White text with illustration to make the shape of a donkey on a green background

In 1976, Jimmy Carter won the democratic nomination and ran for president against incumbent President Ford. Carter’s political experience included a term as a senator in the 1960’s before becoming the governor of Georgia from 1971-1975. Gerald Ford, a Republican, had taken over as president after Nixon’s resignation in 1974 and many people were upset that Ford had pardoned Nixon, creating tensions. Carter ran as an underdog and Washington outsider, someone who would be a good change for America. Carter’s name is spelled to look like a donkey, the mascot of the Democratic Party. Many of Carter’s campaign materials were green to pay homage to his roots as a peanut farmer, which is a departure from the typical red, white, and blue color scheme of political memorabilia.

Photograph of Linda Ronstadt between a Democratic donkey symbol and the number 80 with black text on the top and bottom edges on a white background

Linda Ronstadt met Jerry Brown in 1971. At the time, he was California's Secretary of State, and her career in music had not yet made her famous. By 1975, Ronstadt's album "Heart Like a Wheel" was climbing the charts.  Brown announced his candidacy for President of the United States in March 1976. His bid for the presidency was unsuccessful, but in November 1979, he announced he would again seek the Democratic nomination in 1980. Ronstadt performed several benefit concerts for Brown, and the public began referring to her as the First Lady. Brown ended his campaign on April 1, 1980. Although the two were occasionally seen together in the early 1980s, they eventually parted ways.

Illustration of a red fez bearing the Shriner symbol with green text on the top and bottom edge on a white background

The Zamora Shrine Center is a Shriners International temple in Birmingham, Alabama. The Shriners International fraternal organization was established in 1870 and founded on Masonic principles. The Shrine Circus was founded in 1906. It now travels across the United States and Canada, holding performances as fundraisers for the organization.

White block text on black banner in the center with WLS AM 89 & FM 95 on the top left and a tongue sticking out of an open mouth on bottom right all on a white background

WLS (AM) and WLS (FM) are sister radio stations that still air today in Chicago, IL. While they were originally branded together as WLS AM & FM, recent years have given them their own identities. The pairing became known as, “The station for the concerts,” in the 1970’s when they innovatively began to broadcast live shows of bands. In 1981, the band, The Rolling Stones, was invited by the stations to perform a show for their “Tattoo You” album tour. This concert may have not happened without the influence of the stations.

Color illustration of a clown with black text on the top and bottom edge on a bright yellow background

This button is a souvenir from one of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey performances at Madison Square Garden and may have sported ribbons at one point. The circus has long been associated with this particular venue, as Barnum rented Cornelius Vanderbilt's old Madison Avenue railroad train sheds in 1874 to house his Monster Classical and Geological Hippodrome arena. The arena showcased chariot races, a museum, and a variety of performers. Vanderbilt repurchased the property in 1879 and christened it Madison Square Garden. On March 29, 1919, the arena hosted the inaugural performance of the combined Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey show, and the circus revisits this location every year.

Blue text and an illustration of a red spoked circle on a white background

On February 3, 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower established Law Day by issuing a proclamation to set aside one day a year to celebrate the U.S. legal system. Every president since then has issued an annual Law Day Proclamation. Law Day was originally the idea of American Bar Association President, Charles Rhyne. On April 7, 1961, Congress passed a Joint Resolution designating May 1 as Law Day (Title 36, Section 113, U.S. Code). Every year the ABA designates a theme to highlight an important issue related to the legal system and publishes an annual Law Day Planning Guide with lesson plans and ideas for classroom programs for law schools and colleges to implement.

Red text on white background with illustrated ice delivery man character wearing ice skates. 

The Ice Capades started in 1940 and were traveling acts which featured entertaining performances involving ice skating. Former Olympic and United States champion ice skaters were frequently showcased. "Icey the Ice Man" was an illustrated character of an ice-delivery man wearing ice skates. Icey appeared on collectibles such as felt pennants and was made into a doll that was available for purchase during the 1950s Ice Capades tours. Although the show went out of business around 1995, there have been continued attempts to revamp and revive the tours. The Ice Capades 75th Diamond Jubilee Celebration, a reunion of Ice Capades alumni and staff, took place in Las Vegas in 2015. 

Screened photo of topless Evelyn West inside a black circle outline with black text on the top and bottom edges on a white background

Evelyn “Treasure Chest” West worked as a burlesque dancer in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s.  Born Amy May Coomer, she initially worked in a sideshow at the Illinois State Fair. She began stripping in San Francisco, and she appeared in the film A Night at the Follies in 1947.  West insured her physical assets with Lloyds of London for $50,000.  In the 1980s, she pursued a career in comedy, saying she wanted to be comedy’s version of Dolly Parton.  West was living in Hollywood when she passed away on November 14, 2004, at age 83.

Gold blue and red symbol on a faded white background with blue text

The Annual National Council and General Reunion of the Knights of Columbus was held in Los Angeles, California from June 5-June 11, 1905. Twenty thousand Knights and their families from all over the United States and Canada were in attendance. Extravagant activities were planned the entire week, which included a reception at the Chamber of Commerce for the Supreme Knight and his delegates in which the Governor and other city dignitaries were in attendance. They also embarked on a pilgrimage to the Mission of San Juan Capistrano, where the mission bells were rung in their honor, and the Knights were treated to a Spanish barbeque at San Juan By-the-Sea. A high mass was officiated by Archbishop Riordan as well.

The Denver Council 539 was instituted in Colorado on November 18, 1900 and is the oldest in the Western U.S. The first Grand Knight was John H. Reddin (1900-1903). The current Council Hall was built at 1555 Grant Street in Denver in 1962. 

The Knights of Columbus, the world’s largest Catholic fraternal service organization was founded in 1882 in New Haven, Connecticut by Father Michael J. McGivney.

Brown illustration of a man's head wearing a hat with brown text above and below

In 1954, Walt Disney Studios released a series of live-action adventures films centered around folk hero Davy Crockett, played by Fess Parker. The series included: Davy Crockett Indian Fighter, Davy Crockett Goes to Congress, Davy Crockett King of the Wild Frontier, and Davy Crockett at the Alamo.

Davy Crockett, born in Tennessee, was an American politician, colonel, and folk hero from the 19th century. Crockett served in the militia in Tennessee before being elected to legislature in 1821. Following this election, Crockett became a member of the House of Representatives from 1827-1835, where he strongly opposed President Andrew Jackson's policies, especially the Indian Removal Act, and was part of the National Republican party, also known as the Anti-Jacksonian Party. 

Crockett was killed while fighting at the Battle of the Alamo in San Antonio Texas on March 1836 at the age of 49. After his death, Crockett gained a larger than life reputation due to plays, almanacs, and, in the 20th century, movies and television shows. because of this, he became known as the "King of the Wild Frontier" and an American folk hero.