Illustration of a skeleton walking with an exaggerated footstep, and a yellow half moon over an orange background. Black text is curved along the top. 

The oldest written record of the phrase “trick-or-treat” dates back to a 1917 newspaper from Ontario, Canada. It is believed that trick-or-treating, as we know it today, began in Ontario, where children dressed in costumes would go from house to house and ask for food or money while saying “trick-or-treat.”

However, the origins of trick-or-treating date back further to an 1800s Scottish and Irish tradition called guising. As part of this tradition, children would dress up in disguises and would go door-to-door asking for cakes, fruit, or money. Similar to jack-o-lanterns, they would carry carved out turnips or other root vegetables as makeshift lanterns to light their way. 

This tradition of guising goes back even further to the Celtic festival of Samhain, a pagan celebration that marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. It was believed that during this time the veil between the world and the afterlife was at its thinnest, allowing the souls of the dead to briefly pass over. To appease the souls of the dead, people would leave out food and drinks. Some would also disguise themselves as the dead to hide from malevolent spirits.  

Red and yellow text over a black background. "Partners FOR" is red, while "reproductive justice" is yellow. 

IPAS Partners for Reproductive Justice is a nonprofit organization that has worked for over 50 years to provide reproductive justice around the world. The organization advocates for a comprehensive approach to ensuring contraception for all and building sustainable abortion ecosystems. These ecosystems are built around health knowledge, social and community support, training healthcare workers, and more. By supporting communities around the world in five different continents, IPAS' goal is to ensure that everybody has the right to reproductive freedom and high-quality safe access to abortion care and contraception.

Minimalist white drawing of a face with big eyes and spiked hair over a black background, with white text at the bottom right. 

SPOO Printing is an independent merchandise company located in Jersey City, New Jersey. Screen printing became part of streetwear fashion during the 1980s, allowing independent artists to create unique characters and designs on the cheap. From the 1980s to the early 1990s, SPOO merchandise was sold at street fairs and flea markets in New York City. As of 2024, SPOO continues to produce custom screen printed shirts and other merchandise. 

Pink and yellow flowers spring out of a red and yellow shoe marked with a peace symbol, over a tan backround. Blue text is curved along the top and bottom. 

The phrase "War is not healthy for children and other living things" was a quote first coined by artist Lorraine Schneider in opposition to the Vietnam War.  This particular pin was created by Stewart Edward "Stew" Albert of the Youth International Party.  Called the "Yippies" for short, the Youth International Party was part of the radical anti-war movement of the late 1960s.

White text over a black background. At the bottom right is an hourglass filled with red sand. 

Both the quote and design on this button are by contemporary art designer Maigen Elske.  This particular design is a color lithograph found in the online collection at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Illustration of The Simpsons family over a pink background in the center, and a green one along the rim. Text is on the top and bottom right. 

The Simpsons is one of the longest running shows in American television and has released over 30 seasons since it’s debut in 1989. The show revolves around an animated family living in the fictional city of Springfield where they experience the common—and sometimes not so common!—struggles of the average American family. 

As of 2023, the show is still on the air and has amassed many accolades including 35 Emmy’s, 34 Annie Awards, and 7 People’s Choice Awards.

Brown text over a black background. Behind the text are abstract golden shapes of a couple dancing. 

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White text over a blue background. 

Lowell Palmer Weicker Jr. is an American politician who served the state of Connecticut in both the United States Senate and the House of Representatives, He was also the 85th Governor of Connecticut. 

Weicker was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1970—perhaps with some help from buttons like this, which were created for his campaign. Weicker, a Republican, made a name for himself when serving on the Senate Watergate Committee as the first Republican to call for the resignation of then-President Richard Nixon. 

Weicker left the Republican Party in 1990 and was successfully elected Governor of Connecticut as a third-party candidate that year—one of the few third party candidates to have been elected to a state governorship in the United States. He served one term and did not seek re-elected in 1994. 

Illustration of Porky Pig's head over a red spiral background. At the bottom is white curved text. 

Porky Pig is a popular animated character and member of Warner Brother’s Looney Tunes. He made his first appearance in "I Haven't Got a Hat" in 1935 and has since been in over 150 cartoons. Known for his shy demeanor and stuttering speech, Porky Pig is often depicted alongside other members of the Looney Tunes group, such as Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny.

A color illustration of an underwater goldfish and cat holding its breath in a goldfish bowl on a white background with black text.

The word “BREATHLESS” captures the playful joke of a cat sitting underwater in a fishbowl, literally out of breath as it watches the fish. This button was made by Thought Factory, a company that produced humorous novelty pin-back buttons during the 1980s. Their designs usually featured witty slogans, as well as illustrated animals. Thought Factory collectibles are still sold on eBay, reflecting the ongoing interest in the funny and lighthearted style of novelty buttons from that period.