Sticker illustration of Ariel sitting underwater. The background consists of a green metallic sheen with bubble-like patterns, while the rim is white. 

Ariel is the protagonist of Disney's 1989 animated musical feature The Little Mermaid. The film is based on Hans Christian Andersen's 1837 tale of the same name. The story follows a mermaid who dreams about living on land. The Little Mermaid was revived as a live-action musical film in 2023, with actress Halle Bailey taking on the iconic role of Ariel.

Illustration of a frustrated Donald Duck with smoke coming out of his ears. To the left is black text, and the background is blue with green polka dots. 

Famous for his volatile temper, Donald Duck is one of Walt Disney’s most popular cartoon characters. Since his debut in The Wise Little Hen, on June 9, 1934, he has amassed a large fanbase spanning multiple generations. 

Although he has done plenty of solo work, many people associate the irascible duck with Mickey Mouse, Disney’s company mascot. He is often depicted alongside the Mickey Mouse crew, his girlfriend Daisy Duck, and his three mischievous nephews.

Black and white portrait of Adlai, with curved text below. The whole button has a reddish-brown tint to it. 

Adlai E. Stevenson was an American politician, former Governor of Illinois, and a Democratic nominee for President of the United States in 1952. 

Stevenson was raised in Bloomington, Illinois. During the 1930s he served in many different positions in the federal government, including at the Federal Alcohol Administration and the Department of the Navy. In 1945, Stevenson served on the committee that created the United Nations, and was a member of the initial United States delegation to the UN. In 1948, he was elected governor of Illinois and served until 1953. Stevenson lost his presidential bid to Dwight D. Eisenhower. 

Red text with a yellow outline on a blue background.

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Black text on a white background with a red and white checkerboard edge.

The phrase "ride a horse, leave my jackass alone" is a metaphor related to the Democratic Party and its critics. It jokes about the Democratic mascot, the donkey, originating from an ancient political insult. The saying suggests choosing a more honorable or better option ("riding a horse") and ignoring the "jackass." In 1828, presidential candidate Andrew Jackson (a Democrat) was called a "jackass" by his opponents. Jackson embraced the name and began using the jackass/donkey as his campaign symbol.

During World War II, U.S. soldiers experienced extreme hardship, physically and emotionally, resulting in desired moments of joy and distraction. These patriotic checkered buttons were produced to lighten the moods throughout the war. The collection's color scheme and checkerboard style were a way to express gratitude, yet it consisted of borderline risque catchphrases and humorous taglines, providing light-hearted amusement for those who wore these pins.

Blue text and illustration on a white background with a blue edge.

Johnson Smith & Company began in Chicago, Illinois in 1914 as a mail-order novelty and gag gift supplier, settling in Racine, Wisconsin in 1926. Johnson Smith & Co. or Johnson Smith Company sold an array of toys including pinback buttons with suggestive slogans meant as ice breakers.  Their 1929 catalogue touts, “These Buttons provide subjects for pleasant jokes and amusing conversations, and thus smooth the way to a more familiar acquaintance and cordial friendship. They are very wittily worded and quite unobjectionable. Wear one and see the effect.”

White text over a blue background. 

This anti-nuclear war button references the bombing of Hiroshima, where the atomic bomb was dropped on August 6, 1945. After the subsequent dropping of a second bomb on the city of Nagasaki, the Pacific leg of World War II between Japan and the United States ended with Emperor Hirohito’s surrender.

While there are not exact numbers for the loss of life during these atomic bombings, the estimated death toll of the Hiroshima bombing by the United States is 70,000 on the low end. Many people were completely incinerated on impact, making finding remains for the dead or identifying remains nearly impossible. After the bombings, the antinuclear movement rose. Many antinuclear organizations are still active in 2023. 

This pin seeks to persuade against the use of nuclear weaponry, as its existence means that events like those in Hiroshima are imminently repeatable.  

Tan text over a black background. 

“Pushing 40 is Exercise Enough” is a humorous joke about aging that's well-known in American pop culture. It relies on a double meaning: “pushing 40” signifies both nearing forty and physical effort, suggesting that simply growing older is already a workout. Often given as a gag gift for milestone birthdays, this self-deprecating humor about aging reflects the attitude of those reaching middle age, blending irony with laughter.

Russ Berrie and Company, Inc. was a well-known manufacturer of gift products, including stuffed animals, collectible figurines, and novelty mugs. Founded by Russell Berrie, the company experienced major growth after becoming publicly traded in the early 1980s. Over time, it was acquired by other firms and now continues to exist as a brand under a different parent company.

White text over a dark brown background. The text contains light brown specks and smears, mimicking coffee stains. 

In 1971, the National Women's Political Caucus was founded by a group of feminist pioneers to address the limited roles women held in public office. Instead of being constrained to addressing envelopes and serving coffee at political functions, this slogan encouraged women to seek more active roles in politics and elections by playing on those social expectations and stereotypes.

Click on https://buttonmuseum.org/buttons/women-make-policy-not-coffee-green or https://buttonmuseum.org/buttons/women-make-policy-not-coffee to see additional variations of this button also held by the Button Museum.

The four ninja turtles are peeking out of a sewer manhole, with city skyscrapers in the background. The above text is green except for "THE MOVIE" which is red. 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was a 1990 adaptation of the famous comic, cartoon, and video game series. It was critically panned, with Roger Ebert wryly asking "The plot? Do you care?" Still, the film was a wild commercial success, becoming the best-selling independent feature film at the time. This fun and inventive reinterpretation, best represented in Jim Henson's impressive turtle puppets, secured two sequels.