White text on a black background

Established in 1975, Donnelly/ Colt Progressive Resources creates materials for consciousness-raising and fundraising with the goal of creating a more peaceful world. The “Mean Corporations Sucks” button was created by Donnelly/ Colt for their own catalog in response to the slogan “Mean People Suck” circulating in the 1980s on t-shirts, buttons, and stickers. 

Many materials with the slogan “Mean Corporations Suck” have “Mean” stricken out by hardliner anti-corporation activists who aimed to make the statement inclusive of any corporation. 

The number on the button is the toll number for Corporate Accountability, an organization dedicated to enforcing ethical standards and responsibility in corporations. As of 2023, the number and organization are still active.

White background, brown text, and an illustration of a red flower with green stem

"Bread Not Bombs" is an anti-war sentiment that highlights the American government’s use of funds for war as opposed to food for its citizens. With the election of Ronald Reagan in 1981 and the continuation of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, the United States saw an increase of military spending, including an emphasis on updating the nuclear arsenal. Reagan's increase in the defense budget reflects his initiative to achieve "peace through strength." "Bread Not Bombs" brought attention to those who would benefit from government funding if focus was shifted to ending poverty and hunger instead of outproducing the Soviet Union in weaponry. 

White background with with a red rim, red diagonal line through the center, and white text around the rim. In the center of the button is a small black union bug and a black and white illustration of a skull wearing a cowboy hat and smoking a cigarette.

“Give the Marlboro Man the boot” is an often used slogan in numerous campaigns against the Marlboro cigarette brand and its company, Philip Morris International. For many years, activists have criticized the company’s marketing campaigns, particularly the use of the iconic Marlboro Man Cowboy who embodied the pinnacle of a strong, rugged man. Numerous men have played the Marlboro Man since the beginning of the campaign in 1954; since that time, several of those actors have died of lung-related diseases. 

In 1988, Philip Morris International (now known as Altria) acquired the Kraft Foods company, which it retained until 2007. During this period, campaigns against Marlboro and Philip Morris International called for a boycott of Kraft as well. 

Black text on a cream colored background with small black illustrated flowers on either side of the rim. In the center is an illustration of star shaped purple flowers with red centers and green stems and foliage. 

“National Flower Day” is an Australian holiday that takes place on September 14th.  This particular button likely comes from 1951’s National Flower Day, for which a parade was organized by the Silver Chain District to take place in the city of Perth.

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In August of 1903, Mr. D.M. Smith was elected as a book agent for the Methodist Publishing House in Nashville, Tennessee with Reverend Lamar, an Alabama Minister, as his assistant. Together they formed Smith & Lamar. They would publish 10 books with the M.E. Publishing House from 1903-1919, including the 1909 book Dreams and Realities by Lula Belle Corpier. 

It should be noted that no primary source connects Smith & Lamar to the 1917 Long Beach Assembly; however, Smith & Lamar is the only professional company active during 1917 with this name.  

The 1917 Long Beach Assembly was likely held in Long Beach, Mississippi. 

Black text on a white background with a black and white illustration in the center of a burro loaded with supplies

The phrase "Rocky Mountain Canary" came about as a reference to the loud brays made by burros—also known as donkeys—that were used by early prospectors in the American West to transport supplies and equipment. As the mining industry changed and declined over the course of the early twentieth century, burros began to be used in the timber industry. In addition, the sport of burro racing was developed in the 1930s as a way to help find a use for the over-populated animal. Burro races continue to be held: as of 2023, the Western Pack Burro Association holds races in five Colorado towns with mining histories during the summer season.   

Black text on a white background with a greyscale illustration of a boy with exaggerated features wearing a beanie and sash, both with lightening bolts. 

Steffen’s ice cream was sold in Wichita, Kansas. Nicholas Steffen established Steffen Bakery and Restaurant in 1882, the same year he arrived in Wichita. He partnered with W.H. Bretch to form the Steffen-Bretch Ice and Ice Cream Company in 1899. Steffen’s was purchased by Hiland Dairy in 1991, though the labels stayed combined until 1993 because the community was so loyal to Steffen’s brand. Community members not only knew their milkmen, but the close relationships with the people delivering their milk led to a loyalty to the dairies it came from. Hiland Dairy operates out of the Steffen’s milk processing plant to this day, producing upwards of 1,350,000 gallons of milk every month. 

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.

The Sparkie Club was a sponsorship and merchandising program related to the show. It involved companies paying for special promotions relating to the show so fans could mail in proof of purchase (for example, ten milk bottle caps or milk carton lids) to get a specifically branded Sparkie Club Button. Steffen's specifically is known as the most profitable campaign of its time. After their sponsorship went live in 1952, they sent out 15,000 buttons from 150,000 proofs of purchase. All the efforts accumulated $250,000, an astonishing amount for the time, especially from a kid's show advertisement.

Click here or here to find other Sparkie Club buttons. 

Color illustrations split the button into two halves: a man in a suit with curly brown hair on the left and a ship at sea on the right. Light brown rim with brown text on yellow banners on the top and bottom. 

The Hudson-Fulton Celebration was a two week-long event that occurred in late 1909 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the discovery of the Hudson River, as well as the 100th anniversary of Robert Fulton’s invention of the steamboat.  It took place along the Hudson River in New York, and many towns participated.

Black and white photograph on a blue background of a young girl wearing a pinafore and cap holding up an food item in each hand with white text above the photograph

Junket Desserts was founded in Denmark in 1874 by Christian Hansen, a chemist fascinated by the possibilities of rennet. In developing an American market, the company focused on the ability of rennet to make junket, a type of custard. In the early 20th century, Junket Desserts developed the character of Little Miss Junket. The little girl was shown holding delicious treats and urged consumers to "Have Some Junket!" She featured heavily in the company's advertising materials, including recipe books, magazines, and World Fair souvenirs.

Black text and rim on a gold background

The Uncle Gee Bee Kiddie Hour was a children's program that aired on WGBS, an early radio station started in 1924 to serve New York. WGBS originally broadcast from the Gimbels Department Store in Herald Square. The Kiddie Hour consisted of performers reading poems and stories and singing numbers including "Uncle Geebee's Kiddie Club Song."