Constitutional Money No Inflation

Category
Additional Images
Sub Categories
Text on Button CONSTITUTIONAL MONEY NO INFLATION
Image Description

Yellow background, black smiley in middle with black block text along top and bottom edge

Back Style
The Shape
The Size
Additional Information

Constitutional money refers to what is described in the USA Constitution which states that the only legal tender for currency are gold and silver coins. Paper money cannot be used as a means to payback pre-existing debts. The government cannot simply print money on demand when needed as this causes inflation, the more money printed, the more taxes rise, the more prices in general rise.

The classic yellow smiley face is comprised of a yellow circle, two black dots for eyes, and a black arc ending in serifs for a mouth. It was designed in 1963 by commercial artist, Harvey Ross Ball. Ball was commissioned by The State Mutual Life Insurance Company to create a happy face to raise the morale of their employees. His version was created in 10 minutes. The design was printed onto more than 50 million buttons. Neither Ball nor the company copyrighted this smiley, so it was continually used by other businesses in their promotions.
The design and concept is quite simple and was definitely used before Ball’s 1963 version. However, his has become the most iconic. Variations have been used for advertising campaigns and in popular culture ever since.

Sources

About Harvey Ball. (n.d.). Retrieved September 12, 2020, from https://www.worldsmileday.com/index.php/article-index/item/380-about-ha…
Legal Tender Cases. (2020, February 25). Retrieved September 22, 2020, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_Tender_Cases

Catalog ID SM0026

Peace Sign Tree

Category
Additional Images
Sub Categories
Image Description

Green background with black peace sign made from a tree and its branches.

Curl Text ©1970 Horn Co., Phila., Pa., 19126:Environmental Teach-In, Wash., D.C. 20037
Back Style
The Shape
The Size
Year / Decade Made
Additional Information

The Environmental Teach-In was held April 22, 1970 as started by Wisconsin Senator, Gaylord Nelson (and a large crew of activists) in reaction to the Santa Barbara oil spill in 1969. Over 20 million people participated in this Teach-In (modeled after the Vietnam War Teach-Ins) and is now merged with what we celebrate as Earth Day. 

Catalog ID CA0015

Save A Watt

Category
Additional Images
Sub Categories
Text on Button save a watt (it's wise to conserve energy)
Image Description

Black text on white background

Back Style
The Shape
The Size
Year / Decade Made
Additional Information

This button supported Consolidated Edison of New York's energy-saving campaign from the 1970s. Energy companies tried to reduce the demand on their power plants by using existing technology and promoting conservation instead of simply buiiklding new plants. Con Editson's "Save a Watt" campaign was a part of this strategy aimed at electricity consumers, which continued through the oil crisis of the mid-1970s. Con Edison’s history as an electricity provider dates to 1882, when Thomas Edison's company supplied electricity to 59 customers in Manhattan.

Sources

Hirsh, Richard F. (1989). Technology and transformation in the American electric utility industry. Cambridge University Press; Cambridge, UK.

Catalog ID CA0045

Be Kind

Category
Additional Images
Sub Categories
Text on Button "BE KIND" / KIND / Kindness In Nature's Defense
Image Description

Red background with black text, raccoon graphic in middle

Back Style
The Shape
The Size
Additional Information

KIND, "Kindness In Nature's Defense", was a program created by the Humane Society of the United States for students. The program for children ages 6-10 was called the "KINDness Club", for ages 11-14 was "the Defenders" and ages 15-18 was "the EcoloKIND". Students received a membership card, newsletters ten times a year, stories, posters and this "badge".  The materials for the students covered ecological topics and animals welfare.

Sources

Williams County Humane Society (1974, November 7). Humane Happenings. The Bryan Times, p6.

Catalog ID CA0029

No Noise

Category
Additional Images
Text on Button NOISE
Image Description

White background with black text, red circle and line through text

Back Style
The Shape
The Size
Additional Information

Have info on this button? Contact us here.

Catalog ID CA0008

Organ Donors Recycle Themselves

Category
Additional Images
Sub Categories
Text on Button ORGAN DONORS RECYCLE THEMSELVES
Image Description

White image of a stick figure surrounded by a circular arrow with white text on a blue background. 

Back Style
The Shape
The Size
Additional Information

Organ donation is one of the greatest success stories in modern medicine, but the need for organs and tissue is always greater than the number available for transplantation. Over 117,000 men, women and children are waiting for an internal organ transplant in the United States. According to gorecycleyourself.com, an organ eye and tissue donor can save and enhance the lives of more than 50 people. Donators can register at their state online registry or local DMV. 

Catalog ID CA0051

Panther Squad

Category
Additional Images
Sub Categories
Text on Button Join the Panther Squad Lightning Video
Image Description

White text and a white illustration of a panther head on a black background

Curl Text Made in U.S.A. Creative House 60641
Back Style
The Shape
The Size
Year / Decade Made
The Manufacturer
Additional Information

Actress Sybil Danning starred as Ilona in the 1984 movie The Panther Squad. In the film directed by Pierre Chevalier Danning’s character leads a group of women known as the Panther Squad. The squad assists an international group called the New Organization of Nations, which is working to explore outer space. The environmental terrorist group Space Clean is focused on stopping that space exploration. When Space Clean abducts an astronaut, the New Organization of Nations sends the Panther Squad after the terrorists to rescue the hostage.  

Catalog ID EN0186

March on Washington Anti Vietnam

Category
Additional Images
Sub Categories
Image Description

Blue background with black illustration of U.S. Capitol building and white hand making a peace sign

Curl Text ©1969 Horn Co., Phila., Pa. 19126-New Mob. Comm., Wash., D.C.
Back Style
The Shape
The Size
Year / Decade Made
The Manufacturer
Additional Information

This button was made by the New Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam for a series of protests against the Vietnam war on November 13-15, 1969 in Washington D.C.  The organization was formed in Washington D.C. in 1967 to organize demonstrations against the Vietnam War.

Catalog ID CA0049

Kiss Me I Don't Smoke

Category
Additional Images
Sub Categories
Text on Button KISS ME I DON'T SMOKE / AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
Image Description

Black block letters on white background, green frog graphic with red lips in middle

Back Style
The Shape
The Size
Additional Information

From the American Cancer Society's anti-smoking campaign in the 1970s. In the late 1960s ACS aired it's first anti-smoking advertisement on television. Their campaign continues today, supporting people who wish to quit smoking by hosting an annual "smoke free 24 hours" the third Thursday in November each year. 

Catalog ID CA0024

Yellow Pattern

Category
Additional Images
Sub Categories
Image Description

Abstract pattern of black crisscrossing lines on a yellow background.

Back Style
The Shape
The Size
Year / Decade Made
Additional Information

This illustration is 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 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.

Catalog ID AR0022