Illustration of a blue and green tissue box on a red background with white letters.

Kleenex Brand tissues have a long history, developed by parent company Kimberly-Clark for a surprising original use: as filters inside soldiers’ gas masks during World War I! The innovative, crepe-like paper proved to be so useful that after the war, Kimberly-Clark began incorporating it into their consumer products. In the early 1920s, it was used in menstrual pads branded as Kotex. In 1924, a thinner and softer version of the material came onto the market specifically as a makeup remover. It wasn't until 1929, in response to reports that Kleenex was being used in place of a handkerchief, that the brand morphed into its now familiar form. 

Kleenex packaging has changed repeatedly over the decades to reflect changing trends and new features of the product; the one seen on this button is representative of Kleenex in 1932.  

See the Busy Button Museum’s other Kleenex packaging buttons from 1924, 1928, 1936, 1960, 1964, and 1968. 

Illustration of a tall box with green stripes and flower designs on a red background with white text. 

Kleenex Brand tissues have a long history, developed by parent company Kimberly-Clark for a surprising original use: as filters inside soldiers’ gas masks during World War I! The innovative, crepe-like paper proved to be so useful that after the war, Kimberly-Clark began incorporating it into their consumer products. In the early 1920s, it was used in menstrual pads branded as Kotex. In 1924, a thinner and softer version of the material came onto the market specifically as a makeup remover. It wasn't until 1929, in response to reports that Kleenex was being used in place of a handkerchief, that the brand morphed into its now familiar form. 

Kleenex packaging has changed repeatedly over the decades to reflect changing trends and new features of the product; the one seen on this button is representative of Kleenex in 1928. 

See the Busy Button Museum’s other Kleenex packaging buttons from 1924, 1932, 1936, 1960, 1964, and 1968. 

Illustration of a tan-colored box with a blue cross on a red background with white text. 

Kleenex Brand tissues have a long history, developed by parent company Kimberly-Clark for a surprising original use: as filters inside soldiers’ gas masks during World War I! The innovative, crepe-like paper proved to be so useful that after the war, Kimberly-Clark began incorporating it into their consumer products. In the early 1920s, it was used in menstrual pads branded as Kotex. In 1924, a thinner and softer version of the material came onto the market specifically as a makeup remover. It wasn't until 1929, in response to reports that Kleenex was being used in place of a handkerchief, that the brand morphed into its now familiar form. 

Kleenex packaging has changed repeatedly over the decades to reflect changing trends and new features of the product; the one seen on this button is representative of Kleenex in 1924. 

See the Busy Button Museum’s other Kleenex packaging buttons from 1928, 1932, 1936, 1960, 1964, and 1968. 

Cartoon illustration of a man with a moustache in a large hat and vest playing the fiddle, with blue text on a gold background. 

The Idaho Old Time Fiddler Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and perpetuating the practice of old-time fiddling, particularly among young people. The IOTFA holds regular events, including contests, “jam sessions”, and performances at places like hospitals and convalescent homes. The group also regularly meets to exchange fiddling techniques, either through live performance or recorded tapes. Experienced fiddlers are welcome to join, and novices are invited to reach out to those who are more experienced to be matched with an instructor. 

Cartoon illustration of a man in a bowler had smoking a cigar. Black text on a green background. 

In 1931, the Los Angeles Herald & Express was formed when two historic newspapers, the Los Angeles Daily Herald and the Los Angeles Evening Express, combined to become the largest evening newspaper in circulation on the West Coast. This button—featuring Moon Mullins, an early 20th century comic strip character, directing the owner to "Keep this Button!"—was an advertisement (and likely an entry) for a sweepstakes or contest. Touting “Cash Prizes,” readers were encouraged to check the comic pages of the Los Angeles Herald & Express daily to see if their button had the winning number. While the ad is lost to time, the sweepstakes was likely part of an effort to advertise the newly merged newspaper conglomerate and to bring in new readership.

Green text on a cream-colored background. 

Sweet Caporal Cigarettes were products of Kinney Bros. Tobacco, a company which formed in 1887 and was later merged into the American Tobacco Company of Canada, a company that at one point controlled approximately seventy-five percent of the national cigarette market.

Packs of Sweet Caporal cigarettes were known for including collectible cards, which ranged in topic from baseball players to actresses to World War II aircraft. These cards have since become rare collectibles and are highly sought after. 

The Sweet Caporal Brand was available for purchase for nearly 125 years, finally being discontinued in 2011.  

A green outline of a peace symbol, with black text in and around it on a cream-colored background.

Please contact us if you have more information.

Illustration of a cartoon bee with a chef's hat carrying a honeycomb. Red text on a white background. 

Have info on this button? Contact us here.

Stylized black and red text on a black background

For nearly 50 years, the eye-catching logo of WAAF 107 FM, a well-known Boston-area rock station, played a key role in shaping New England’s music scene, especially through its dedication to hard rock and heavy metal. Launched in 1968, the station quickly gained fame for its lively on-air personalities, wild antics, and for airing songs that more mainstream stations avoided. Its signature red-and-white logo set against a black background evokes the energetic, rebellious attitude that defined WAAF during the 1980s and 1990s.

WAAF became known for its edgy humor and sometimes controversial broadcasts, which won it both devoted listeners and some critics—especially when it came to content some claimed was sexist. A memorable rivalry with Boston rival WBCN culminated in a 1997 race to air Aerosmith’s Nine Lives album before its official release. Although WAAF went off the air in 2020 after being sold and its frequency switched to Christian programming, button memorabilia still serves as a reminder of the station’s lasting impact on Boston’s rock scene. The Educational Media Foundation purchased the station for $10.75 million in 2020. WAAF's rock programming remains available online and on its HD2 signals. 

Illustration of a log and black and orange text on a cream-colored background.

Hamilton Grammar School originally began as one-room schoolhouse in the parish of Hamlet, now Hamilton, Massachusetts. The school opened its doors to students in 1730 and served students aged nine and up; a primary school in the same building educated younger students. Though only boys were allowed to attend the school in its early years, by the end of the 18th century, the school was co-ed (though boys and girls had separate entrances). As the town expanded, so did the need for more schools and teachers. By the mid-19th century, the town built and opened three additional schools (named for their geographical location in town: South, North, and East). The button seen here was likely worn to show a student's affiliation with Hamilton Grammar School.