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.

Blue text and image on a white background with a blue border.

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.”

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

Illustration of Susan B. Anthony over a tan background, with curled black text below. 

The image on the button is of an undated sketch drawing of the suffragette Susan B. Anthony. Anthony dedicated her life to fighting for causes such as abolition, labor rights, and equal pay for equal work. 

In 1906, on her 86th birthday, she travelled to Washington, D.C. to give what would be her final speech, in which she expressed hope for future feminist leaders and allies that would follow in her footsteps. Anthony is quoted as saying: “The fight must not cease; you must see that it does not. Failure is impossible.”

Sadly, two weeks later Susan B. Anthony became ill and passed away; she did not get to witness the passing of suffrage for women. However, those courageous inspiring words continue to carry on to this day and as a tribute to Susan B. Anthony, the Nineteenth Amendment (which guarantees the right to vote regardless of sex) was named the Susan B. Anthony Amendment. 

Line illustration of a man's face on the left, and text to the right. The lines, text, and rim are tan, while the background is black. 

Fido Dido is a character invented by Joanna Ferrone and Sue Rose in 1985. He first appeared in apparel worn by trendy New Yorkers. He was licensed by the Pepsi Company in 1987 and became the mascot for 7UP. Fido Dido appears in these advertisements as a young, cool dude who manipulates his sketched world in order to get the refreshing beverage.

Sticker Illustration of a smiling Snoopy over a tan backgrund. Above him is a red heart containing "HI!" and below him is black text. 

Snoopy is a beagle in Charles M. Schulz’ Peanuts. This well-known comic strip started in 1950 and continued until 2000, upon Schulz’ death. Snoopy is Charlie Brown’s dog and is often depicted as fun, imaginative, and somewhat unpredictable. He often creates fantasy stories about writing a novel, becoming an astronaut, and even flying planes.

Since the character’s creation in 1950, Snoopy has become one of the most easily recognizable canine figures in American pop culture and is loved by many.

Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy are riding in a sailboat. Two dolphins are jumping out of the water in front, while a larger ship is following behind. The sky consists of green and orange stripes. 

Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy make up four of Disney’s core crew of characters known as the “Sensational Six.” The four characters have been on many adventures together over the last several decades, but their most notable pirate adventure is from the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episode “Mickey’s Pirate Adventure” where Goofy is reunited with his long-lost grandfather, Captain Goof-Beard.  

Mickey Mouse has a long history with nautical adventures, with his first appearance in the 1928 animated film Steamboat Willie where Mickey is a lowly deckhand piloting a steamboat across a river.