July 21 is National Pin-back Button Day!
In researching an item in the permanent collection, I learned two things. First, the pin-back button is older than I realized, having been patented in 1896. Second, in 2011, Ted Hake and Christen Carter declared the date of the patent, July 21st, to be National Pin-back Button Day. It also happens to be my birthday, so I have two reasons to celebrate that day!
I generally think of pin-backs as promotional items, given away to promote anything from politicians to movies. Today’s exhibit is one of a number of buttons that Harvey had made over the years, this one to promote Casper the Friendly Ghost.