Red and white illustration of the state of Wisconsin with black text over it on a white background

In 1985, Wisconsin state Senator John Plewa proposed a contest to update the vehicle license plates issued by the state, saying "'Ugly and boring license plates should not be accepted as a fact of life.'' One of the five finalists in the contest was the image and slogan on this button: a red illustration of the state of Wisconsin with the words "We Like it Here".

Wisconsin Governor Anthony Earl suggested the slogan "Eat Cheese and Die", which was rejected by the selection committee. The ultimate winner was the slogan "America's Dairyland" featuring images of a sailboat and sunset, a farmhouse and flying geese. Although the slogan and image of this button did not make it onto Wisconsin license plates, it has been used on other memorabilia and souvenirs. 

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World War II started in Europe in September 1939 when Germany invaded Poland. “V for Victory” came from Victor de Laveleye, a Belgian refugee, in January 1941. He broadcast that the letter V should become a resistance emblem standing for “Victoire,” victory in French. It also conveniently worked for “Vrijeid”, freedom in Dutch, and “Viktoria”, victory in German. People began scrawling V graffiti across occupied countries. Someone realized that the Morse Code symbol for V, dot dot dot dash, is the same rhythm as Beethoven's Fifth Symphony and the music became part of the victory movement. Winston Churchill publicly made the V symbol with his right hand. He spoke on the radio in June 1941 stating, ”The V sign is the symbol of the unconquerable will of the occupied territories and a portent of the fate awaiting Nazi tyranny. So long as the peoples continue to refuse all collaboration with the invader it is sure that his cause will perish and that Europe will be liberated.” America didn’t enter the war until December 8, 1941, but “V for Victory” was so pervasive that it was printed on envelopes and stationary in August, five months earlier. After the U.S. entered the war, the victory was reached, and this inspired airmail between military personnel and their relatives back home to become colloquially titled V-Mail.

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During the Progressive Era in the U.S., it was common for elementary schools to sign a contract with a local bank for a "school savings program", in which students brought a small amount of money to class each week. The teacher then deposited that money in a savings account for the student that could not be accessed until a certain amount of money, such as two dollars, had been saved. The system was a part of the school banking initiative started by J. H. Thiry in 1885 in New York as a way of encouraging "thrift," or saving money, in the younger generation. By 1914, the school savings idea was gaining popularity with over half of all Illinois students also making deposits. The "100% room" on this button may indicate that it was given as a reward to a classroom where every pupil participated in the program, though this is not certain.

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To help finance the costs associated with WWI, the U.S. Treasury instituted four Liberty Loan drives during the war, and a fifth “Victory Loan” in May, 1919 to consolidate the nation’s debt after the armistice was signed.  Everyone from Wall Street bankers to Boy Scouts campaigned to sell bonds, and rallies were held featuring Hollywood stars such as Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin.

Purchasing bonds was seen as a display of support for the war, and purchasers were given buttons to wear and window stickers to display to advertise their patriotism.  It is estimated that twenty-million individuals purchased liberty bonds.

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Used during the 1940 presidential campaign of Wendell Willkie, this button refers to the a controversy surrounding President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's family. In 1940, Roosevelt's son Elliot had enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps. He was quickly given the rank of Captain while bypassing the standard procedure necessary for receiving the title. The topic soon became a controversial issue amongst the American public at the time. Willkie's supporters distributed this button as an attack on Roosevelt and the perceived special treatment that his family was receiving.

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This button was worn to support striking workers at General Electric during the 1960’s and 1970’s. It most likely dates from either the 1960 or 1969-1970 nationwide strikes led by the United Electrical Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) and the International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine, and Furniture Workers (IUE). The successful 103-day strike of 1969-1970 ended the company’s policy of “Boulwarism” (named after General Electric executive Lemuel Boulware); a "take-it-or-leave-it" style of bargaining that was anathema to the unions.

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Victoriano Huerta was the dictatorial president of Mexico from 1913 to 1914. His iron-handed rule caused several revolutionary forces to oppose him. Woodrow Wilson was a newly elected President of the United States, who was brought into the conflict because of American business interests in Mexico. Wilson attempted to persuade Huerta to step down and permit the holding of free elections. After negotiations with Huerta broke down, Wilson openly supported the Constitutionalists rebels and headlines around the country read “Huerta Must Go.”  When it seemed the rebels were not going to be able to regain control, Wilson sent U.S. troops to occupy Veracruz to cut off Huerta’s supplies. Huerta resigned on July 15, 1914 and fled to Spain. He came to the United States in 1915 and was arrested on charges of fomenting rebellion in Mexico. He died in custody at Fort Bliss Army Base.

Illustration of two American flags with blue and red text on a white background

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Red text on a white outer edge with a blue inner circle with white Chinese characters and a white triangle with red text

The China War Relief Association of America (CWRAA) was an organization that organized fundraising and war relief efforts throughout the Chinese Communities in America to support China’s struggles against Japan. It was formally established in 1937 under the leadership of a prominent Chinese community leader Bing Shun Fong. At its height, the organization was the largest China war relief organization in the United States with 47 branch associations across more than 300 cities. The organization primarily raised funds by placing collection boxes at the Chinese businesses and organizations. They also sponsored ticket sales to social events, such as auctions, variety shows, fashion shows, etc. One of the most successful fundraising events were the Rice Bowl Festivals held in San Francisco and New York. In San Francisco, attendees of the festival were asked to buy buttons for fifty cents as a way of supporting the relief efforts.