Vote California Dry

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Text on Button CALIFORNIA DRY VOTE YES
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Blue text in a white circle surrounded by a blue ring with white text inside it. 

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THE WHITEHEAD & HOAG CO.
BUTTONS.
BADGES.
NOVELTIES AND SIGNS 
(Not clear)
NEWARK N.J.

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In 1916, two propositions appeared on the ballot in California to prohibit alcohol in the state of California. Proposition 1, if it had been approved, would have prohibited the manufacture, sale, gift or transportation of intoxicating liquors, except for "medicinal, sacramental, scientific and mechanical" purposes. Proposition 2 would have defined liquor, and then prohibited its use. Neither of these propositions were passed.

Catalog ID CA0120

French Red Cross December 6 1918

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Text on Button FRENCH RED CROSS. DEC.6-1918
Image Description

An illustration of a WW1 era biplane flying with a blue sky serving as a background to the illustration. Curved white text sits below the plane. 

Curl Text ATKINSON & CO MAKERS-ADELAIDF
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The image is of a Nieuport 24, a French biplane designed by Navy engineer Gustave Delage. The model came off the assembly line in 1917. It was widely used in combat during World War I, known for its maneuverability and speed. The Nieuport 24 was also used by the English and Russian forces and flew various missions. 

Catalog ID EV0093

Young Socialist Alliance

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Text on Button End racist attacks in Boston! Young Socialist Alliance
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Large yellow text and small white text on a black background. The white text sits below the yellow text.

Curl Text BOX 471-COOPER STATION-NEW YORK, N.Y. 10003 N.G. SLATER CORP., N.Y.C. 11 APL C10 Local UNION MADE
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The button refers to the so-called "Boston Busing Massacre" in 1974 and 1975.  In June 1974, judge Arthur W. Garrity ruled that Boston's African-American children had been denied the right of an education equal to that of Anglo children.  He ordered an immediate integration of Boston Public Schools within eleven weeks. Garrity's attempt to institute school integration was viewed as destroying insular communities, such as South Boston and Charlestown. Thousands of Anglos took to the streets to block buses, conduct anti-war type sit-ins, and claimed their rights had been infringed upon by the integration.  

The Young Socialist Alliance (YSA) (1960-1992) was the youth faction of the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) (1938- ).  Both the SWP and YSA adhered to Trotskyism. Trotskyism held that class-conscious members of proletariat had an obligation to education less-conscious members about "the struggle" through democratic measures. One example of this, is the YSA's use of the free press to discuss their views on Boston and race in the November 1975 issue of YSA Discussion Bulletin.

Catalog ID CA0108

Women Are Not Livestock

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Text on Button ACLU of Illinois women (still) are not LIVESTOCK
Image Description

Photograph of a sheep's face

Curl Text aclu-il.ora
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This button, and the slogan that "Women (still) are not livestock" came about in response legislative actions. House Bill 4117 sponsored by Rep. Thomas Morrison would limit women's access in Illinois to contraceptives and other resources for reproductive health. The slogan relates to the fact that HB 4117 and other women's reproductive health related bills are heard by the Agricultural and Conservation Committee and not a health care based committee. 

 

Executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Illinois, Colleen K. Connell, said "This is simple - women are not livestock and our health care should not be treated as politics".

 

As a whole the ACLU was established in 1920 to protect immigrants under political prosecution. The Illinois chapter of the ACLU was established in 1946 and since then has been active throughout the state. One of the most recent major cases in which the Illinois ACLU engaged in was ACLU V. Alvzrez in which the ACLU challenged the adoption of a new law that would prosecute individuals who record public police conversations.

Catalog ID CA0098

War Fund Campaigner

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Text on Button 2nd WAR FUND CAMPAIGNER
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A red cross site inside a white box with black edges.  There is aslo black text inside the box and large red text below it. Everything is set against a red background. 

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This button refers to the 2nd fundraising effort by the Red Cross in 1918 during WWI. The first having taken place in 1917. The Red Cross went to great lengths to advertise in all mediums during this time to reach people. Their efforts resulted in about $250 million dollars in contributions.

Catalog ID CL0366

Solar Employs Nuclear Destroys

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Text on Button SOLAR EMPLOYS NUCLEAR DESTROYS
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Red text on a yellow background sits near the top and yellow text on a green background sits near the bottom. 

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Anti-nuclear items including this one have been featured as a part of an exhibition in 1986 conducted by the Victorian Government for the 1986 International Year of Peace. The exhibition was entitled "Peace: an Exhibition" and it set out to explore and educate others about the peace movement as well as nuclear disarmament.

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Catalog ID CA0119

Socialist Workers Party

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Text on Button VOTE SOCIALIST WORKERS PARTY
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Black text on an orange background. 

Curl Text N.Y. OFFICE-706 BROADWAY 8th FL. NYC 10003 212-982-4966
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The Socialist Workers Party (SWP) (1938- ) has run a candidate for US President in every election since 1948. In 2012, James Harris and Maura DeLuca were the SWP's candidates for president and vice president, respectively. They received slightly over four thousand votes. The SWP received its highest vote total in the 1976 election with over ninety-six thousand votes. The SWP adheres to Trotskyism, which holds that class-conscious members of proletariat have an obligation to education less-conscious members about "the struggle of the working class" through democratic measures. They often do this via the free press. 

Catalog ID CA0106

Smokey's Helper

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Text on Button I'm Smokey's Helper
Image Description

An illustration of Smokey the bear holding a stick in his right hand with a bird on it. Black text sits above Smokey. An illustration of trees and a mountain serve as the background image.  

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Smokey the Bear was first introduced in 1944 as a cartoon to advertise the dangers of forest fires. The first slogan used by Smokey the Bear was “Smokey Says—Care Will Prevent 9 out of 10 Forest Fires.” The most famous and recognizable slogan “Only YOU Can Prevent Forest Fires” was introduced in 1947. Smokey the Bear was created by the art critic Harold Rosenberg and is used by the United States Forest Service, the National Association of State Foresters, and the Ad Council. With men away at war there was a lack of able-bodied men to fight fires. The campaign was created in the hopes that in educating communities about the dangers of forest fires they would be prevented. 

Catalog ID CA0093

Fight Against SB 1070

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Text on Button HOW BROWN IS TOO BROWN? Fight Against SB 1070
Image Description

White, yellow, and red text on a background made of pixels of various shades of brown.

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SB 1070 is also known as Arizona Senate Bill 1070 or the Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act. When the bill was enacted in 2010, it was the strictest piece of immigration legislation in United States history. The law requires all aliens over the age of 14 to register with the government, and at all times carry registration papers with them or be charged with a federal misdemeanor. One provision in SB 1070 gives law enforcement officers the ability to stop and check an individuals immigration status if they have 'reasonable suspicion' that the individual is an alien.

Despite minor changes by House Bill 2162, the law went into effect in 2010. Since it has been active there have been numerous protests, but Arizona and the United States have shown in polls to favor the bill overall. In 2012, the United States Supreme Court reviewed the bill and upheld the 'reasonable suspicion' portion but struck down three other minor sections.

Catalog ID CA0102

San Quentin Six

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Text on Button SAN QUENTIN SIX
Image Description

An illustration of six handcuffed hands raised as fists with black text on a yellow background. 

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On August 21, 1971 six prisoners attempted an escape from the San Quentin penitentiary, located north of San Francisco, California. The attempt resulted in a riot and the death of 6 people. The San Quentin Six were made up of Fleeta Drumgo, David Johnson, Hugo Pinell, Johnny Spain, Luis Talamantez and Willie Tate. Supposedly the escape took place after George Jackson’s attorney Stephen Bingham smuggled him in a handgun in a briefcase. The trial for the six inmates lasted sixteen months and was called “The Longest Trial” by Time magazine. Of the six inmates that were involved in the escape attempt, three were acquitted and the other three were charged. According to the Miami News, October 17, 1980, the Supreme Court rules that John Larry Spain and Hugo Pinell “drew additional life terms” and Johnson was granted probation. Pinell and Spain were both convicted of murder while Johnson was convicted of assault. 

Catalog ID CA0092