Illinois State Button Society
Established 1941
April 23, 1941
A historic day for Illinois button collectors was April 23, 1941, when the first meeting of the Illinois Button Society was held.
The first meeting was arranged through the efforts of Mrs. Opal Vogt and was held in the Recreation Room of the Howe Bakery in Galesburg, IL. Nearly one hundred participants were present from far and wide. Illinois representatives came from Galesburg, Kankakee, Cuba, Pecatonica, Chandlerville, Freeport, Abingdon, Dwight, Prairie City, Knoxville, Wataga, and Springfield. As well as some participants from as far as Burlington, IA, Orange, NJ, and even Alamo, TX.
Key Members of the leadership team were elected at this time. The elected leaders were President Mrs. Opal Vogt (Galesburg, IL), Vice President Mrs. Maude Taylor (Kankakee, IL), Secretary Mrs. Mabelle Killius (Springfield, IL), and Treasurer Mrs. Helen Ryan (Freeport, IL).
Some notable women were in attendance at this first meeting. There was Mrs. Edna Crotty (Rockford, IL) the National President at the time. Then Mrs. Rosa Kidder (Galesburg, IL) from whom the Kidder Button Club is named, had a large display of her buttons. She was probably the oldest button collector in this area at the time. There were also exhibits from Mrs. Vogt and Mrs. C.A. Barton
During this time, the constitution and by-laws were adopted and the dues were set at fifty cents.
April 26, 1942
The second meeting of the ISBS was held in the recreation room of the Howe Bakery in Galesburg, IL with about 125 in attendance. Members were present from all over. Cities and towns such as Chicago, Orangeville, Kent, Freeport, Dwight, Kankakee, Springfield, Plan, Mansfield, Moline, Champaign, Peoria, Monmouth, Prairie City, Knoxville, Geneseo, Abingdon, Chenoa, Decatur, and Galesburg, IL. Some even came from Burlington, IA, and St. Louis, MI. A large number of trays were exhibited. And members were awarded first, second, or third-place ribbons. Mrs. Vogt (Galesburg) was re-elected President, Mrs. W. H. Craig (Chicago) was elected Vice President, and Mrs. Rosa Kidder (Galesburg) was Secretary/Treasurer.
1943-1947
Unfortunately, most of the records during these years have been lost. However, we know during this time Mrs. Edna Walton (Freeport) and Mr. Hawley Crow (Kent) served as Presidents. We also know that many of the state meetings were held in Freeport and Rockford. Dues were raised to $1.00 annually during this span.
1947-1948
At this time, Mr. Hawley Crow (Kent) was President and Mrs. Edna Walton (Freeport) was Secretary/Treasurer. ISBS meetings were held in Reed’s Park in Freeport and the YMCA Lodge in Rockford. A large number of members were present for a picnic dinner along with the business meeting and button exhibits.
1948
Following the National Button Show, several members got together and decided to re-organize the ISBS because membership had dropped very low, no Bulletins were being published and few state meetings were held. As part of the re-organization, new leadership was chosen. The offices were as follows: President Mrs. Hazel Carlberg; Secretary/Treasurer Mrs. Rosa Kidder (Galesburg); and Editor of the Bulletin Mrs. Caroline Toothe. They were all to serve until the next annual meeting when elections could be held.
May 15, 1949
Over 330 trays of buttons were on display at the spring ISBS meeting held at the Galesburg branch of the University of Illinois. At that time temporary officers were still in place. Mrs. Hazel Carlberg, President; Miss Vera Corbin, Vice President; and Mrs. Rosa Kidder (Galesburg), Secretary/Treasurer.
September 25, 1949
The ISBS annual meeting was held in the Hotel Custer ballroom in Galesburg with 500 trays on exhibit. Elections were held and Mrs. Hazel Carlberg was elected President. Mrs. Roswell Johnson became Vice President. Mrs. Rosa Kidder (Galesburg) was voted in as Secretary/Treasurer. And finally, Mrs. Caroline Toothe was elected Editor of the bulletin. The bulletin was named The Illinois State Button Round-Up.
May 21, 1950
The ISBS meeting was held in the YMCA lodge in Rockford. The same officers carried over through this year. In addition to attendees from Illinois, a large number of people from Wisconsin swelled the attendance. Also, present were five national officers. National President Mrs. Hortense Scales, National Treasurer Mr. Paul Pierce, National Director Mrs. Caroline Toothe, National Show Chairman Mr. Victor Flint, and the National Chairman of Judges Mr. Hawley Crow (Kent). Never before or since have we had such a large group of national officers present.
May 6, 1951
The spring ISBS meeting was held in Morrison. Since there was no local club in Morrison, Mr. Earl C McLennan took over the duties of host of the show as well as being the promoter. The meeting space was provided by Mr. Harry L. Shawver, who was the publisher of the Whiteside County News. The Kidder Button Club attended this year. Records show 207 members for 1951. There was no fall show so officers carried over.
May 25, 1952
An ISBS meeting was held in Freeport at the Machinist Hall with Mr. Hawley Crow as General Chairman. Mrs. Hazel Carlberg was re-elected President, Mrs. Roy Wagner of Orangeville, was elected Vice President, and Mrs. Rosa Kidder (Galesburg) was re-elected Secretary/Treasurer for 1953.
Sept 27, 1953
The ISBS annual meeting was held in the Hotel Custer Ballroom in Galesburg. Unfortunately, Mrs. Rosa Kidder passed away on March 8, 1953, leaving her role empty. The role of Secretary/Treasurer was appointed to Mrs. L. Carl Marlow to fill for the remainder of Mrs. Kidder's term. Mrs. Carlberg presided at the meeting. Mrs. Lavonna Torley was elected President, Mrs. Roy Wagner of Orangeville, Vice President, and Mrs. Marlow, Secretary/Treasurer for 1954. Mrs. Charles Toothe was National President at this time, an office which she held for two years.
June 13, 1954
State picnic was held at the home of Mr. Hawley Crow of Kent, Illinois. A large number of collectors were present from both Illinois and Wisconsin. During the year Mrs. Marlow (Galesburg) had resigned as Secretary/Treasurer and Mrs. John Walter (Galesburg) had been appointed to that office. No business meeting was held, so officers were held over another year. Membership at the end of the year was 192.
May 15, 1955
Plans were made to hold the annual meeting at the Senate Hotel in Freeport, Illinois but, were canceled on account of the death of Mr. Hawley Crow. So all officers were carried for another year.
May 20, 1956
Annual Meeting was held at the Senate Hotel in Freeport, Illinois. Mrs. Torley, Mrs. Wagner, and Mrs. Walter were again elected for the following year. May 5, 1957, Custer Hotel in Galesburg, Illinois was the location for the Annual State Meeting. All officers were carried over for the next year.
May 18, 1958
The annual ISBS meeting was held in the Emerson Hotel at Mt. Vernon. President Mrs. Torley presided. Before the meeting, Mrs. Walter had resigned from her role as Secretary/treasurer, and Mr. C.H. Toothe had been appointed as a replacement. Those elected at this meeting were to serve in 1959. They were President Mrs. Mary Ulrich (Mt. Vernon); Vice President Mrs. Lois Calkins (Palos Park) and Secretary/Treasurer Mr. C.H. Toothe (Knoxville). Under the sponsorship of the Chicago Area Club, there was a large attendance of both members and friends. The same officers were re-elected to serve in 1960.
May 1, 1960
Mattoon, Illinois was the host city for the ISBS annual meeting. It was sponsored by the Eastern Illinois Button Club. President Mrs. Mary Ulrich presided. During the proceeding years, several changes and amendments had been made to the By-Laws. The records on them are available. In 1960, a complete revision of the Constitution and By-Laws was acted upon and all articles that were submitted to the membership previously were finally approved. Before the end of the year the President Mrs. Ulrich, moved out of Illinois so Vice President Mrs. Lois Calkins, assumed her duties. At this meeting, a new cabinet was elected for the following year. Officers were President Mrs. Mary Seymour (Charleston); Vice President Mrs. Lois Stearns (Berwyn); and Secretary/Treasurer C. H. Toothe (Knoxville).
20th Anniversary
April 30, 1961
This was the 20th Anniversary meeting of the Illinois State Button Society!
The annual meeting was held at the Galesburg Woman’s Club building at Galesburg with Mrs. Mary Seymour, President, presiding. Many of those who helped to bring the organization into being have passed on, although several members who were present at that first meeting are here today. To them, it seems like a very short space of time in looking back to April 23, 1941.
We have a good solid organizational function now.
Since 1949, four Bulletins have been issued each year, each consisting of 48 pages, and the National Button Society as well as the various States. Societies recognize it as an outstanding bulletin for the button hobby. Our publication the Round-Up, has been successful. Many of the articles have been reprinted in the Nation Button Society Bulletin Just Buttons Magazine, and other state bulletins. Mrs. Toothe is to be complimented for this publication for her untiring efforts to promote the good of the Society. She is now serving as Editor for the 13th year.
We are mindful of the parts that many people have played in the Illinois State Button Society during the past 20 years. A big vote of thanks is due. We recognize those who have served as its officers, those who have attended the shows and meetings, and those who have provided the competition and exhibition. In addition, we thank those who have donated to keep the ISBS financially sound and those who have written articles for the bulletin. Thank you to every member who by just being one of us, has contributed to the support of the organization.
The Illinois State Button Society was always been of a high standard. We not only have the pleasure of collecting buttons, but we do it in such a way as to command the respect of all collectors and non-collectors alike.
So “What will we accomplish in the next 20 years?” It depends on each one of us.
The first twenty years of the history of this society from April 23, 1941, to April 30th, 1961 was reported by Mr. Charles Toothe in the July-August-September issue of the ISBS bulletin Round-Up, 1961.
1961
The officers for the year 1961 were President Mary Seymour; Vice President Lois Stearns; Mr. Secretary/Treasurer Charles Toothe; and Editor Mrs. Caroline Toothe.
May 20, 1962
The ISBS Annual meeting and show were held at the Emmerson Hotel in Mt. Vernon with the King City Button Club as hosts. There had been a sale of Stephen Douglas buttons and a report about them was given by Mary Seymour, the President at the time. Officers for the year were Vice President Lois Stearns: Secretary/Treasurer Charles Toothe, and Editor Caroline Toothe. There were 118 adults and 10 junior members listed for that year.
May 25, 1963
The ISBS annual meeting and show were held at the Burgess-Osborne Auditorium in Mattoon, Illinois with the Eastern Illinois Club as the host.
1971
At the ISBS annual meeting, a report on the previous ten years was given but was never printed in the bulletin.
A compilation of the history of Illinois State Button Society to be continued...
With thanks- These records were compiled from state records, state bulletins, and newspaper clippings from the scrapbook of Mrs. Grace Cheek.