Blue text and illustration of a three dimensional box with squiggly lines on either side on a purple background

This slogan is most commonly associated with the psychedelic drug LSD, but it is unknown where the quote actually originated. LSD played an important part in the 1960s counterculture movement. As use spread from research projects at universities to the street, LSD was credited with expanding the minds of young people who were disillusioned with the status quo.  One of the most well-known proponents of LSD was Dr. Timothy Leary, a Harvard psychology professor who believed that psychedelic drugs could treat a host of mental illnesses. Another figure closely associated with the drug was author Ken Kesey, who traveled the country with his friends (known as The Merry Pranksters) on a school bus as part of a social experiment.

Black text on a white background with a black and white portrait of a man with a mustache

Chaim Weizmann was a Zionist leader and an Israeli statesman who served as the first president of Israel. He was elected in February 1949 and served until his death in 1952. During his presidency, Weizmann convinced to United States to officially recognize Israel as a newly formed state. Before his political career began, Weizmann was a biochemist who developed the acetone-butanol-ethanol fermentation process, which was used by British industries during World War I.

Black text on bright orange background with black outer edge

On November 7, 1977 the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) charged the University of Pennsylvania in unfair labor practices concerning campus housekeeping. According to the NLRB, “the University tried to keep the Teamsters Union off campus, fired the workers largely for joining the Teamsters, and failed to bargain with the union in good faith” (Marquez, 1977, p.1). Approximately 200 people attended a meeting to develop a proposal of ideas, and concluded with a rally across campus. The protesters supported the 343 housekeepers who were fired by the University on August 4^th and were “replaced with workers from outside maintenance firms” (Marquez, 1977, p. 1).   

Marquez, Steven A. (1977, November 7). NLRB opinion charges U. with labor law violation. The Daily Pennsylvanian, p. 1. Retrieved from http://www.library.upenn.edu/docs/kislak/dp/1977/1977_11_07.pdf. 

Green text on a yellow background with an illustration of a marijuana leaf in the center.

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. 

White text on an orange background

Have info on this button? Contact us here.

White text on an orange background

A devoutly anti-communist fundamentalist group, the American Council of Christian Churches, produced this button in 1959 at the height of America's fear of communism. The group handed the buttons out at a rally held in Connie Mack Stadium, home of the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team until 1970.

The rally was organized in protest of Soviet statesman Nikita Khrushchev's controversial visit to the United States. Rally co-organizers included the American-Hungarian Federation, American Friends of the Anti-Bolshevik Block of Nations, and the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America. At the time, each of these groups was known for its anti-communist stance.

White text with red outlines and white lightening bolts coming out of the top and bottom on a blue background

The Whitehead and Hoag Company was founded by Chester Hoag and Benjamin Whitehead in 1892 with a focus on the manufacturing of advertising novelties. In time, the company expanded from ribbon badges to their patented pinback button. "United", a concept of like mindedness, is a brief statement button representative of labor unions.

Red text on a white background

The energy crisis that plagued the U.S. during the 1970s were most visible at the fuel pump due to the fact that the major industrial countries of the world faced substantial petroleum shortages and elevated prices. Events in the Middle East triggered the cease of oil exports to the U.S. for a brief time and electricity bills skyrocketed. President Nixon tried to urge the country to conserve resources and develop new sources of energy.  As energy prices increased and technological progress failed to mitigate the higher prices, customers quickly became disenchanted with the utility system. The average customer paid almost double in 1977 what they paid in 1969 for electricity. The slogan of “Turn off the lights!” was a call for conservation, both in energy and money.

Illustration of a yellow tree with green text on it on a green background

Forest conservation has been a serious and contentious topic for most of the United States’ history. Early colonists and frontiersmen discovered a vast range of timber from coast to coast, estimated to be around 950 million acres. Over-exploitation of this seemingly limitless resource led to increasing concerns by the late 1800s, especially due to rapid industrial forest clearing. Presidents Benjamin Harrison and Theodore Roosevelt set aside large tracts of public land for conservation, through the creation of the National Parks and National Forests systems. 

A new wave of conservation efforts began in the 20th century after the damaging effects of climate change were becoming apparent. In 1970, the Environmental Protection Agency was founded and the first Earth Day occurred; the holiday continues to be celebrated every year as a way to spread awareness about climate concerns. As of 2023, only approximately two-thirds of the forest lands originally documented by early colonists are left in the United States.

White text on a red background

Marijuana use has been a contentious topic in the United States since the early 20th century. Marijuana initially became popular among Mexican refugees and the Black jazz community from the 1910s to 1930s, and thus much of the government pushback was mired in racism. Despite new leniency and an explosion of popularity during the 1960s and 1970s, the War on Drugs in the 1980s heavily criminalized drug offenders, including those using marijuana. However, after research suggested positive benefits the drug had on patients impacted by cancer and AIDS, a major shift in public perception occurred. Some medications derived from marijuana are FDA approved for treatment of cancer, AIDS, and epilepsy.

As of 2023, marijuana laws in the U.S. are complicated: though it is still illegal federal, it is legal for both medical and recreational use in many states.