Black and grey scale detailed illustration of Jim Key with handler, Doc Key and a cash register.

The Beautiful Jim Key was a traveling act. He was owned and trained by Dr. William Key, a slave-born self trained veterinarian. The horse was credited with abilities to read, write, spell, do math, tell time, sort mail, use a cash register and a telephone, recite Bible passages and engage in political debate. He was known as "The Marvel Of The Twentieth Century" and "The Greatest Crowd Drawer In America." 

Jim Key was so popular that he still has fans today.

Black Batman logo against a white background.

Batman is a comic book superhero who is featured in television shows, cartoons, and feature films. He first appeared in a DC Comics series in 1939, and has since had a continuous presence in American pop culture. Batman is the secret identity of millionaire Bruce Wayne, who does not have superpowers, but makes use of intellect, wealth, and a stash of technological gizmos to fight villains like Catwoman, the Penguin, and the Joker, in his home of Gotham City.

Illustration of a flapper face with heart-shaped lips looking to her left.

Garter buttons like this one became very popular in the 1920s as attitudes loosened in a post World War I America. The flapper craze saw women rolling down their stockings, a trademark fashion, and adding in a colorful garter with a fun button. These buttons often had a cartoon face like Betty Boop printed with a ribbon hanging off that read either “You’d be Surprised” or “Did You Get Yours?”

Learn more about the History of Flapper Buttons on the Busy Beaver blog.

Red illustration of a content dog with its eyes closed and a black nose. Yellow text on a wedge shape of black background.

This flirty expression basically means I like you, or I am interested in you.

Black text on white background.

The Man of La Mancha was a Broadway musical that debuted in 1965 and was turned into a movie in 1972. Both the musical and movie were inspired by the 17th century novel Don Quixote, although it was not a true rendition of the novel. During the height of the musicals success, the main campaign tagline was What, you’ve only seen Man of La Mancha once? In response to the campaign, buttons like the one pictured were made and could be purchased at the show. The word once is emphasized since the campaign tagline asked about seeing the musical once.

Black and red illustration of a smiling giraffe with red text on a light green background.

High-Hattin' means being snobbish or arrogant.

Red illustration of a character peeking out of a cooking cauldron with red text and blue fire. The hair forms a question-mark.

The man in the pot on this button is likely Kilroy, a popular character dating back to World War II. Kilroy was known for his large nose and question marked shaped hair, peering over the edge of doors, walls, etc.  He was a popular form for graffiti after World War II. His image was put on the statue of liberty, stamped into the dust on the moon, and placed inside the private bathroom that was used by Stalin, Roosevelt, and Churchill during a conference. As Stalin exited the bathroom he asked an aide, “Who is Kilroy?”

Color illustration of a girl in a dress and pigtails holding a sign with black text on a red background.

This was a "Buddy Button" from Norcross Greeting Card company. The Norcross greeting card company was established in the 1920s by Arthur D. Norcross. The company had its own design employees, but they also hired free-lance designers such as Mildred Urban who created the 'Red Sails and Sunset' design. Along with their popular designs, Norcross is also noted as the first commercial card company to produce Valentine's Day cards.

The museum has one other of the Buddy Buttons here.

White button with blue text

A vote is a formal expression of opinion or choice made by an individual or body of individuals, especially in an election, according to the dictionary definition. Candidates for an election are allowed many methods to campaign for the votes of their people or constituents. Although campaign items are allowed, there are strict rules preventing electioneering with U.S. elections so that a person may not electioneer for or against any candidate, measure, or political party within 100 feet of a polling place, meaning a wearable like this would no longer be acceptable to be worn while casting a vote in the voting booth.

Black letters on white background.

“Victim of the Press” was a slogan that was part of the highly controversial Aesthetic Realism movement, founded by Eli Siegel in 1941.  These buttons were made and worn by members of the movement in the 1970s, mentioned in Nat Hentoff’s article titled, “Minority protesters trash First Amendment", published in the May 5, 1993 edition of the St. Petersburg Times.  Photos of this button were originally published in an April 6, 1981 article by Paul R. Grossman in the New York Native, titled “Victims of Aesthetic Realism”. The New York Native was a biweekly gay newspaper which shut down in 1997. Eli Siegel committed suicide in 1978, and the movement was said to have totaled around 100 members.