Orange text on a yellow background

After the FDA released the first birth control pill Enovid in 1960, a sexual revolution swept through American culture that began in the sixties and is still continuing to this day. Women now had control over when they could become pregnant making pre-marital sex less taboo. Throughout the sixties and later decades, American culture began to be more accepting of a sexualized culture. However, many religious and conservative groups opposed the new sexual liberties many were taking and formed a counter-culture of organizations that stressed remaining abstinent until marriage and abhorred promiscuity. 

Illustration of a skeleton wearing a blue black coat and red bow tie on an orange background

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Illustration of five characters with various sports equipment (basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, football) on a white, yellow, and orange background with an outer blue edge with green stars and blue text

Pizza Hut’s BOOK IT! reading program was established in 1984 after President Ronald Reagan asked corporations to get involved in education. The program rewards elementary students’ reading accomplishments with certificates and pizza.The first BOOK IT! button debuted in 1985.  Each year the program reaches millions of elementary school students. 

For this sports-themed 1990s-era button, kids collected stickers to fill in the cartoon medals for books read.

Yellow frame with red background and bubble letters with illustrations of characters in the letters

In 1984, Pizza Hut began the BOOK IT! program. The program was created by then-president of Pizza Hut, Arthur Gunther. Gunther designed the program with the goal of encouraging kids to read more as well as helping them further develop their reading skills. Gunther was inspired by his son, Michael, who had issues reading due to eye-related problems. Students who engage in the program are rewarded with certificates, buttons, and pizzas as incentives for completing their reading goals. The program continues to be in effect.

Illustration of the character, Little Joe

Little Joe was a Western comic strip that appeared in the Chicago Tribune Sunday strip from 1933 to 1972. Originally created and written by Ed Leffingwell and later by his brother, Robert, the story focused on Little Joe, a thirteen-year-old boy who lived in a world of danger. Upon his father's death, Little Joe is tasked with running the Oak Ranch alongside his mother and their helper, Utah, a former gunslinger. The comic focused on Little Joe navigating life while coming into conflict with outlaws, politicians, and corrupt businessmen.

Illustration of a yellow plane over a light blue sky over a yellow ground with blue text

In 1903 brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright constructed and flew the first powered airplane near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The plane used a twelve-horsepower gasoline engine. The brothers flipped a coin to determine Wilbur would make the first try to fly it on December 14, 1903. His attempt was unsuccessful. They made repairs to the plane, and Orville took the pilot’s position on December 17. He flew the plane for 12 seconds and traveled 120 feet. The brothers took turns flying the machine three more times, with the final flight of the day lasting 59 seconds and traveling 852 feet.

Green, blue and yellow illustration of a plane with text above and below

After more than 36 hours and 3,288 miles, German pilot Hermann Kohl, flight sponsor Baron Ehrenfried Gunther von Hunefeld and Irish copilot James Fitzmaurice completed the first east-to-west transatlantic flight by airplane in April 1928. They flew in a Junkers W33 D1167 named Bremen. The trio left the Baldonnel Aerodrome in Ireland and landed in eastern Quebec, Canada, more than 1,000 miles from their destination of New York City.

This button is part of a larger set of 20 buttons, each with an illustration of a different airplane. They were originally given away by Yank Junior clothing with purchases.

Illustration of a Old English Sheep Dog with a green background

Thought to have originated in England sometime in the early 19th century, the Old English Sheepdog was, as its name mentions, principally used to drive cattle and sheep in fields and markets. Large in demeanor, the breed is considered to be playful in nature and gentle giants. In addition to being known as herders, the breed has in recent decades been a popular presence at dog shows on account of their unique and shaggy coat.

This button is part of a larger set of 35 buttons, each with an illustration of a different dog breed. They were originally sold on a 6” x 9” cardboard sheet.​

Illustration of a Setter dog walking

Setters can be traced back roughly four hundred years ago to England where they mostly used as hunting dogs. Trained as bird dogs, setters were by the 17th century widespread on British estates throughout the country. Their name comes from the dog's practice of "setting" or crouching low when it found birds in order for the hunting party to throw their net over them. Though they are still used today as hunting dogs, the breed has also become popular household dogs.

This button is part of a larger set of 35 buttons, each with an illustration of a different dog breed. They were originally sold on a 6” x 9” cardboard sheet.​

Color illustration of a black dog standing on green grass with a yellow sky

Newfoundlands are strong, large breed dogs weighing from 100 to 150 pounds and are able to do draft work and have lifesaving instincts in the water. The breed originated in Newfoundland after fishermen bought the breed’s ancestors — possibly the Great Pyrenees or a French hound — to the Canadian region from Europe.

This button is part of a larger set of 35 buttons, each with an illustration of a different dog breed. They were originally sold on a 6” x 9” cardboard sheet.