Blue, white and red illustration of the Dutch Girl character holding a stick with blue text on a yellow background

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” became a fairly 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 Weeks partnered with Old Dutch Cleanser between 1927-1934. Cudahy sold Old Dutch to Purex bleach in 1955. The name is currently owned by Lavo in Montreal.

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

An illustration of a white sun on a blue circle over a blue rectangle with white text on it with yellow and red stripes and red and white text

From May 27 through November 1, 1933, Chicago put on the famous World’s Fair, which was titled “A Century of Progress,” to celebrate its centennial. The city collaborated with a number of foreign nations to put on the exhibition, and for the month of October, the focus was on a number of artifacts and exhibits from China. The most prominent exhibit was a replica of the Buddhist Lama Temple of Jehol that was located at 16th street. There was also an exhibit featuring the Peking man, whose body had been preserved in a bog for nearly 500,000 years. Other items on display included rugs, embroideries, furs, a replica of a Chinese walled village, and objects made of porcelain, lacquer, silk, and ivory. The city also provided entertainment in the form of interpretive dance and acrobatics.

Sources:
The Chinese Village. (1933). Official Guide Book of the Fair, p. 93.  Retrieved from  https://archive.org/stream/officialguideboo00centrich#page/92/search/chinese

The Chinese Exhibits at Chicago's Century of Progress Exposition, 1933-34. (n.d.) Chinese-American Museum of Chicago. Retrieved from http://www.ccamuseum.org/index.php/zh/research/objects/63-objects-from-the-1933-4-chicago-world-fai

Blue rectangle with blue and white text on it on a white background

Cardinell Century, the official photographers of the 1933 Chicago World's Fair, put out postcards and souvenirs during the fair, including this button. This button features the official emblem of a Century of Progress. Its depiction of a planet and its rings moving through space was used in fair posters and memorabilia to represent futurism. Additionally, the emblem mimics the streamlined designs of the fair's many buildings.

The 1933 Chicago World's Fair, known officially as a Century of Progress International Exposition, opened on June 1, 1933 and closed on November 1 the following year. In addition to exhibits showcasing technological innovations, such as the latest advancements in rail travel, automobiles, and architecture, the 1933 Chicago World's Fair celebrated the city's centennial. The fairgrounds of a Century of Progress bordered 37th Street on the South and Roosevelt Road on the North, and occupied much of Northerly Island. Some of the exhibits that were featured at the fair included performances by fan dancer Sally Rand, the German airship Graf Zeppelin, new American luxury cars, and the Homes of Tomorrow Exhibition.

Red text and a red and white Canadian flag

Dating back to the 16th century Canadian land was contested by England and France, accounting for its current official languages, English and French. Canada became an official self-governing country in 1931 but was still within the British Empire. Full legislative independence didn't happen until 1982. The Canadian flag in its current form was approved by parliament and made official on February 15, 1965. The red color is a symbol of Canadian sacrifice during World War I and the maple leaf had already been a national symbol for about 100 years.

Illustration of a long brownish red-haired woman's head with an outer white edge with green text

Anne of Green Gables is a children's book that was written by Lucy Maud Montgomery in 1908. Red-haired orphan Anne Shirley is the main character in this classic Canadian book series. The story takes place on Prince Edward Island in Canada during the late 1800s. Green Gables is the name of the farm where Anne lives. The farm is now a popular tourist attraction on Prince Edward Island. 

Illustration of a hot air balloon in front of purple mountains and a blue sky, a white wind turbine, white tents, sailboats, and green grass with a white outer edge with black text

The 1982 World's Fair was held in Knoxville, Tennessee. "Energy" was the theme of the Fair in which 22 countries participated. The Sunsphere, which was built for the event, still stands in Knoxville today. Touchscreen monitors, Cherry Coke, and the Rubik's cube all made their debut at this fair. 

Bluet text over an image of Wheeler and Woosley

Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey were a vaudeville comedic duo who performed together on Broadway and in several Hollywood films in the 1920s and 1930s. Many of their comedies were filmed at RKO Radio Pictures. The pair made over 20 films together before Woolsey passed away in 1938.

White text on a blue rectangle on top of a red triangle on a white background

The Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) was founded in London, England, in June of 1844. At this time, London and other big cities around the world were suffering from widespread urban pollution caused by the Industrial Revolution. The YMCA was created as a Bible study group, educating men and providing social services. The Association was active in World War I and II, fundraising for the war effort and helping displaced refugees. By the end of WWII, over half of the existing YMCAs were admitting women and their outreach efforts took on a more inclusive tone. Today, the YMCA is a prominent, global voice in healthy living, promoting fitness and sports activities.

White text on a orange-red background

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Orange top outer edge with silver below and black text on top

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) is a labor union that represents over 775,00 active and retired electrical and other construction utility workers across the U.S and Canada. Members can work in areas such as utilities, construction, telecommunications, broadcasting, manufacturing, railroads, and government. IBEW 794 is the local chapter for Chicago, Illinois.

IBEW was founded in Saint Louis, Missouri in 1891.