Holiday Countdown

Day 16: Snow

Author: Laurel Lamb, Curator of Education and Engagement

“Do you just spend all day looking at artifacts?”

It’s a common question I get from visitors when giving a tour of the Museum’s collections. The question is inspired by the sheer size of the storage facility, how much is held here, and their desire to see more after only scratching the surface.

I always laugh and say, “I wish.” I don’t have the time to do so! Much of my work is tied to the computer, so there are days when I never even enter the space. However, in searching for relevant materials for today’s post, something made me slow down and simply enjoy the collections.

Buttons.

I had other ideas for snow-themed objects. But our database indicated we had snowflake pattern buttons and when I saw them, I was reminded of what an amazing button collection we have overall. Below are a few buttons that are reminiscent of snowflakes.

One donation from 1985 stands out with 9,400+ buttons alone! We can thank Mary Hudgins, a 1924 U of A alumni, for amassing such a collection. Hudgins donated many of her personal materials to our friends at the University of Arkansas Special Collections over the years. You can explore some of those materials here.

I could delve into the history of buttons (hint: they’ve been around a long time) or discuss the historical significance of certain materials used to make them (the Museum’s collection includes glass, metal, bone, horn, vegetable ivory, shell, wood, stone, and plastic). Honestly, though, it was just fun to browse through them. There are so many different colors, designs, and details! Here’s a few that especially caught my eye.

A large black and round button with a raised image of a person riding a horse in gold.

A large brown heart button sewn onto a slip of paper.

A row of different shaped buttons sewn onto a piece of paper. The buttons include little orange leaves, bouquets of flowers, and an acorn.

A large black and round button edged in gold with a golden flower at the center.

A button in the shape of a bird of some sort, perhaps a duck, in a yellow rain coat and hat.

Four rather worn buttons in the shape of pineapples covered in a gold paint.

A red button in the shape of an elephant.

So, I leave you with this final note. The end of the year can be a busy time for many. Slow down, take a breath, enjoy the small things, and watch snowflakes fall.

P.S. For those of you who came here for literal snow – here’s a campus photograph from the early 20th century of a snowy Carnall Hall, built in 1905 as the University’s first female dorm. Today, the Inn at Carnall Hall operates there.

A black and white photograph of a large building in the background. In the foreground is wide open outdoor area with a couple trees off to the sides. Snow blankets the ground.