The pinback button–humble as it is ubiquitous–has played a role throughout all movements for social justice, peace, and equality over the past century. Long-time activist and collector Isaac Silver uplifts the contributions of everyday people to history, using buttons and other personal ephemera to connect audiences to the past. Every button tells a story, and Isaac is here to share them.

From the Communist Party to the Black Panther Party and many lesser known parties and collectives, workers and radicals have a long history of organizing for socialism in the United States. This exhibit with hundreds of original, historical artifacts from the 19th century through the present charts this expansive story and examines the activity of socialist parties and activists in movements against war and for international solidarity, struggles for self-determination of oppressed people, and engagement with the labor movement and electoral politics.

The exhibit will be on display from February 9 to March 2. On February 16 at 7 p.m., join curator and historian Isaac Silver for an interactive, guided examination of the political questions faced by successive generations of socialist organizers.