On November 10th, the Iowa Caucus Project hosted its first-ever Button Making Event! Held at the Archives in Cowles Library, the team (and many guests) gathered to make political and nonpolitical buttons to celebrate the upcoming Caucuses.
As a class, we offered four premade designs for buttons. The first was a simple Iowa Cacucus Project logo, and the second was a picture of the Delephy. The Delephy is our mascot, and it is a slightly unsettling Donkey Elephant hybrid to celebrate the bipartisanship of our project. The third design, a red-white-and-blue Got Caucus button, urged guests to donate political memorabilia to the Archives, and the final design, one with Iowa’s outline that said “Caucus or Bust,” encouraged students to attend the caucuses.
The atmosphere at the Button Making event was so utterly exciting! Participants, ranging from seasoned political junkies to curious students, all immersed themselves in the creative process. Many people made multiple buttons, and there seemed to be a “collect them all energy” around the premade designs.
Because there was also an option to make your own design, each button was infused with a unique, personal, and very creative flair. Some made “Vote Griff” buttons that were then pinned onto Griff’s harness. Others made birthday buttons or “Vote for [insert BFF's name here]” buttons for their friends. One of my classmates, a big fan of Jimmy Carter, even made her own “Jimmy Carter for President” pin.
The Archives room buzzed with conversation and was filled with many attendees. Guests also stayed long after making their buttons, which is the one thing that shocked me the most. Whether they stayed for a photo with Griff or to share the stories behind their designs, attendees lingered to chat with friends new and old. A sense of camaraderie formed. Attendees shared their political involvement, discussed their political opinions, and celebrated the upcoming caucuses.
Furthermore, guests got to browse a collection pulled from the archives of political buttons ranging over several decades. Going all the way back to the first caucus in Iowa in 1976, there was a beautiful display organized by each election, with many pins. This was such a cool touch of the event, and so much was gained just by seeing the political history that the Archives have collected at Drake University.
The event was a great reminder that the Iowa Causes are not just a political event but a
communal experience where students can shape the direction of their state. As we look forward to the upcoming caucuses, the buttons created during this event will hopefully be worn and remind us how important it is to foster a sense of political empowerment for all.
P.S.- Check out our podcast on the Iowa Caucus Project website to hear all about the history of the Iowa Caucuses!
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