Illustration of Burleigh Grimes in profile wearing a blue cubs baseball hat, white shirt and white gloves with a band of yellow across the bottom with dark blue text on it and more blue text beneath it. The background is light green.

Burleigh Grimes was the last pitcher allowed to throw a spitball. This hot-headed Hall of Famer played for many teams, Pittsburg, New York, Brooklyn, St. Louis, Boston and Chicago (1932-33).

This button is part of the Orbit Gum baseball series, a 54-player set issued by Orbit Gum Company of Chicago starting in 1932. Orbit had a brand of gum known as “Tattoo” which issued the baseball series buttons.

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

White text on blue background.

Carter H. Harrison Sr. was a Democratic politician who served as mayor of Chicago for five terms, four of them consecutively. In 1891, he lost the mayoral election to Republican Hempstead Washburne. In 1893 he was assassinated by Eugene Patrick Prendergast. His son Carter H. Harrison Jr. also serve five terms as mayor of Chicago.

Donkey at top with red stripes. Red, white and blue button.

The Democratic Party of Cook County represents 50 wards in the city of Chicago and 30 townships of Cook County. It has dominated politics in Chicago since the 1930s.

Like all political machines, it relies on a tight organizational structure of ward committeemen and precinct captains to elect candidates. Political and social scientists and historians interpreting the political history of Chicago, Cook County, and Illinois in terms of machine politics focus on the shifting power relationships between diverse ethnic constituencies, on the spoils system, the role of public office in the personal enrichment of participants, and on cooperation between participants on the election and re-election of sympathetic candidates.

Red background (faded to pink) with white and black text. Exclamation point after "Chicago," white line below.

"Here's Chicago" may refer to an event planning organization in Chicago.

Black text on transparency.

Have info on this button? Contact us here.

White "1933" text on blue band above white "World's Fair" text in red band. Blue text "I Was There" situated on white background next to a blue illustration of the Earth rotating.

The 1933 World’s Fair, or Century of Progress International Exposition as it was officially known, was held in Chicago from 1933 to 1934 to celebrate the city's centennial. This was the second World's Fair hosted by Chicago and by the time it closed on October 31st, 1934 it had nearly 40 million visitors. The fair was held on 427 acres on Lake Michigan’s shoreline just south of Chicago’s downtown. The exposition focused on science and industrial development with a motto of “Science finds, Industry applies, Man adapts”. The fair boasted various technological innovations from the Sky Ride, an aerial tram, that transported fairgoers above the fairgrounds to the Homes of Tomorrow Exhibition that demonstrated modern home conveniences and new building materials. Another popular attraction was the Midway which had nightclubs and performers as well as various exhibits including freak shows, models of ethnic villages, and recreations of scenes from Chicago’s history.

Blue text between two blue horizontal lines. Blue text at bottom and union bug at top on white background.

Harry Olson was a lawyer and law professor who was outspoken about mental health issues which he believed to be inherited. He ran for mayor of Chicago in 1915 and 1919. He lost the Mayoral election to William Hale Thompson.

Photograph of a clown in a red and white checkered shirt, red suspenders and a yellow tie on a brownish yellow background.

"Cooky the Clown" was a recurring character on the TV show Bozo's Circus. He was played by Roy Thomas Brown, a puppeteer and television personality. The WGN-TV Chicago Bozo Show debuted in 1960 and continued until 2001. The character of Cooky existed on Bozo's Circus from 1968 until 1994.

Harold Washington signature on gold paper with Mayoral Campaign 1983 at the bottom edge. Union bug on curl.

Harold Washington was the first African-American mayor of Chicago from 1983-1987. It was a very close race: Washington had 37% of the vote, Jane Byrne had 33%, and future mayor Richard M. Daley had 30%. When Harold Washington won the election in 1983 he had gained 83% of the Hispanic vote. He died while working in his office and left quite a legacy around Chicago, including the main Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington University, Harold Washington Park and the Harold Washington Cultural Center. Prior to becoming mayor, he served in the Illinois Legislature as a state senator and state representative. He was also a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1981-1983. 

Photo of Harold Washington.

Harold Washington was the first African-American mayor of Chicago from 1983-1987. He died while working in his office and left quite a legacy around Chicago, including the main Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington University, Harold Washington Park and the Harold Washington Cultural Center. Prior to becoming mayor, he served in the Illinois Legislature as a state senator and state representative.  He was also a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1981-1983.