White text around the outer edge of an illustration of Santa Claus on a red background

The Marshall Fields department store opened in Chicago, Illinois in 1852. Although the store was known for its grandeur and plethora of stores, it was even more popular in the winter seasons for its elaborate Christmas decorations that featured animated displays, themed window exhibitions, and Santa Clause for the children to visit. 

Illustration of two guys in a brown car on a black road with a green street sign with black text on a white background

The American Political Items Collectors (APIC), founded in 1945, is a non profit organization that promotes the study, collection, and preservation of political campaign memorabilia. Every two years, they hold a national convention where both collectors and the general public gather to attend seminars, exhibit collections, and attend auctions to buy, sell, and trade items. In 2016, the convention was held at the Hilton Hotel in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. This special button, featuring the likenesses of co-chairs of the convention Ted Hake and Scott Mussell, was created and distributed at the convention.

This button was manufactured by the Busy Beaver Button Co.

Red text and an illustration of a red triangle with a dark blue or black feather going through it on a white background

In 1844, the first Young Men's Christian Association or Y.M.C.A. was founded in London England. The Y.M.C.A. experienced quick growth from 1844 to 1855 and spread across the United States, Canada, and Europe. The first Y.M.C.A in the United States was founded in Boston in 1851. The Y.M.C.A. was founded on Christian principles but has since expanded to include a broader audience and promotes the strengthening of communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility rather than promoting Christianity or morality.

The red triangle has been an emblem of the Y.M.C.A. since 1891. The three sides represent the spirit, mind, and body. The triangle represents the Y.M.C.A.’s philosophy in that a triangle is not just three separate sides but the sum of three sides that together form a triangular figure. Thus in regards to a man, he is not just a body, a mind, and a spirit, but a result of all three.

Green four-leaf clover with white H's on each leaf on a white background.

4-H began taking shape in the 1890s as youth clubs for focused hands-on learning began forming throughout rural areas of the United States. In 1902 in Ohio and Minnesota, the clubs became more organized and this is considered the official start of 4-H, although they weren't called 4-H clubs until 1912. O.H. Benson of Iowa designed a three-leaf clover for area clubs in 1907 with three Hs standing for head, heart, and hands. In 1911 a fourth leaf and fourth H, representing health, was added. It became the official emblem in 1924. The Cooperative Extension System was created 1914 and began to oversee the youth program, taking the clubs nationwide. 4-H members compete in project areas including agriculture, livestock, science, health, and art and participate in community clubs, afterschool programs, and camps. Adults mentor 4-H members in leadership, project areas, and community participation.

Green four-leaf clover with white H's on each leaf in center, red text above and below, white background.

4-H is an organization for school-age youth. Members can compete in project areas including agriculture, livestock, science, health, and art and participate in community clubs, afterschool programs, and camps. Adults mentor 4-H members in leadership, project areas, and community participation. The organization began taking shape in the 1890s as youth clubs for hands-on learning focused on the environment began forming throughout rural areas of the United States. In 1902 in Ohio and Minnesota, the youth clubs became more organized and this is considered the official start of 4-H, although they weren’t called 4-H clubs until 1912. O.H. Benson of Iowa designed a three-leaf clover for area clubs in 1907 with three Hs standing for head, heart, and hands. In 1911 a fourth leaf and fourth H, representing health, was added. It became the official emblem in 1924. The Cooperative Extension System was created 1914 and began to oversee the youth program, taking the clubs nationwide.

Illustration of a blue bird on a branch with a background of blue flowers with blue text

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Illustration of two blue birds facing each other on a branch in front of a yellow and blue background with red flowers and blue text

The Lutheran Publication Society was initially founded by Illinois minister Tuve Hasselquist and served as a publishing house for Swedish books, hymnals, and Lutheran works. In 1859, its headquarters moved to Chicago, but was badly damaged by the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The Minnesota Posten—Lutheran Publication Society’s periodical—first got off the ground in the 1850s by publishing church-related articles. Over time, the Minnesota Posten became secular and included political news in its pages. It is likely that this award was presented to children attending Sunday School on their birthday.

Black text on a white background

This is most likely referencing the empowering slogan from the second-wave feminism movement of the 1960s and 1970s. The word “uppity” was used to describe someone inferior that was not staying in their proper place. The women in this movement challenged traditional societal roles and discussed issues involving women’s sexuality, reproductive rights, gender equality and more. The phrase "Uppity Women Unite" embodies the sentiment of women uniting to fight injustices and work towards equal rights.

White illustration of an origami crane on a blue background

The traditional paper crane is well-known in origami models. It’s designed after the Japanese red-crowned crane. In Japanese mythology, this crane is known as the “Honourable Lord Crane” and it wings carried souls up to heaven. The Japanese name for this model is “Orizuru” which simply means “Folded crane.” “Ori” is the same “Ori” that you find in the word origami. An ancient Japanese legend promises that if anyone folds a thousand paper cranes they will be granted a wish by the gods. In some tellings, the folder is granted happiness or good luck. In Japan, the crane is said to live for 1,000 years which is why one must fold 1,000 of them. You have to keep all the cranes to get the wish. If you fold one and give it away, that crane doesn’t count toward the 1,000 needed to make the wish.

Illustration of a safe on a person's head on a white background with black text with author's signature, left of the safe.

Hassan Cigarettes produced by the American Tobacco Company were cork tipped nickel brand cigarettes. To increase advertising, Hassan began offering cowboy cards in 1909 in each pack. By 1912, Hassan introduced baseball cards with the T202 - Hassan triple fold large baseball cards. Later in the same decade, Hassan introduced the pinback buttons in their cigarettes. The designs meant to be collectibles were of various images with each image containing the artist's facsimile signature. The collectible designs allowed Hassan Cigarettes to grow in comparison to other cigarettes who did not offer collectibles.

Noted on the back on this Hassan pinback button is backing paper by W & HC Co - Whitehead and Hoag Company from Newark, N.J.  Whitehead and Hoag, which held the patent for pinback buttons since 1896 was also a union company until 1919 when they broke with the union. Buttons made before 1919 came with a union labeled stamped on the backing paper.