Did your Grandmother collect Buttons?

Button collecting was first recognized as an organized hobby through the founding of the National Button Society in 1938. Many state and local button clubs were established during the 1940's, and many of those clubs sponsored their own button shows.

We recently acquired and transcribed the member list from a copy of the National Button Society 1942-1943 Year Book. The listings include the member's present address and highlight how widespread this hobby had become just a few years after the national society was formed.

Do you collect buttons? Is this something your mother got you involved with? Did her mother collect? These are some of the questions a resource like an old membership list could help answer. In 1942, there were over 900 NBS members. Find out if any of your ancestors were members!

See also: National Button Society (official website), and Resources for the New Collector (Buttons In Time).