White text on a green background

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White text and an illustration of a hat on a red background

Sombrero derives from the Spanish word “sombra” which means shade. While many associate the hat with Mexican culture, it originates in Spain. The hat popped up in the 17th century and was appropriated into Mexican culture when the Spanish came to the Americas. Mariachi bands often wear sombreros with largee brims so that they need a chin strap to keep it on. Quincianos are work hats that are light and simple. Veintistietes are the high end sombreros that can take one month to be crafted.

Red text on a white background with a red stripe with white text. White string attached to the back

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Yellow, pink, orange, red, purple and blue text on a blue background

Based in New Jersey, Pantone is a printing and technology company that uses a patented matching system to replicate any color for designers, retailers, and customers. Since the 1950s, Pantone has perfected the color and printing process with the Pantone Matching System to create or reproduce any color. Advertised as "speaking the international language of color," Pantone's one-of-a-kind approach can translate colors into any form from print to plastic.

Illustration of two people, one in a skirt and one in pants, pulling in opposite directions on a clock with black text above and below on a white background

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Blue text on a white stripe with a red stripe above and blue stripe below

The text seen here is likely imitating the popular button from Dwight D. Eisenhower’s presidential campaign of 1952. The original button had the same red and blue stripes, as well as a slogan that read “I LIKE IKE”.

Brown and white photograph of a woman sitting on a swing on a brown background with white text

Charmion was the stage name of the American Vaudeville trapeze artist and strong-woman Laverie Vallee. Her most famous act consisted of her mounting the trapeze in full Victorian attire and stripping down to a leotard while swinging from the trapeze. This act was captured on film in 1901 for a short Edison film called "Trapeze Disrobing Act." Vallee lived from 1875 to 1949.

Illustration of a child in a blue and white striped shirt with one eye closed and one hand held up on a red background with a speech bubble and black text.

This was a "Buddy Button" from Norcross Greeting Card company. The Norcross greeting card company was established in the 1920s by Arthur D. Norcross. The company had its own design employees, but they also hired free-lance designers such as Mildred Urban who created the 'Red Sails and Sunset' design. Along with their popular designs, Norcross is also noted as the first commercial card company to produce Valentine's Day cards.

The museum has one other of the Buddy Buttons here.

White illustration of a refrigerator compressor on a blue background

General Electric (GE) was incorporated in 1892, when they acquired Edison General Electric Company and The Thomson-Houston Company. Thomas Edison created the Edison General Electric Company to combine his businesses and to market his incandescent lamp. 

In 1927, GE debuted the "Monitor Top" refrigerator. The device was affectionately called the "Monitor Top" by the public because it resembled a turret on the Civil War gunship, the Monitor. The "Monitor Top" was designed by Chief Engineer Christian Steenstrup. Its unconventional design with it being made out of steel and being placed on top of the refrigerator was popular with consumers. GE is now known to have business in finance, infrastructure, health care, and several other fields.

Illustration of a red flag with a white rectangle with a red cross on it and blue text on a white background

The flag of Tonga was adopted in 1875 and the constitution of 1875 states the Tongan flag should never be altered. The flag consists of a red base with a red cross on a white square in the upper left corner. The red cross represents Christianity and the white of the flag represents purity. The red of the flag represents the blood Jesus shed at his crucifixion reminding the people of Tonga that they owe their salvation to him.