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Century of Progress Souvenir Pin

Specifications

Century of Progress Souvenir Pin

Category

World's Fairs

Classification

CHENHALL - Communication Objects - Documentary Objects - Memorabilia - Souvenir

Object Origin
Manufacturer:

Geraghty & Company

Date Manufactured:

1933

Physical Characteristics

Object Description: Small, round, metal souvenir pin. Top row of text is white over a blue background. Below the blue is a red banner with white text. The rest of the pin is white with blue text at viewer's left and the Century of Progress logo of a globe with three (3) swooping lines at viewer's right. On the back is a single vertical fastener pin.

Materials:

metal

Marks: "1933/ WORLD'S FAIR/ I / WAS / THERE"

Measurements: Object:
    Depth: 0.25 in, Diameter: 0.75 in

Credit

Gift of Silas Fung, 1992.21.31.1

Display Status

Not On View

Century of Progress Souvenir Pin

About: Century of Progress Souvenir Pin

About: Century of Progress Souvenir Pin

This small round button is one of the many souvenirs sold to visitors at the 1933 Century of Progress Exposition. This small round pin with the phrase “I WAS THERE” indicates the pin was purchased by a person who attended the exposition. This souvenir is one of the many mementos produced and sold at the Chicago World's Fair. Starting with the 1851 Great Exhibition of London, the succession of world expositions would produce an abundance of souvenirs. Many visitors to these large expositions often purchased mementos as proof of their visit to these events.


Today, people collect souvenirs from the various world fairs which can range from posters, glassware, china, coin banks, buttons, books, programs, coins or tokens, jewelry and more. These objects are not only tangible fragments of the past, but demonstrate a desire to take home a little part of history from a memorable time and place.

Additional information

Copyright information

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