomorrow.” Each section showed various parts of the country, including rural areas, suburbs, cities, and roadways. The sections were viewed from a carry-go-round of moving chairs that brought riders on a “transcontinental flight over America in 1960.”

Light blue text over an illustration of a brown bunny holding a purple tulip on a yellow background

The illustration of a bunny holding a tulip celebrates Easter and springtime. Traditionally, tulips are the most colorful of flowers associated with the season; they are spring-blooming perennials. Rabbits and bunnies are usually associated with spring and rebirth. A typical spring tradition is the Easter Bunny, who goes from house to house, leaving colored eggs and candy for children. 

The custom in America may have begun in Pennsylvania from German immigrants. They believed in a mythological springtime figure named "Ostara" or "Osterhase," which was symbolic of new life and the coming spring. In the spring, Osterhase laid eggs and gave gifts to children. This myth eventually transformed into the modern Easter Bunny. The tradition is still practiced; children fill baskets with plastic grass, waiting for the Easter Bunny to fill their basket with gifts. Some regional cultures vary the tradition where children leave out a plate of carrots in case the bunny gets hungry. The addition of chocolates to the basket's offerings started around the late 19th century.