On-sale October 13, 2020, BUTTON POWER by Christen Carter and Ted Hake uses pin-back buttons to tell the stories of cultural movements throughout American history.
Through lively commentary between two of America’s most preeminent button experts, BUTTON POWER (published by Princeton Architectural Press) seeks to reveal the events and movements in American history that outraged, amused, and inspired us over time, and how little yet mighty buttons contributed to these monumental turning points. In a time of protests, elections, and uncertainty, BUTTON POWER paints candidacies and tales of empowerment in a whole new, colorful light.
From Dottie Dimple, the first button to use a literary character to endorse a product, to Roney’s Boys, the first band buttons, BUTTON POWER does not only speak to the politics of the past two centuries, but to the musical, literary, and artistic moments that shaped today’s society.
With cameos by Rube Goldberg, Muhammad Ali, the Ramones, Shirley Chisholm, Bette Midler, and more mascots of the past 125 years, BUTTON POWER is the first of its kind: a rich visual feast as appealing to the eye as it is to the spirit of curiosity. Featuring colorful photographs and artifacts, and stimulating conversation, this collection will be an essential pick for fans of pop culture, visual culture, and design.
“Social media is today’s most popular platform for self
expression, but the button preceded it as a way to tell
others what was on your mind and as a tool to help
spread an idea. No other form of wearable expression has
yet to replace the humble button – and unlike social
media, a button is something you can literally stand
behind.” – excerpted from BUTTON POWER
Hardcover/ $24.95
ISBN: 9781616898700
Pre-order it on Amazon HERE
About The Authors:
Christen Carter is the founder of Chicago-based Busy Beaver Button Company and has produced more than 50 million buttons for bands, artists, political campaigns, non-profits and more. In 2010, she started the Button Museum, dedicated to telling American history through pin-back buttons.
Ted Hake is the founder of Hake’s Auctions, America’s first auction house to specialize in popular culture artifacts. He has written seventeen collectors’ guides that span presidential campaign items, vintage Disneyana, and comic character toys. Ted has received the American Political Items Collectors Lifetime Achievement Award and is a member of the Theodore Roosevelt Association Advisory Board.
