Blue rim with white text around a black and white portrait photograph of Harold Washington

Harold Washington was the first African-American mayor of Chicago; he held the position from 1983-1987. A Chicagoan from birth, Washington served in the army during World War II, and later moved into a career in politics: first as a Chicago Alderman, then in the Illinois state congress in the 60s and 70s, and then as US Congressman in the 1980s where he fought to defend the Voting Rights Act, the Equal Rights Act, and became known for advocating for issues important to his Black and Latino constituents. He ran for and won election as Chicago mayor in 1983. In 1987 he ordered a design competition for a new central library in downtown Chicago, and though Washington passed away from a sudden heart attack in November 1987, the library was dedicated and named for him in 1991—one of many institutions in the city named for Mayor Washington. Considered a strong orator, the Chicago Public Library created a digital archive of his speeches that can be accessed online. 

Black and white graphic designed to look like the dial of a rotary telephone with black text on a white background in the center

Floyd Fithian was was a congressman who served the state of Indiana in the House of Representatives from 1975 to 1983. A Democrat who won the seat of Republican Earl Landgebe in the highly conservative area of Lafayette Indiana, he was reelected, serving a total of four terms. In addition to working as a congressman, he worked as a Purdue University professor, a farmer, and in politics as chief of staff for Illinois senator Paul Simon. He died June 27, 2003 in a nursing home at the age of 76.

Neon orange cat with googley eyes and green and yellow features hand-painted in relief

In 1961 John A. Kurtz received a scholarship to attend the School of the Art Institute in Chicago. After a stint in the Navy and an early career in photography, he turned to painting in 1968 and has continued since. Influences include comics such as George Herriman’s Krazy Kat and Walt Kelly’s Pogo, and Mad Magazine artists Wally Wood, Jack Davis, and Basil Wolverton. His colorful art continues to be displayed in galleries around Chicago.

Dark orange cat with red and yellow features hand-painted in relief

In 1961 John A. Kurtz received a scholarship to attend the School of the Art Institute in Chicago. After a stint in the Navy and an early career in photography, he turned to painting in 1968 and has continued since. Influences include comics such as George Herriman’s Krazy Kat and Walt Kelly’s Pogo, and Mad Magazine artists Wally Wood, Jack Davis, and Basil Wolverton. His colorful art continues to be displayed in galleries around Chicago.

Purple cat with red and yellow features hand-painted in relief

In 1961 John A. Kurtz received a scholarship to attend the School of the Art Institute in Chicago. After a stint in the Navy and an early career in photography, he turned to painting in 1968 and has continued since. Influences include comics such as George Herriman’s Krazy Kat and Walt Kelly’s Pogo, and Mad Magazine artists Wally Wood, Jack Davis, and Basil Wolverton. His colorful art continues to be displayed in galleries around Chicago.

Black text on a red background with an illustration of a deer in the center making the button a rebus, with the illustration meant to be read as part of the text 

The Conservation Federation of Missouri was formed in 1935, and originally called the Restoration and Conservation Federation of Missouri. Formed by state citizens, the purpose behind the organization was to generate citizen involvement in protecting wildlife in the state—not to curb hunters and fishers, but to keep that wildlife population sustainable. As of 2024, the organization is still in existence and partners with the Conservation Department of Missouri’s government on a program called Share The Harvest, which encourages hunters to donate deer they hunt so that the venison can be processed and donated to community members experiencing food insecurity and financial hardship. 

Black and white photograph of Richard Nixon on a white background with red text about and white text on a blue background below. A brown ribbon with tan text and a gray elephant fob are attached to the bottom. 

White text on a red background with a white illustration of a fox head in the center of the button

The Aurora Foxes were a baseball team established in 1915 to be a part of the newly formed Class D Bi-State League. The league was made up of teams from Illinois and Wisconsin, with the Foxes representing Aurora Illinois. Unfortunately the Bi-State League only lasted part of the season before folding, and the Foxes only played for 52 games before disbanding. The Foxes finished 4th out of the 6 teams in the league.

White text on a blue background with a small illustration of a computer hard drive above the text on the bottom of the button

Computerworld is a technology trade journal which has been in publication for over 50 years. In 1967 Patrick J. McGovern had the foresight to create a magazine to inform companies about the benefits of revolutionary new computing technology and how they could use it to grow their business. Computerworld continues to be “The Voice of Business Technology” as an online presence for a global audience today. (About Us)

Black text on a white background with a green rim; an illustration of three holly berries with green leaves is on the upper left-hand side.

Wieboldt’s was a chain of department stores founded in Chicago, Illinois. Its first storefront was opened by William Wieboldt in 1883. This location’s success led to a number of other locations opening throughout the 19th and 20th centuries in the Chicago area. The chain was one of many department stores in the country that sponsored The Cinnamon Bear radio program during the holiday season. The Cinnamon Bear began in 1937 as a children’s radio show centered on the adventures of a toy bear named Paddy O’Cinnamon before moving to a television format in the 1950s.