Red and blue text on a white background. Outline of a blue circle with North America continent with two hands shaking.

The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL–CIO) is an umbrella federation made up of 56 unions representing 12.5 million working men and women in the US.  It was formed in 1955 when the AFL and the CIO - previously bitter rivals - merged.

"Solidarity Forever" is a union anthem written by Ralph Chaplin in 1915 and sung to the tune of "John Brown's Body". Originally written for the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), other union movements, including the AFL-CIO, have adopted the song.

Green, orange and white monster with white text on black background. 

“Say Boo to Drugs” is a slogan often associated with Halloween events and Red Ribbon Week. Red Ribbon Week is a campaign that occurs every October to raise awareness for, and prevention of, the abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Many of the “Say Boo to Drugs” events are created as an alternative for children for Halloween. “Say Boo to Drugs” provides opportunities to reduce juvenile delinquency and abuse of alcohol and drugs during the Halloween season. 

Blue background with yellow layouts of the continents with white text

Be Here for the Cure is an advertising campaign designed by the Better World Advertising company. The company is comprised of artists, activists, marketers and individuals who are passionate about improving the world and effecting change. The company hopes to effect change by working with clients who support issues that they are passionate about. The Better World Advertising company offers support through public relations in the form of advertising in various interfaces. The Be Here for the Cure campaign was created for Billy DeFrank of the LGBT Center, San Francisco AIDS Foundation. The goal of the campaign was to encourage HIV-Positive individuals to seek early treatment. Not only were buttons made, but billboards, posters and t-shirts were also used to spread awareness. 

Black text on yellow background. 

Apartheid was a system of racial segregation enforced by the National Party government of South Africa from 1948 to 1994, in which black South Africans were disenfranchised and deprived of many rights, while white supremacy and Afrikaner rule was maintained. Apartheid sparked internal resistance as well as a trade and arms embargo against South Africa. 

Along with several other civil rights activists, the former president of South Africa and Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela is credited with dismantling the apartheid system by investigating human rights violations under apartheid; addressing racism, poverty, and inequality; and introducing education and economic development initiatives to the black community.

Blue large, capitalized, bold text on a white background.  Upper and lower portions of button are blue.

The "senior power" political movement emerged in the 1960s and '70s, spurred on by the Older Americans Act of 1965. Older adults formed local and national groups to lobby for increased Social Security, lower taxes, reduced rates on public transportation, and affordable housing. Some leading groups that used the "senior power" slogan were the National Council of Senior Citizens and the American Association of Retired Persons. Group members wore their "senior power" buttons to political conventions and local conferences or to the polls while voting. Some "senior power" buttons included the name of an organization or candidate; others simply featured the slogan.

Image of red-outlined star and blue streaks with blue and red text on white background. 

These buttons were given to participants in the March of Dimes’ Walk America.  WalkAmerica began in 1970 as the first charitable walking event, and in 2007 the event was changed to March for Babies.  The March of Dimes was founded in 1938 by Franklin D. Roosevelt during his U.S. Presidency as a nonprofit organization combating polio.  Polio is an incurable disease which enters through the central nervous system and most associated as a feared childhood disease in the U.S. during the 20th century.  The March of Dimes promotes advocacy, awareness, and research for polio and vaccination against polio.  This same logo can be seen on WalkAmerica merchandise specifically dated during 1983, including a photograph from that same year of legendary golfer and longtime March of Dimes Honorary Chairman Arnold Palmer with the late Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska (viewable to the public via the Ted Stevens Paper Project).

Bold white text on green background.

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Illustration of a stick figure child sitting on a star reading a book. Yellow stars and red and black text on blue background. 

Likely a promotional button for a school library or public library reading program for children. One example of these types of programs is the Central Kansas Library System's Summer Reading Program, which offers incentives for preschool and school age children to visit the library and to read. The program, which was started in 1977, focuses on reading for fun and improving children's literacy. 

Bold orange text above American Lung Association symbol on yellow background. 

“Yes, I mind if you smoke” was a phrase used in infomercials and on other promotional materials by the American Lung Association as a way of encouraging people to speak out against smoking. The American Lung Association is a volunteer-run health organization founded in 1904 with an aim to educate people about smoking and sharing research on the effects it has on lung health. 

Dark blue image of a stick figure jumping rope below dark blue text and American Heart Association logo on a yellow background. 

Jump Rope for Heart is a national education and fundraising event sponsored by the American Heart Association. Elementary and middle school kids can register for the event and learn jump rope skills, how their heart works and raise money to help children with heart conditions.