Music Button and Pin Collection

The Music Button and Pin Collection contains materials that document late 20th century, early 21st century popular Anglophone music. Materials consist of metal and plastic pinback buttons, metal, enamel, and plastic lapel pins, and plastic keychains with metal chains, as well as one commemorative Beatles coin. Materials largely designed to advertise and promote musicians, bands, and albums, with some dedicated to record labels, record shops, and other related organizations. Most materials date from the late 1970s to the early 1990s, while the latest materials date from the 2010s.

Includes buttons, pins, and keychains representing 261 unique artists and albums. Most materials are arranged by artist, but the series also includes three albums by various artists and one button representing the soundtrack for the film Streets of Fire. Most artists and albums have only one associated button, pin, or keychain associated with them, but some are represented by multiple materials, including 15 pins for Bruce Springsteen and Talking Heads respectively.

Includes materials that demonstrate general representations of music and music appreciation, musical culture, and politics in music (or music in politics). Consists of seven pinback buttons and one metal enamel lapel pin. Most are undated, but the earliest confirmed button represents the 1984 country music documentary "the Other Side of Nashville" while the latest confirmed button promotes John Kerry for president in 2004 using a photo of John Kerry with Beatles member John Lennon.

Includes materials that represent specific musical organizations and events such as record labels, radio stations, and music festivals. Consists of thirty-one pin-back buttons and three metal enamel lapel pins. Most are undated, but the earliest confirmed button promotes a chance to win an MTV "one night stand" with Fleetwood Mac from 1982 while the latest confirmed button represents the "Record Store Day" of April 16, 2011.

Includes materials that were not able to be identified with any musical artists, publications, organizations, or political or cultural topic or message. Consists of sixteen pinback buttons and four lapel pins. None of the materials are dated but one button includes a drawing of a human head in profile with an artist signature that appears to be dated 1988.