Fabric covered button with a woman's face and orange hair with a pink ribbon attached and brown fuzzy fabric on the black hat

Learn more about the History of Flapper Buttons on the Busy Beaver blog.

Brown, black, yellow and orange stripes on a white background

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Black and white photograph of a woman's head and shoulders, wearing a hat with flowers and a white high collared shirt

Photographic pinback buttons made with celluloid material were extremely popular from the late 1800s to the 1930s. It was during the 1860s that photography became more available on the commercial market. Humphrey E. Copley of Connecticut sought a patent in 1861 to incorporate photographs onto buttons by utilizing a metal rim to hold the photograph in place. This technology coincided with the Civil War and mourners embraced the option of being able to wear visual representations of their loved ones. John Wesley Hyatt was an American inventor who received a patent for a product named celluloid in 1870. After refinement of the initial product, Hyatt’s celluloid became the first commercially profitable synthetic material. United States patent records reflect the usage of celluloid in making buttons with photographs in the late 1880s. In 1893, Benjamin S. Whitehead acquired a patent for using celluloid over the photo to protect the image. The increased availability of photography coupled with the ability of manufacturers to produce buttons inexpensively allowed the public to create a fashion fad out of the desire to have portable keepsakes.

Illustration of a bear's head over a banner with black text on a blue background

Bipolar disorder, sometimes referred to as manic depression, is a mental disorder in which a person's emotions cycle gradually or rapidly between extreme states of being (generally mania or euphoria and depression). Different types of bipolar disorder are recognized based on the illness's presentation. These include Bipolar I, Bipolar II, and Mixed Bipolar. Each year, Bipolar disorder affects 2-3% of the U.S. population. There is no cure for Bipolar disorder, but it can generally be managed with psychotherapy and medication.

Red text on a white background

The 'Ask Me' slogan is used by a variety of organizations to prompt their customers to seek assistance for their needs. Individuals donning the Ask Me button are generally seen as a resource for their affiliation and a guide to their patrons.

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Red and black text on a white background with an outer red edge

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In the summer of 1982, rumors spread that International Harvester was about to go bankrupt. The farming and construction equipment manufacturer responded to these reports with a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal assuring readers, "We're not giving in, we're going on". 

The phrase was actually the company's slogan for a corporate recovery campaign. The previous year, International Harvester (IH) had suffered a loss of nearly a billion dollars. The loss had forced IH to sell off almost a third of its manufacturing plants and to let go or transfer almost 8,000 employees. The recovery campaign was an effort to reassure investors and employees that the company was still viable.

The slogan and its shortened version ("We're going on") appeared in multiple newspaper ads and on pinback buttons and bumper stickers that were distributed to IH employees. In 1984 IH underwent further heavy losses and was forced to merge with J.I. Case. Two years later the reorganized company changed its name to Navistar International Corporation.

Red and white stripes with red text on a white stripe

United Airlines is an American airline headquartered in Chicago, Illinois offering flights for North America, Asia, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Europe. United Air Lines was established In 1931, gradually expanding from domestic flights in the early 1930’s to international destinations after World War II. United Air Lines changed its name to United Airlines after 1975.  A merger with Capital Airlines in 1961 followed by the acquiring of Pan American in 1986 allowed United Airlines to offer more destinations, becoming one of the largest airline carriers in the U.S.

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The NBC television sitcom Cheers enjoyed a lengthy eleven-year run from September, 1982 to May, 1993 producing 275 episodes of the hit show. The setting of the program was in a bar, so the producers used the front of The Bull & Finch Pub in Boston, Massachusetts to provide exterior shots of the show’s titular bar. The pub has become famous across the country spawning memorabilia and tourist trinkets that capture the nostalgia of Cheers. The show, initially, began with a rocky start leading to it almost being cancelled due to low ratings, but the writers and producers were able to turn it around and it became one of the most popular shows in the United States. Cheers received numerous accolades including 28 Primetime Emmy awards and received a nomination for each of its 11 seasons for Outstanding Comedy Series. 

Illustration of Mickey Mouse ears with a yellow, orange then red outline and red and blue text on top over black text on a white speckled background

Disney channel’s D-TV was a series of music videos featuring Disney’s top songs and animation footage. The music videos played as filler material because Disney channel did not air commercials. D-TV stopped airing in 2000. Disney Channel first launched in the 1980’s as a premium service but today consists of original television series, movies and select third party programs.