Four black and white stripes with contrasting text with the image of a trolley toward the top and the union seal at the bottom.

The Amalgamated Association of Street and Electric Railway Employees of America union was founded in September of 1892. The union was intended to represent employees of the transit industry and be international, initially focusing on the east coast of the United States and Canada. The objectives of the union included settlement of disputes with management, securing fair compensation and good working conditions also education for workers. Although the union participated in strikes by the start of the 20^th century the union became much more militant in its efforts. During these strikes the public and small business often sympathized with the streetcar employees. Nowadays the Amalgamated Transit Union is the largest labor organization representing transit workers in the United States and Canada. The union has over 190,000 members across 46 states and 9 provinces. The ATU represents operators of buses, vans, subway trains, and light rail. Additionally clerks, baggage handlers, maintenance workers and others are also represented by ATU. There are currently 220 local unions in North America with Chicago being Division 241. 

A black and white photograph of a smiling, young boy surrounded by white text on a black background.

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Stereotypical Indian in chief's headdress on ivory circle on an olive background with circular, ivory font. 

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A white star shape with alien antennae behind indigo B-52's logo and text at top and bottom on a magenta background.

Established in October of 1976 by Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson, Keith Strickland, and siblings Cindy Wilson and Ricky Wilson, B-52 is a party band originating in Athens, GA. It is named after Southern slang for exaggerated ‘bouffant’ hairdos. One of their original members, Ricky Wilson passed away from AIDS in 1985. His sister, Cindy Wilson left the band in 1990. The band continued to produce music until they hit a lull in the 90s. They did not release a new album until 16 years later in 2008. Cindy Wilson later rejoined the band after her departure. Three of the five original members of the band still tour today. 

Black text with a red airplane above a white white shield on a red background.

This button is for the radio show Speed Gibson of the International Secret Police, which ran from January 1937 to May 1940. Created by Virginia Cooke, the weekly show chronicled the adventures of a 15-year-old pilot who becomes a member of the International Secret Police (the ISP on the button). The first 100 episodes followed Speed as he pursued Octopus and his gang in Asia. In the next 78 shows, Speed continued to hunt for Octopus in Africa. All but one of the program's sponsors were bread makers, who issued collectible buttons to promote the show.

An animated child in a red witch's hat traces an image of a horse and rider which is being projected downward from a camera on a tripod in front of him, an outer navy blue circle contains white text.

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A black and white photograph of an open-mouthed, wide-eyed clown with a painted face; a white outer circle contains red text.

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A green and drooling ogre in fancy dress on a white circle within a blue outer circle with yellow text.

EERIE magazine was a black and white horror comics magazine created in 1966 by Warren Publishing. This button was part of a "Cousin Eerie Fan Club" package available from Warren Publishing's "Captain Company" mail order division (it also came with a fan club card). An example of the magazine advertisement for the fan club can be seen here: http://necronomicondelostemplarios.blogspot.com/2011/06/los-clubes-de-fans-de-warren-publishing.html and here is another example in the pages of an issue of EERIE magazine on Google Books: http://books.google.com/books?id=eoSkbuWxnCgC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA19#v=onepage&q&f=false

The character on the button is called Cousin Eerie and was created by Jack Davis an american illustrator known for advertising art, magazine covers, film posters and comic book stories. He was one of the founding cartoonists for Mad Magazine.

Blue text on a white background.

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At center, an art deco, keystone shape with a forested sunrise image in the center above union acronym, a green circle surrounds, all on a silver background.

The International Woodworkers of America is an industrial workers union for lumbermen, sawmill workers, timber transportation and others that was founded in 1937. The union spread into Canada, and by 1946 it was the largest union in Canada. During its peak in the 1970's the IWA had 115,000 members. Membership began to decline in the 1980's due to environmental concerns, which limited the lumber industry, as well as anti-union employment policies. In 1987 the Canadian branch separated from the American branch and took on a new name, the Industrial, Wood and Allied Workers of Canada until 2004 when it merged with the United Steelworkers. In 1994 the American branch of the IWA was down to just 20,000 members. Knowing it was no longer viable, the IWA merged with the International Association of Machinists.