Natural Bridge

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Text on Button Natural Bridge Va
Image Description

Black text on brown, blue, and green illustration of a natural rock formation.  The rock arch is covered with grass with blue sky visible through the center. 

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Natural Bridge is both a Virginia Historic Landmark and a National Historic Landmark in Rockbridge County, Virginia. In the span of thousands of years, Cedar Creek, a tributary of the James River, carved out a gorge in the limestone terrain, leaving a natural arch with a length of 215 ft. and a span of 90 ft. Consisting of horizontal limestone strata, Natural Bridge was once a cave or tunnel from which the Cedar Creek flowed through. The Native American Monocan tribe considered Natural Bridge to be sacred—the site where Monocans defeated pursuing Powhatans in an epic battle, hundreds of years before the first white settlements in Jamestown. 

Catalog ID EV0066

Lacqueret Class of 1907

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Text on Button LACQUERET CLASS 1907
Image Description

Red text on white background. Illustration of a person with curly blonde hair wearing a very fancy blue outfit and hat holding a paint brush in left hand and paint in right hand.

Back Paper / Back Info

LACQUERET MAKES OLD FURNITURE, FLOORS, AND  [...]WORK [.....] OOK LIK[...] STANDARD VARNISH WORKS,  NEW YORK,  [...]DON, CHICAGO

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Standard Varnish Works had a line of 'lacqueret' products. More commonly referred to as 'lacquer' in the 21st century, 'lacqueret' gave a "lustrous finish" to woodwork. In the early 20th century many American consumers could have bought this product at any local store selling paints or varnishes.

The girl pictured on the button is 'Little Miss Lacqueret.' She had been a part of the children's book oftentimes accompanying the product, entitled, "Little Miss Lacqueret's Drawing Book." Similarly, another pamphlet, "The Daisy Decorator," offered individuals 'helpful hints' for the use of their product.  

Catalog ID CL0484

La Fiesta De Los Angeles

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Text on Button LA FIESTA DE LOS ANGELES 1897
Image Description

Image of a smiling women with flowing black hair wearing a red dress and mask. Green lettering around the edge with yellow background at the top of the design.

 

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Montgomery...Jewellers Los Angeles Cal Copyrighted W.&H. Co. Patent July 17, 1894 April 14, 1896 July 21, 189X

Curl Text Copyright 1897 Charles Strong Walton Los Angeles Cal.
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"La Fiesta de Los Angeles" which began on April 10, 1894, was a four day festival that the city threw in its own honor celebrating its many different cultures. It continued throughout the 1890s. The event featured parades, floats, many flowers, athletic competitions, a costume ball, and carnival attended by masked revelers. It was conceived of by a local business man as a way to attract tourism at a time when the effects of the 1893 depression were being felt.

This button is from the rendition of it that was held April 20-24, 1897. 

Catalog ID EV0038

L.A. County Fair

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Text on Button L.A. COUNTY FAIR POMONA, CALIF.
Image Description

Multi-color illustration of a well-dressed pig waving and holding a box with black text. Edge has yellow lines highlighting the image on a white background.

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The first Los Angeles County Fair was held for five days in October in 1922. Each of the 49,461 attendees paid 50 cents for entry. The fair has since lengthened and moved into September. The fair didn’t run from 1942 through 1947 when the grounds were used by the United States Army during World War II. In 1948 when the fair reopened, Thummer the pig was introduced as its first official mascot. He was named through a contest and his outstretched hoof is thought to make it look like he is hitchhiking to the fair. Two other mascots have since joined Thummer. Daisy the cow debuted in 2003, and Lilly the lamb was introduced in 2004.

Catalog ID EV0003

Martin Luther King Day

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Text on Button KING DAY - JAN. 15th
Image Description

White button with black text.

Curl Text N.G. SLATER CORP., N.Y.C. 11 AFL CIO LOCAL 64
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On November 2, 1983, President Ronal Reagan signed a bill, proposed by Rep. Katie Hall of Indiana, creating a federal holiday to honor Martin Luther King Jr.  The holiday was first observed on January 20, 1986 and is observed on the third Monday of every January to commemorate MLK's birthday (January 15th).

Sources

"Ronald Reagan: Remarks on Signing the Bill Making the Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., a National Holiday."The American Presidency Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2013. <http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=40708&gt;.

Catalog ID EV0007

Junior Key Fun

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Text on Button JUNIOR KEY FUN ST. PAUL WINTER CARNIVAL 1951
Image Description

White text on blue background surrounding a white and red illustration of a woman twirling a baton and leaning on a St. Paul Winter Carnival sign. Button has a silver bell attached to the bottom.

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"The St. Paul Winter Carnival, a city-wide festival featuring a week of parades, ice sculptures, sporting events, and other outdoor activities, was begun in 1885 as the St. Paul Ice Palace Winter Carnival Association. The first carnivals were held 1886-1888 and 1896. They were revived in 1916 and 1917. Beginning again in 1937, they continued through 1942, resuming on a permanent basis in 1946."

Sources

St. Paul Winter Carnival Association: An Inventory of Its Association Records. (n.d.). Collection Finding Aids. Retrieved January 28, 2013, from http://www.mnhs.org/library/findaids/00205.xml

Catalog ID EV0018

Hudson Fulton Celebration

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Text on Button Hudson-Fulton Celebration Robert Fulton Clermont 1609-1909
Image Description

Button with two illustrations surrounded by gold border and two yellow banners.  Illustration on the left is of Robert Fulton against a red, white and blue background.  Illustration on the right is of the Clermont ship sailing on the ocean.

 

Back Paper / Back Info

W.F.Miller 158 Park Row New York

Extent Applied for

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The Hudson-Fulton Celebration in 1909 commemorated Henry Hudson's discovery of the Hudson River, along with Robert Fulton's success in developing the first commercial application of the paddle steamer. The importance of these maritime achievements lay in the vitalness of the Hudson River to New York City's dramatic commercial and economic expansion. 

The celebration took place in New York and New Jersey, between September 25th and October 9th of 1909. Created and organized by New York City's Celebration Commission—a group of the city's most affluent and influential, such as J.P. Morgan and Andrew Carnegie—the commission attempted to elevate New York City's status as a 'world city' and highlight the achievements of its citizens. The use of electricity to illuminate ships and memorials, for instance, underscored the city's modernization and innovation. The two week celebration showed thousands the potential vision many had had for New York City's economic and cultural identity in the 20th century.

Catalog ID EV0083

Birds And Flowers Come To Say Happy Birthday

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Text on Button Birds and Flowers come to say Happy Birthday
Image Description

Three red and yellow birds sitting on a blue tree branch.  The birds are surrounded by blue text on a yellow border with white background.

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Wm H. Dietz

10 So. Wabash Ave.

Chicago, IL

U.S.A

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Have info on this button? Contact us here.

Catalog ID EV0031

Happy Birthday Best Wishes

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Text on Button HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Image Description

Blue text surrounding a white illustration of a birthday cake on a pink background. Off-white ribbon with gold text attached to bottom of button.

Back Paper / Back Info

Standard, Standard, Standard, Standard

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Catalog ID EV0020