Hammond United Welfare

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Text on Button HAMMOND UNITED WELFARE I GAVE 1931
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A large red heart with white text inside it.  The heart sits inside a white circile and the circile is surrounded by a red ring with white text inside it. 

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Label Union

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It is unclear exactly what this button was used for, but it may be from Hammond, Indiana's United Welfare drive in 1931. The United Welfare organization was created in the 1920s, and stayed strong through the Great Depression and after. Despite popular belief, charities and community funds like the United Welfare organization were widely supported after the stock market crash of 1929 in the United States; Hammond's 1931 drive is part of this success. The drive was from November 9-14, and urged companies, other clubs, railroads, and individuals to donate money, which was then distributed to the charity of the donor's choice by the United Welfare. This particular drive was the most successful up to that point and raised $101,554.20.

Sources

Hammond Drive More than Success (1931, November 14). Hammond Lake County Times. p. 1.

Catalog ID CA0123

Good Roads Movement

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Text on Button GOOD ROADS
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Black text with a black shadow on a white circle. The circle has irregular shaped edges of a flesh toned color surrounding it. The circle and its edges are set against a light blue/white background. 

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The Good Roads Movement started in the 1880’s with the formation of the League of American Wheelmen who were bicycle enthusiasts and cycling club members that came together to promote bicycle touring. The organization soon expanded to include a national campaign for the construction of good roads to aid in smooth riding. The group held conventions and public demonstrations as well as published materials to promote the benefits of good roads and influence legislation. At the beginning of the twentieth century, as the automobile was developed and gained popularity, other organizations took over the movement for road development. However, the advocacy efforts of Good Roads Associations across America ultimately led to the National Highway System.

Catalog ID CA0110

Community Fund

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Text on Button COMMUNITY FUND I GAVE 1929
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An illustration of a heart sits in the center with a slash with going through it. The slash has large white text inside and above and below the  heart is red text. Everything is set against a white background. 

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GERAGHTY & COMPANY
G  Union Label
3035-37 W.LAKE ST.
CHICAGO. USA

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Community funds are independent charitable organizations that serve geographically defined territories. Their mission's are broadly defined and support development projects within the area. Due to the broad mission, individuals, businesses and other nonprofit groups often contribute to private institutions within the fund. 

This button does not specify which city this community fund this donation is from. but does specify which year. In 1929, the stock market crash launched the U.S. into the Great Depression. With an increase in federal government aid, private charities were no longer successful. This fund button shows the community's trust in more broad, community-wide charities. 

Sources

Wikipedia (2015 March, 15). Community foundation. Wikipedia: The free encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_foundation

Roberts, Russell (2008). The concise encyclopedia of economics: Charity. Library of Economics and Liberty. http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/Charity.html

Catalog ID CA0122

Vote California Dry

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Text on Button CALIFORNIA DRY VOTE YES
Image Description

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