Royal Visit 1959

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Text on Button SOUVENIR ROYAL VISIT 1959
Image Description

Black and white photograph of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in regalia on a yellow background with blue text around the rim above and below

Curl Text MADE IN U.S.A.
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On July 6, 1959 Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Phillip briefly visited Chicago, Illinois during their commonwealth tour of Canada. In the first visit to Chicago by a sitting British Monarch, the royal couple were greeted by Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley and Illinois Governor Stratton. Their visit was celebrated with a welcoming ceremony and a parade. The royal couple also visited the Chicago International Trade Fair, the Museum of Science and Industry, and the Art Institute. Only a thirteen hour visit, the event was well attended and memorabilia from the visit is archived in the Chicago History Museum. 

Sources

Rezaei, A. (2022, September 8). Historian recounts Queen Elizabeth II’s 1959 visit to Chicago. CBS Chicago. https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/historian-recounts-queen-elizabeth…

The Day The Queen Came to Chicago: Photos From Elizabeth II’s 1959 Visit. (2022, September 8). NBC Chicago. https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/the-day-the-queen-came-to-chicago…

Catalog ID EV0979

Prairie Dog Pete

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Text on Button LUBBOCK TEXAS HOME OF PRAIRIE DOG PETE
Image Description

Illustration of a smiling prairie dog on a white background with black text around the rim.

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Native to the grasslands of America, prairie dogs have long been considered pests by farmers who believe them to compete with livestock for resources. In the latter half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, government-initiated poisoning programs greatly reduced prairie dog populations. Kennedy N. Clapp and his wife, residents of Lubbock, Texas, were concerned about the survival of the species and established a prairie dog colony by trapping two pairs of black-tailed prairie dogs. In 1935, Mackenzie Park became a state park, and the colony was moved there.

 

The colony, known as Prairie Dog Town, quickly became a tourism draw and the city adopted the prairie dog as its mascot. Prairie Dog Pete served as the goodwill ambassador for the colony, with his image being used for promotional material. Clapp was named mayor of Prairie Dog Town in perpetuity, overseeing operations until his death in 1969.

Sources

Prairie Dog Town. City of Lubbock. (n.d.). https://ci.lubbock.tx.us/departments/parks-recreation/parks/prairie-dog-town

Prairie Dog Town. Visit Lubbock. (n.d.). https://visitlubbock.org/listing/prairie-dog-town/

Oliver, F., & Hamilton, A. C. (1973). Our comic friend the prairie dog and the story of Prairie Dog Town, Texas! City of Lubbock. https://ci.lubbock.tx.us/storage/images/53jgCSj7PR8BIjAkRutTlTgkJyUNC6znOWQuo5AE.pdf

Opler, P. (Ed.). (1993, July). Management of prairie dog complexes for the reintroduction of the black-footed ferret. USGS Publications Warehouse. https://pubs.usgs.gov/fedgov/70039171/report.pdf

O’Reilly, J. (1958, June 2). Yip, yip for Prairie Dog Town. SI.com. https://vault.si.com/vault/1958/06/02/yip-yip-for-prairie-dog-town

Catalog ID AD1113

Brockton 4th of July Celebration

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Text on Button I HAVE Contributed BROCKTON 4th July Celebration SAVE GASOLINE & TIRES AND HAVE AN OLD FASHIONED 4th
Image Description

White stars on a blue background on with white text on the top third of the button; blue and red text on a red and white striped background on the bottom two-thirds. 

Back Paper / Back Info

Pilgrim Badge
& Specialty Co
614 Memorial Drive
Cambridge, Mass.
[union bug]
99

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Please contact us if you have more information.

Catalog ID EV0978

The College of St. Scholastica

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Text on Button The College of St. Scholastica STORM
Image Description

Yellow background with an illustration of a blue, black, white, and yellow dog with blue text above and black text below.

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The College of St. Scholastica opened in 1912 in Duluth, Minnesota, as an independent private college with only six students. Over 100 years later, with various locations across Minnesota, the school now boasts 4,000 students.

The St. Scholastica Athletics team name is the Saints. In 2022 the team branding was given an update, and the team mascot, “Storm,” a St. Bernard, was given a makeover. With his new look, Storm lost the cartoony image depicted on this button for one that shows more determination. “The new Storm communicates focus, grit and the underdog mentality,” according to the press release. 

Sources

About Us. (n.d.). The College of St. Scholastica. Retrieved from https://www.css.edu/about/

There is a Storm Brewing. (2022, August 10). St. Scholastica Saints. Retrieved April 29, 2024 from https://csssaints.com/news/2022/8/9/general-there-is-a-storm-brewing.aspx

Catalog ID SC0071

TKE

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Text on Button TKE 1
Image Description

Red background with large, white text and a number one bisected by the text.

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Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) is a college fraternity founded in 1899 at Illinois Wesleyan University. In their first constitution, the purpose of the organization was to be an aid to the college men in mental, moral and social development. The fraternity has chapters in the United States and Canada. According to the organization, the fraternity has never had an exclusionary or discriminatory clause to prevent individuals from joining and has admitted members based on their personal worth and character. Famous members include Willie Nelson and Ronald Reagan. The organization provides support for philanthropies and charitable services such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. 

The fraternity has a storied past, despite their overwhelmingly positive rhetoric. Documented controversies include the hazing death of Samuel Harris Mason, an attack on members of Delta Kappa Epsilon, and an infamous “MLK Black Party.”

Sources

Dries, K. (2014, January 24). Arizona State Expels Frat Responsible for Racist MLK Day Party. Jezebel. https://www.jezebel.com/arizona-state-expels-frat-responsible-for-racist-mlk-day-party 

Plea Deal in Suspected Radford Hazing Death. (2011, December 17). NBC4 Washington. https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/plea-deal-in-suspected-radford-univ-hazing-death/1908955/ 

Tau Kappa Epsilon (2024). About Tau Kappa Epsilon International Fraternity. https://www.tke.org/about 

Catalog ID SC0070

I'm No Angel

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Text on Button I'M NO ANGEL
Image Description

Black text on white background with red and white checkered edge.

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In the 1940s, carnivals gave out checkered pin-back buttons as game prizes and souvenirs, many of which had funny phrases like “You’re the One” and “Jeepers Creepers” and also included titles of famous songs of the day, like “It Ain’t Gonna Rain No ‘Mo,” sung by Wendell Hall in 1923. This “I’m No Angel” button may be a variation of this. It would certainly fit the carnival theme, seeing as Mae West starred in the movie I’m No Angel (1933) as a sharp and seductive circus performer for “Big Bill Barton’s Wonder Show” who falls in love with Jack Clayton, a character played by Cary Grant.

Sources

Ruggles, W., West, M., Brentano, L., West, M., Grant, C., & Ratoff, G. (1933, October 6). I’m No Angel. IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024166/

Mary Jane “Mae” West – I’m No Angel. (2025). Genius. https://genius.com/Mary-jane-mae-west-im-no-angel-lyrics

6 Vintage 1940s Carnival Pinback Lot Checkered Buttons. (2024). ATTIC.city. https://attic.city/item/A0NW/6-vintage-1940s-carnival-pinback-lot-checkered-buttons-/north-grove-antiques

Catalog ID IB0867

Cock-A-Doodling

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Text on Button COCK-A-DOODLING
Image Description

Aged white background with black illustration of a rooster, black text, and a red and aged white checkered edge.

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In the 1940s, carnivals gave out checkered pin-back buttons as game prizes and souvenirs, many of which had funny phrases like “You’re the One” and “Jeepers Creepers” and also included titles of famous songs of the day, like “It Ain’t Gonna Rain No ‘Mo.” This “Cock-A-Doodling” button may be a variation of such buttons.

Sources

6 Vintage 1940s Carnival Pinback Lot Checkered Buttons. (2024). ATTIC.city. https://attic.city/item/A0NW/6-vintage-1940s-carnival-pinback-lot-checkered-buttons-/north-grove-antiques

Catalog ID IB0866