Black and white illustration with black text on top

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Black and white portrait photograph of a woman's head and shoulders

Photographic pinback buttons made with celluloid material were extremely popular from the late 1800s to the 1930s.  It was during the 1860s that photography became more available on the commercial market. Humphrey E. Copley of Connecticut sought a patent in 1861 to incorporate photographs onto buttons by utilizing a metal rim to hold the photograph in place. This technology coincided with the Civil War and mourners embraced the option of being able to wear visual representations of their loved ones. John Wesley Hyatt was an American inventor who received a patent for a product named celluloid in 1870. After refinement of the initial product, Hyatt’s celluloid became the first commercially profitable synthetic material. United States patent records reflect the usage of celluloid in making buttons with photographs in the late 1880s. In 1893 Benjamin S. Whitehead acquired a patent for using celluloid over the photo to protect the image. The increased availability of photography coupled with the ability of manufacturers to produce buttons inexpensively allowed the public to create a fashion fad out of the desire to have portable keepsakes.

Black and white portrait photograph of a man's head and shoulders. He has white hair and a long beard and is wearing a black suit

Photographic pinback buttons made with celluloid material were extremely popular from the late 1800s to the 1930s.  It was during the 1860s that photography became more available on the commercial market. Humphrey E. Copley of Connecticut sought a patent in 1861 to incorporate photographs onto buttons by utilizing a metal rim to hold the photograph in place. This technology coincided with the Civil War and mourners embraced the option of being able to wear visual representations of their loved ones. John Wesley Hyatt was an American inventor who received a patent for a product named celluloid in 1870. After refinement of the initial product, Hyatt’s celluloid became the first commercially profitable synthetic material. United States patent records reflect the usage of celluloid in making buttons with photographs in the late 1880s. In 1893 Benjamin S. Whitehead acquired a patent for using celluloid over the photo to protect the image. The increased availability of photography coupled with the ability of manufacturers to produce buttons inexpensively allowed the public to create a fashion fad out of the desire to have portable keepsakes.  

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Illustration of a woman's face and short hairstyle on fabric

Tillie the Toiler was a comic strip that ran from 1921 to 1959. It was created by Russ Westover and Bob Gustfson. Originally conceived as "Rose of the Office" they changed the name to Tillie the Toiler after the main character, a secretary and part-time model named Tillie. Tillie worked for a fashion mogul named J. Simpkins, and her trademark was her impeccable fashion sense, always in the latest fashions.

Blue text with a yellow orange and red outer edge and white text ona pink red and yellow background

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Black and white text on a pink background with a white and red outer edge

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Blue text on a white background

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Pink and blue background with pink and blue text

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Purple and white text on a pink background

“OFFICIAL GENIUS” humorously mocks credentials. It resembles a seal with “OFFICIAL,” but the large, shaky “GENIUS” and bright colors make it clear it's meant as a joke. Essentially, it’s a self-made badge—part brag, part playful joke—that works well as an icebreaker or gag gift in classrooms, workplaces, or geeky settings. How it’s perceived depends on the delivery. It can come off as campy and friendly or as a slightly arrogant boast. It satirizes the idea that “genius” is something only gatekeepers can grant, turning that status into cheerful kitsch you can wear. Since the design focuses on fun rather than seriousness, most see it as confident, self-aware humor rather than a real claim.

Light blue text on a black background

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