Grey and red text with red lines above and below the text. Everything is set against a white background. 

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A scene with dark trees next to a body of water. The sun is just over the mountains in the background.

This button features a version of the Tom Thomson painting “The Jack Pine”. It was completed in 1917, the same year that Thomson died. Thomson was a famous and influential Canadian artist of the early 20th century. This painting is considered one of the most widely reproduced works of art from Canada and the Jack Pine as iconic of the Canadian landscape.

An illusration of a northwest coast salmon on a white background. 

The drawing is named "Skaagi," or more commonly known as "Haida Dog Salmon" by Canadian artist Bill Reid. Reid was born to an European father and a Haida mother. The Haida are indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest, situated in British Columbia, Canada. They are one of the First Nations in Canada. Reid explored his Haida cultural heritage and was deeply inspired by symbols and messages presented in Haida art.

The salmon is the main food source for the people of the Pacific Northwest, and the Haida people considered themselves "salmon people." According to legend, salmons are humans with eternal life. In springtime, the people dress in salmon disguises to feed the villagers and after consumption the villagers throw the skeleton back in the ocean, so the spirits would rise again and change back into human form. Therefore, the salmon is to be respected because it is both human and spirit.

Reid was a champion of the Haida people. He celebrated and defended his people by using his fame to support their land claims. He introduced the world to the art and people of the Pacific Northwest. 

An illustration of four jockeys riding hoses in different/several directions. 

Edgar Degas is a famous French artist who lived from 1834 – 1917. This work, Racehorses, was a work in progress from 1895 to 1899 and was made using pastels to paint. There are two other versions of this work that show variation in colors and details, but this particular version can be found at the National Gallery of Canada, in Ottawa, Ontario.

Photograph of one of Nick Cave's suits that is covered in red and yellow feathers on a white background. 

This is a button featuring a raffia "soundsuit" from Nick Cave's art exhibit, "Nick Cave: Meet me at the Center of the Earth." This was the first museum tour for the Chicago based artist; it started at the Seattle Art Museum March 10th, 2011. The exhibit included 50 soundsuits (wearable sculptures) made out of recycled materials, mixing the imaginary with reality and high fashion with African ceremony. The suits were put on display through dance and sound; dance performance artists wore them during the exhibit. 

Black text on a yellow background with an illustration of an airplane at the bottom.

Designed and built by the Howard Hughes’ Hughes Aircraft Company, the H-4 prototype flew its only flight on November 2, 1947.  The Spruce Goose was made of birch and spruce due to wartime restrictions on metals.  It was dubbed the “Spruce Goose” by the press.  It is currently housed at the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, Oregon. 

A blue illustration of Soldiers Field with a cross/heart/flower emblem is encircled by a blue oval between blue text on a white background. A ribbon with vertical black, red, white, blue, and yellow stripes hangs below the button.  

On June 28, 1926, the American Luther League of the Evangelical Lutheran Church conducted a celebration of the 150th birthday of the United States. Over 35,000 people attended patriotic exercises at Soldier Field, including singing national songs, flag drills, a 1,500 member choir performance, and speeches. 

The Luther League was a Lutheran religious association for young people in the United States, founded in New York City in 1888. The Luther League’s goal was to encourage young people to participate in Christian activities and foster loyalty to the church. 

Named as a memorial to American soldiers who have died in wars, Soldier Field was built in 1920 in Chicago and has been home to the NFL Chicago Bears since 1971, and also hosts large-scale events and concerts.

A woman in a dress, chest plate that has the words "I Will", and head piece stands between red text on a yellowed background. A brown ribbon hangs below the button featuring gold text and a gold shield depicting the Bible. 

The Chicago Coliseum was the premier indoor arena and convention center in Chicago from 1900 until the Chicago Stadium opened in 1929.  Located at 1513 S. Wabash Avenue, the Coliseum could house up to 12000 patrons at any given time.  The venue was closed in 1971 because it didn’t meet fire code standards and fell into disrepair.  It was demolished in 1982 and part of the Libby façade was donated to the Chicago History Museum.  The site is now occupied by the Soka Gakkai USA Cultural Center.  Coliseum Park, across the street serves as a commemorative space to the historic structure.

B.Y.P.U. was the Baptist Young People's Union. They held their 11th convention in Chicago July 25-28, 1901.

Black handwritten text with an illustration of suitcase on fire under it. Everything is set on a purple background. 

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Red text sits on a photographic background of a beer stain. 

Keep America Beautiful is an American non-profit organization that was founded in 1953. The organization's goals include litter prevention, recycling, waste reduction, and community beatification projects.  It works through community outreach, education, and volunteer efforts. The organization's first project attempted to reduce the amount of trash along the newly constructed interstates highways. It pursued the project through a national public service announcement (PSA) campaign. One of their best known PSAs is the crying indian who witnesses the litter and pollution of modern America. This button undoubtedly references the organization's PSAs in an attempt at humor.