Illustration of an American flag and blue text on a white background

The Selective Service Act was passed by Congress on May 18, 1917 and authorized the President of the United States to increase military numbers through mandatory enlistment. All men aged 21 to 30 years of age were required to register for military service for a period of 12 months. District boards oversaw local boards, which were established for each county (or similar division) in each state. There were three registrations during World War I, the first of which was held on the date listed on this button, June 5, 1917. As Chilton, Wisconsin is located in Calumet County, a registrant with this button would have received either roll number W16 (for surnames beginning with A-K) or W17 (for surnames beginning with L-Z). 

Black text on white background, black-and-white illustration of a New Salem village store. 

The New Salem State Park is a reconstruction of the village of New Salem in Illinois where President Abraham Lincoln lived from 1831 to 1837. The land was purchased by newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst and given to the Old Salem Chautauqua Association in 1906. In 1919, the land was gifted to the state of Illinois and later rebuilt by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. The historic site features log cabins and shops, representing the time period when Lincoln resided there. One of the buildings is the Berry-Lincoln store, owned by Lincoln and William F. Berry. Although Lincoln enjoyed working as a shopkeeper, selling lard, bacon, firearms, beeswax, honey and liquor, the business failed, leaving him with a great deal of debt. Located 20 miles northwest of Springfield, Illinois, New Salem was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and is open to the public for tours of the village, hiking and camping. 

Blue, red and white text on a red and white background 

On January 30, 1942, a ball was held for President Franklin Roosevelt’s Diamond Jubilee Birthday at the Union Club Building on Hudson and Sixth Streets, Hoboken, New Jersey. A similar event was held in other cities and towns around on the country. Fifty percent of the proceeds of the ball were donated to the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, also known as the March of Dimes. Cost for attendance was one dollar. Roosevelt, a polio sufferer himself, was a strong supporter of the organization and close friend of its long-time president, Basil O’Connor.

In 1955 the FDA approved a polio vaccine developed by Jonas Salk, a March of Dimes, grantee. The vaccine eradicated the disease in just a few years. In 1958 at a press conference held in the grand ballroom of New York’s Waldorf-Astoria, Basil O’Connor announced the March of Dimes new mission was the prevention of birth defects. 

White text on blue background, with illustration of the globe and periodic table of the elements displayed at the Museum of Science and Industry. 

One of the exhibits in Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry's Regenstein Hall of Chemistry is an enormous (30' x 5') Periodic Table of the Elements. Examples of many of the elements are displayed along with a list of their uses, and visitors may push a button to hear Tom Lehrer's 1959 song "The Elements" while they explore the exhibit. 

The Museum of Science and Industry was established with the help of Sears, Roebuck and Company president Julius Rosenwald to convert the Palace of Fine Arts in 1926. The first opening ceremony of the museum was during the Century of Progress International Exposition, a World's Fair held in 1933, with a theme of "technological innovation". 

Blue text and an illustration of a blue flag with a red square in the upper left corner and a moon and star shape on top on a white background

Johor is a state of Malaysia that joined the Federation of Malaya in 1948 and gained independence in 1957. The Johor state flag is a symbol that encompasses the people, the monarchy, and the state government. The white moon and star represent the religion of Islam and the sultanate of Johor, the red of the flag represents the heroism of the Johor people, and the dark blue of the flag represents the universal nature of the state government.

Black and white photograph of a man's head and shoulders wearing a hat and suit on a white background with a maroon ribbon with white text and a gold donkey fob.

January 20, 1965 was the second inauguration of Lyndon B. Johnson as President of the United States, the first being aboard Air Force One following President Kennedy's assassination. This marked Johnson's second term, as well as his first full term as President. The event held the record for highest attended inauguration until President Obama's 2009 inauguration. 

Blue text on a yellow background with a blue star on the right and left sides of the Kollander logo

Kollander World Travel is a travel agency in Cleveland, Ohio. Started in 1923 by August Kollander, Sr., the business first catered to European immigrants who were traveling by steamship to their home countries. Kollander found great success in creating special heritage tours and escorted tours, specializing in travel to Central Europe (Croatia and Slovenia in particular), throughout its existence. Over the years, the company has planned group tours to other destinations such as Australia, China and South Africa. Today, Kollander World Travel still offers pilgrimage and guided tours, as well as cruises and city stays. 

Illustration of two flags and blue text on a white background

This button was issued prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor and symbolizes the alliance between the United States and Canada.  It was produced to commemorate the November 11, 1941, dedication of the International Peace Monument at Belle Isle Park in Detroit, Michigan.  The monument itself is a bench.  The back of the bench displays an eagle with 13 stars to represent the United States, and a crown and lion representing Canada.

Two black and white photographs of men's heads on white circles on a red background with an illustration of the Capitol building, blue text on a white bottom edge and red text on a white ribbon illustration across the top.

January 20, 1957 was the date of the 43^rd inaugural ceremony of the United States, during which Dwight D. Einsenhower was sworn in as President, with Richard Nixon as Vice President. “Ike” and “Dick” were the respective nicknames of both men. People who attended the inauguration were likely given these buttons with ribbons corresponding with their home state. 

Blue illustration of a firework on top of a blue, white and red background with white and red text

In 1947, the Des Plaines, IL, Fire Department put on a 4th of July fireworks show. The Des Plaines Post of the American Legion held a Summer Festival at Rand Park that year, running from July 1st-July 6th, which climaxed with a ticket holder winning a 1947 Ford Super DeLuxe Convertible Coupe. The fireworks show was part of these festivities. Other nightly awards from the festival included 21 Jewl Lord Elgin wrist watches, 7 tube Majestic phonographic radio combos, GE electric blankets, a “Mus-alarm” radio clock, Schwinn bicycle, and many more prizes.