Illustration of a red building with blue text crossing over the top on a white background. 

The building illustrated on this button is the Montgomery Ward Tower Building at 6 N. Michigan avenue in Chicago. It was known as the Montgomery Ward & Co. building and was built in 1899 by architect Richard E. Schmidt. The original 12-story tower building, at 394 feet high, was once the tallest building in Chicago at the time of its completion. 

Ward (Montgomery) & Co. was the world's first great mail-order retail company founded in Chicago in 1872 by Aaron Montgomery Ward, a New Jersey native who came to Chicago in 1866. The company opened its retail store in 1926 to compete with its main rivals Sears and Roebuck & Co.

An illustration of two faces outlined in blue looking forward and smiling. There is a white hammer and sickle symbol below the faces on a blue hill line at the bottom of the button. The text arches above the faces in a blue arch on the top of the button. There are three green, yellow, and red waves that are separated by white stripes below the two faces.

Organized in 1918, various youth organizations involved in the Russian Revolution banded together to create Komsomol.  Later children were recruited to join Komsomol (ages 14-28) and its counterparts, Young Pioneers (9-14) and Little Octobrists (9 and under), where they were taught to prioritize Communism above all else.  These groups provided politically driven education and recreation, conditioning children to be loyal and remain loyal to the socialist party while engaging members in healthy activities, sports, education, and various services and industrial projects in an effort to rebuild post-war Soviet Russia.  Under the direction of Stalin this vision shifted toward becoming an auxiliary arm of the Soviet State.  At its largest, during the 1970s, Komsomol had about 40 million members; about two-thirds of the present population of Russia is believed to have once been a member.  Following the collapse of communism in the Soviet Union, the Komsomol disbanded in 1991.

A black book with a guitar neck coming out of the top. The text is in white on the front of the book. The background is white.

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A black illustration of Cupid and some hearts below black text on a creme background. 

Armour and Company was founded in Chicago in 1867 by Philip Danforth Armour. It's success made Chicago a central meat packing location for the country, helping the city grow in prominence. 

This button is from the "breezy button" collection from Armour Star meat packing company. The buttons were included as a free gift in every package of Armour franks (hot dogs) during the 1950s. The collection had 24 buttons, each with a catchy, "breezy" slogan.

Red text on a yellow background. 

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Black text on white background

An Honorary Staff member, or Hon. Staff, refers to someone given a special role within an organization, event, or institution. This designation, often used historically for identification, recognition, or affiliation, was common at conventions, political events, parades, community gatherings, and fairs. It marked volunteers, aides, or individuals with honorary duties who were not part of the regular paid team, helping organizers quickly identify their helpers.

Black and white photograph of a man in a Shriners hat with a white banner across the bottom with dark text on it.

Shriners International is an international organization devoted to philanthropy, public service, and having fun.The full name of the organization is the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. All Shriners wear a fez with the Shriners emblem on it. In order to be eligible to become a Shriner, an individual must also be a Freemason. The Shriners are known for their philanthropy and fundraising abilities. To that that end, they sponsor the Shriners Hospitals for Children® which is a group of 22 hospitals that specialize in pediatric orthopedic care. 

A green triangle is positioned in the center with three white triangles touching each side. The background is red.

Part of a series of buttons that were distributed at the Park Place Gallery in New York, the first art gallery in SoHo. According to an Art in America article, they were given out during the opening show in 1966 and at a party for the Rolling Stones at the Scene discotheque. The buttons were designed by different artists including Dean Fleming, Tony Magar, Tamara Melcher, Patsy Krebs, and Steve Vasey. According to Fleming, the colorful geometric designs encourage the viewer to interpret the art in their own way.

Blue outer ring and red inner ring along the border of the button, red text on top with blue text on bottom on a white background.

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Black text on white background

An exhibitor is an individual who is officially presenting at an event, such as a trade show, convention, or fair, using a booth, table, or display. They are separate from regular attendees and typically have access to exhibit areas, sometimes with additional privileges, such as early setup. Exhibitors are usually able to answer questions about their work or products.