How long have political buttons been around? The first political button was to support George Washington when he was President of the United States. It was made of brass and read ” G.W. – Long Live Our President.”
In the late 18th and early 19th centuries political buttons were clothing buttons, intended to be sewn onto clothing.
The first campaign buttons appeared in the Presidential election of 1896, William McKinley vs William Jennings Bryan. They were made of celluloid on paper and wrapped around a metal disk. This method is still popular today, more than a century later, but we use mylar instead of celluloid.
In recent years disposable label stickers have been used as a way to save money.
That’s it, folks. A “short” history. There will be no test, and no essays are due. Enjoy your summer.
…carl