Votes For Women Buttons, 1915-1920

Buttons: This series is predominantly composed of combination items made of plastic, metal, and paper. Button technology was developed by the Whitehead & Hoag company of Newark, New Jersey, and was used extensively starting in the 1896 Presidential campaign. Celluloid plastic was used exclusively until the 1940s; the buttons frequently are referred to as "celluloid buttons". Many early buttons contained actual photographic portraits. Subsequent development of a lithographic printing technique for all-metal buttons made for less costly manufacture, but also limited the type of imagery that could be applied. Mrs. Douglas also included lapel tabs in this category. Almost all of the items in this series have been cataloged as groups rather than at the item level.