Green text in the center surrounded by illustrations of marijuana leaves with an outer green edge on a yellow background

Proposition 19, also known as the California Marijuana Initiative (CMI), was a ballot initiative on the November 7, 1972 statewide ballot. The official advocacy group for the initiative was “Yes on 19.” If passed, it would have revised California’s laws about marijuana, and would have made it so that no person 18 years of age or older could be punished in any way for growing, processing, transporting, or possessing marijuana. The initiative was defeated by 66.5%, with only 33.5% Yes votes. Supporters argued that the initiative would decriminalization personal use activities, but not legalize marijuana or encourage sales or use.  

Illustration of silouettes of people from baby to old age over purple text on a white background

Maggie Kuhn popularized the phrase " The best age is the age you are," while being an activist for age rights. Kuhn started a group known as the Gray Panthers, which was an advocacy group for the rights of the elderly. The group was founded after Kuhn was forced to retire at age 65 and met with other retirees to discuss injustices they faced. The original group name was Consultation of Older and Younger Adults for Social Change, but its current name was coined by a news anchor that compared them to the Black Panthers.

Black text on an orange backgroud

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Blue text, including the logo for the Coalition of Labor Union Women, on a white background

‘A Woman’s Place is in Her Union’ was the theme of the first biennial national conference of the Coalition of Labor Union Women, held in 1979. The Coalition of Labor Union Women was formed in March 1974 with the primary objective of developing programs within unions that addresses common challenges and concerns of working women. ‘A Woman’s Place is in Her Union’ continues to remain a popular slogan at labor rallies and conferences.

Green text on a bright orange background

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A purple illustration of the symbol for female with a fist in the middle on a white background

The Women’s Liberation Movement, commonly referred to as feminism, is a series social and political reforms on issues like domestic violence, reproductive rights, equal pay, and women’s suffrage. The history of feminism has been divided into three waves: First-wave feminism focused on middle- and upper-class white women through suffrage and political equality. Second-wave feminism focused on other social and cultural inequalities. Third-wave feminism addresses financial, social, and cultural inequalities and campaigns for greater influence of women in politics and media. The symbol itself, which calls for inclusion of women of color, consists of the astrological symbol for Venus and a clenched fist that was used in the 1960s by the black power movement.

Black text on a yellow background

A 1970s women’s movement button, probably in support of the Equal Rights Amendment. This slogan is also seen in vintage cross-stitch format.

Illustration of a "wild thing" in a yellow and darker yellow striped shirt with orange scaled legs and claw like hands and feet and horns on a light purple background with black text

The illustration on this button is from The Big Book of Peace (1990), which features 17 stories by well-known children’s authors. The book was written to encourage children to talk about and celebrate peace. This particular illustration was contributed by Maurice Sendak, author and illustrator of Where the Wild Things Are (1963).

Olive green text on a tan background over an olive green background with tan text

This slogan is a play on Robert Fulghum's quote, "It will be a great day when our schools get all the money they need and the air force has to hold a bake sale to buy a bomber.” Robert Fulghum is a minister and author of both fiction and nonfiction books. His quote was used on bumper stickers in the 1970s and 1980s by WILPF (Women's International League for Peace and Freedom). Both Fulghum's quote and this button make the point that the U.S. government puts more money into the military than education, but education is more important.

Blue text on a yellow background with an illustration of a red cross

In the New Testament, Matthew 24:3 states, “As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” This quote from the bible can be interpreted as the coming of the end of the world, as it is stated “the end of the age.”