An illustration of a blue shield surrounded by yellow flowers. Blue text appears around the shield on a white background. 

An illustration of a white shield with a red two-barred cross at its center. The shield appears on a red background and a blue banner with red text appears across it.

In 1904, the National Association for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis (NASPT) was formed to fight tuberculosis— also commonly known as TB, consumption, or “white death.” The NASPT adopted the Cross of Lorraine as their logo, a historical symbol in France used to rally soldiers together in times of conflict. Gilbert Sersiron, a French physician, recommended the cross to represent the “crusade” against tuberculosis. The NASPT advertised anti-spitting campaigns to fight the spread of tuberculosis in the early 20th century. Anti-spitting cards and public bulletin boards were posted to warn against tuberculosis and how spitting contributed to the spread. Women avoided wearing long dresses that would trail on the ground and collect spit since tuberculosis could survive in saliva for 24 hours. 

The NASPT started recruiting children in 1915 to sell anti-TB Christmas Seals. These stickers were posted on envelopes in addition to stamps to bring awareness to charities during the holiday season. The Crusade became an elementary school health program where students could rise through the “ranks” of squire, knight, knight banneret, and knight of the round table as they sold seals and followed the 11 rules of fighting tuberculosis. By 1919, there were roughly 3 million “crusaders” across the United States. In 1973, the NASPT changed its name and is now known as the American Lung Association. 

A black and white photo of a person sitting upright in a bed. On either side of the bed are two nuns who are looking at the person in the bed. Black text appears around the photo on a red background.

A blue and white illustration of a woman wearing a bonnet on a yellow background. A blue checkmark and text appears to the left of the illustration. 

In the fall of 1955, Standard Brands Incorporated, makers of Blue Bonnet Margarine, held a contest to elect “Blue Bonnet Sue’s Little Sister 1956.” Any person could send in as many entry ballots as they wished, checking the name of one of four little girls—not only would they decide which child would win the contest, but they would also be entered into a cash prize drawing.

In January of 1956 winners were announced. The title of Little Sister went to the daughter of an NYPD officer, Pat Boylan, 6. For her triumph Miss Boylan received $5,000 toward her future education. After drawing from more than 3,000,000 votes, the first prize of $10,000 was awarded to a woman in Texas, with additional prizes going to more than 3,000 voters. Among the winners: Miss Harriet Nesbitt, 4 years old, of Sewellton Kentucky, who won a cash prize of $500.

On a blue background appears an illustration of a cat sitting upright in a basket. Black text appears above the illustration.

The United Protestant Association (UPA) of New South Wales was established in 1938 by Thomas and Rosetta Agst in response to the lack of homes available for impoverished Protestant children. Before the Agsts established the UPA, the nearby Roman Catholic Convent had taken in the protestant children. A bitter division had formed between Catholics and Protestants and the Angsts felt the need to open a home specifically for the protestant children. Many of the children were British migrants affected by the war. Between 1950 to 1990, the UPA had housed over 3,000 children in thirteen UPA homes. As of the 1990s, the homes have been converted to aged care facilities as the cost of providing residential care to children had become too much.

The UPA sold buttons, or “Tinnies”, to help raise funds. The UPA offered a variety of colorful designs, Some featuring the faces of children, while others displayed animals and birds.

White text appears in a red circle. Around the circle, red text appears on a white background. An illustration of 3 tools appear above the red circle. 

The L.S. Starrett Co. is an 144 year old, American tool manufacturer. Laroy Sunderland Starrett always had a knack for making tools and is credited with patenting over 100 inventions including a meat chopper, washing machine, butter working machine, and a combination square that contained a steel rule with a sliding head. 

In 1880, Starrett opened a shop in Athol, MA for the purposes of manufacturing his combination square. From there, he began manufacturing other tools and marketing his company to international agencies. As time passed, Starrett opened more manufacturing plants in the United States as well as in many countries around the world.

Events in history affected the success of the company throughout time. The Great Depression took a toll on the profits throughout the 1930s. However, wartime proved profitable for the toolmaking industry and Starrett profited greatly from WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Starrett also made its presence known in the nonmilitary markets, providing affordable hand operated tools during times when power machinery and automation were expensive. As of 2024, the company continues to provide relevant items to an ever changing market.

Yellow text appears on a red background. 

New South Wales (N.S.W.) was the first state in Australia to establish a pension fund to support the sick and the elderly in the year 1900. When a nation-wide pension was established in 1908, it included the ill and elderly, but it targeted marginalized groups such as Asians and Aboriginal people for exclusion from receiving pension funds. During the Great Depression, many states decided to make a 20% funding cut for things like pensions and wages. This decision did not sit well with the struggling citizens, who advocated for a return to the higher pension wages pre-Depression, a raise in proportion with basic wages, and minimum levels of pensions, and formed the Old Age & Invalid Pensioners Association of Australia. 

Black text appears on a yellow background.

The game of marbles can be traced back to ancient times. Marbles made from many materials including clay, stone, porcelain, wood, metal, and glass have been found in Native American burial mounds, European caves, and in ancient Chinese sites. In more modern history, machine made marbles began being produced in 1901 in Ohio. By the 1920s, marbles had become so popular that “marbles slang” was popular amongst the “mibsters” (Marble shooters). In 1922, the first U.S. National Marbles Tournament was held. As of 2024, the tournament still takes place each year in Wildwood, NJ. Since 1922, children between the ages of seven to fourteen are able to compete for the championship.

In 1925, the Philadelphia Bulletin Newspaper hosted the marble champions for a special train ride from Philadelphia to Valley Forge, then to Atlantic City. There, the marble champions met the mayor, participated in a parade, and celebrated! It seems the Philadelphia Bulletin continued the tradition as this button is dated 1928.

An illustration of a young boy in a cap appears on a yellow background. Red text circles the illustration. 

Oscar Mayer’s Smokie Links were created in 1949 and discontinued in 2008. According to an ad at the time, these links were "good for just heating and eating at picnics or any meal at all!" Smokie Links were also sold at Wrigley Field during their circulation. While Oscar Mayer no longer makes the Smokie Links, they do make Smokies, which are a slightly larger sausage. A rival company took over production of Smokie Links at Wrigley Field in 2013.

The character on the button is a puppet named Sparkie, from the children's radio show Big Jon and Sparkie. The radio show ran from 1950-1958 and centered around Sparkie, an "elf from the land of make-believe" who acts just like a real boy.

On a yellow background an illustration of a man in a wheelchair operating a drill at a work station. Text appears above and below the illustration. Beside the illustration of the man appears three torches in a triangle. 

The Civilian Maimed and Limbless Association was an organization aimed at providing opportunities for the disabled. It was formed in Australia in 1949. Members began a workshop in which they were able to apply a trade in order to learn new skills and obtain wages. The group also conducted fund-raising activities and managed a physical headquarters at English Street in Camperdown, according to a 1955 article.