An Attempt To Communicate

An Attempt To Communicate Self Referential Button Museum
Category
Self Referential
Additional Images
An Attempt To Communicate button back Self Referential Button Museum
Text on Button This button is just an attempt to communicate
Image Description

Hot pink text on purple background.
Curl Text ©UUU 28 st. Marks PL NYC 10003
Back Style
Locking pin
The Shape
Circle
The Size
1 1/4 inch
Year / Decade Made
1960s
The Manufacturer
Underground Uplift Unlimited
Additional Information

Underground Uplift Unlimited (UUU) was an ephemera shop in the East Village run by Randy Wicker. They created and sold some of the most worn protest buttons of the 60s. 
Catalog ID SR0036

Button Power

Button Power Self Referential Button Museum
Category
Self Referential
Additional Images
Button Power button back Self Referential Button Museum
Sub Categories
Illustrations
Litho
Characters
Text on Button Button Power!
Image Description

Pink background with white lettering and an ecstatic, cross-eyed button with arms.
Curl Text Made in U.S.A. Creative House 60641
Back Style
Unlocking pin
The Shape
Circle
The Size
7/8 inch
Year / Decade Made
1970s
The Manufacturer
Creative House
Additional Information

The image on this item appears to be a smiley button personified with arms outstretched. 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, who was commissioned by The State Mutual Life Insurance Company to create a happy face to raise the morale of their employees. Neither Ball nor the company copyrighted this smiley, so it was continually used by other businesses in their promotions. It is a well-known button and has become a symbol in the button industry.

Creative House Productions Inc. originated in 1964 and was a design and manufacturing company based in Chicago, Illinois. It was responsible for the creation of many promotional comic pins found in gumball machines and Cracker Jack boxes. Creative House eventually created the brand PinMart, which became the first website to sell lapel pins. PinMart eventually outgrew its parent company and bought Creative House in 2008.
Sources

PinMart. (2020). About us. https://www.pinmart.com/about/
Catalog ID SR0031

A Button With No Message

A Button With No Message Self Referential Button Museum
Category
Self Referential
Ice Breakers
Humorous
Additional Images
A Button With No Message button back Self Referential Button Museum
Text on Button Don't you feel like a nut wearing a button with no message
Image Description

Black text on white background.
Back Style
Unlocking pin
The Shape
Circle
The Size
1 1/4 inch
Year / Decade Made
1960s
Additional Information

Since its modern creation in 1896 by Whitehead and Hoag, pin back buttons were used to spread messages, and to attract the attention of others; at times by declaring potentially controversial viewpoints to complete strangers. At the beginning, they were employed for political and ad campaigns for commercial products. Quickly they began to spread into other areas that included grassroot causes, activism, entertainment, music, humorous, ice breakers, self-referential, self-expressive, among other uses. 

The 1960s and 1970s were a prolific time for protest buttons, with examples espousing free speech, women’s rights, gay rights, sexual freedom, anti-war messages, and more. Buttons also provided the counterculture a fresh way to show off humor that expressed a less political and a more personally self-expressive point of view, as seen in this button. 
Sources

Carter, C. (2021, December 6). Message in a Button. JSTOR Daily. Retrieved from https://daily.jstor.org/message-in-a-button/ 

Carter, C. and Hake, T. (2020, November 20). The Pin-back Button Was A Place For Self Expression Before Social Media. AIGA. The Professional Association of Design. Retrieved from https://eyeondesign.aiga.org/the-pin-back-button-was-a-place-for-self-expression-before-social-media/ 

Oatman-Stanford, H. (2017, July 13). Pushing Buttons: In Our Divided America, Political Pinbacks Give Anyone a Voice. Collectors Weekly. Retrieved from https://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/political-pinbacks-give-anyone-a-voice/ 
Catalog ID SR0008

Ban Buttons

Ban Buttons Self Referential Button Museum
Category
Self Referential
Additional Images
Ban Buttons button back Self Referential Button Museum
Text on Button Ban Buttons
Image Description

Black text on yellow background.
Curl Text ©UUU 28 st. Marks PL NYC 10003
Back Style
Locking pin
The Shape
Circle
The Size
1 1/4 inch
Year / Decade Made
1960s
The Manufacturer
Underground Uplift Unlimited
Additional Information

Underground Uplift Unlimited (UUU) was an ephemera shop in the East Village run by Randy Wicker. They created and sold some of the most worn protest buttons of the 60s. 
Catalog ID SR0034
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