A green illustration of a streaking man on a white background encircled by green text and a green border. 

The term “streaking” was first used in 1973 and was coined during a mass nude run at the university of Maryland. Though the act of streaking had been popular since the mid-1960's, the name streaking had not emerged as the favorite term immediately. Streaking is different than nudism and flashing because streaking is to draw attention and be noticed by an audience, not as a lifestyle or to shock a victim. Streaking hit its prime in 1974 as there were thousands of streaking events took place and there was in influx of novelty created such as buttons, patches, t-shirts, etc. to cash in on the fad. March of 1974 also saw what is still considered the largest streaking event on record; 1543 people streaked at the University of Georgia as they stripped down and went for a jog.

Read more about the History of Streaking Buttons on the Busy Beaver blog.

Illustration of a hand close-up, holding onto a subway strap with subway car windows in the background. White ring around outer edge of the button with red text.

The Strap Hangers League was started in Chicago by streetcar passengers around the year 1903. An article in the San Francisco Call, on March 5, 1903, explains that a few men initially created the league as a joke. The men wanted to start a movement for all fare-paying customers to have a seat on the streetcars. Although initially a joke the league quickly grew in members and spread to other cities such as New York. Buttons were created throughout the life of the league so that league members could demonstrate their membership. It appears that later on in the history of the league the membership was concerned with receiving better services. A small advertisement in The News of Des Moines, Iowa, on July 21, 1920, explained that the United Strap Hangers of Toledo were selling buttons to raise funds for better services on streetcars. 

An illustration of two clamps and a combination square cream in color. The text is cream and the background is red.

Starrett Tools was founded in 1880, in Athol, Massachusetts, by Laroy S. Starrett after he invented the Combination Square (1877) and he needed a company to manufacture it. The company makes a line of precision measuring tools including micrometers, and calipers. The company also makes other tools including levels, electronic gages, and a variety of custom engineered products. In addition to their measurement tools, the company manufactures saws and power tools. Starrett Tools employs around 1800 people worldwide and their tools continue to be used by various manufactures and companies. Their products are synonymous with quality and the company continues to be successful and respected by its customers. Starrett also maintains a blog where people can go and read about products, new and old, with anecdotal information and videos.

3/4 of the button is blue and the bottom 1/4 is red. In the blue portion there is a upward facing red rocket ship.

This button is a piece of merchandise that ties in the the popular 1950s television show Space Patrol. The show began in 1950 and ran for a little over five season. By the end of Space Patrol's run it was constantly ranked in the top ten television shows of the time. The show was so popular that ABC aired a weekly 30 minute program and lesser local stations aired 15 minute programs either daily or weekly. 

Since it appealed to such a wide audience and  fell in the science fiction genre, it was the first large experiment with a 3-D television broadcast. While the show had overtones of Cold War ideology, it set the stage for future shows such as Star Trek and is considered an innovator in the genre. Being largely popular among younger generations, kids could become members of the Space Patrol Club, and proudly wear the button shown here. 

A crossword puzzle with eleven word options and only one down is completed. The text colors are black, the word spaces are grey, and the background is white.

Columbia Records, an American recording label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, is the oldest brand name in recorded sound.  Founded in 1887, they were the first record company to produce recorded records as opposed to blank phonograph cylinders.  Colombia Records is one of Sony Music’s three flagship record labels along with Epic Records and RCA Records.

Encircled photograph of a man next to a radio microphone with the letters WMCA on it with a white outer edge with brown text in it.

Radio station WMCA began AM broadcasting in NYC around 1925. Typical programming of the day included music news, drama and variety shows, promotions and, of course, advertising. The radio, considered by some as the Internet of the 30s, was an important communication tool in America. In 1930 forty percent of all households owned one - by 1940 that number more than doubled.  

Black and white photograph of Walter Schoeneck in the center with two oval-shaped images on each side (a little girl on the left and a little boy on the right) on a yellow background. Black text is on the top and lower portions with red capitalized text in the center just beneath the images.

A Chicago company, Sinbac Shoes, sponsored a children’s radio program where Walter Schoeneck, known as “Uncle Bob Wilson”, would read bedtime stories and sing children's songs. He was also president of the Sinbac Radio Club. Mr. Schoeneck passed away in 1936.

The top three words are written in block letters, the next word is in cursive text, and the bottom text is smaller. The text is white and the background is blue.

In 1969, when Diamonair was founded, Cartier commissioned the simulated diamond manufacturer to replicate Elizabeth Taylor's 69.42 carat diamond to wear when she traveled, which was given to her by Sir Richard Burton. "Liz Loves It" refers to Elizabeth Taylor loving Diamonair's replica of her ring, which helped make Diamonair popular. 

Diamonair's simulated diamonds and other semi-precious stones are paired with fine metals such as white gold, yellow gold, and platinum, to create their luxury line of jewelry that is sold in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or on Diamonair's website. 

The word "eyes" is enlarged and there is a pupil in each of the rounded parts of the "e" letters. A black sawtoothed border surrounds the black words on the white background.

The Simoniz Company came about in the early twentieth century almost in tandem with automobiles. The company was initially called Simons Manufacturing Company and their two products were Simons Cleaner and Simons Paste Wax, created for car finishes. By 1912, the company, which had been founded by George Simons and Elmer Rich, was taken over fully by Elmer and his brother, R.J. Rich. The company’s name changed to Simoniz Company and was located at 2121 Michigan Avenue in Chicago. Over the years, the company has taken on more products, such as floor waxes, during the 1940s and 1950s. The company was also known for their combination wash and wax products for vehicles. A commercial for this combination product from the 1960s was endorsed by the Three Stooges. 

Blue border around the button and yellow bubble text on a pink background. 

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