Button

Description

In the middle and later 1880s when brass buttons commemorating George Washington were inherited or excavated in gardens and by-ways from New England to southern states, they were published in local newspapers as items worn during the President's first inauguration, but to date, no documentation supports this custom. However, nearly two dozen stamped or cast designs with variations of his initials "GW" and mottos like "LONG LIVE THE PRESIDENT" survive. These buttons were produced to be worn by members of patriotic organizations early in the 1800s.