Created by
New York City Department of Health, American, founded 1866
Date
ca. 1970
Medium
ink on paper with metal and plastic
Dimensions
H x W x D: 2 1/4 × 2 1/4 × 5/16 in. (5.7 × 5.7 × 0.8 cm)
Caption
The "starve a rat today" slogan was used as part of urban sanitation campaigns by in the 1970s. This button is from the New York City health department campaign to lower the rat population. The button was handed out to school children along with ribbons that stated "I am a volunteer." Volunteers would go door to door, reminding people to keep the lids of their garbage cans tight to help prevent rats from feeding. Similar buttons, yellow with black text and a graphic of a rat, were used by the Philadelphia health department around the same time.
A version of the slogan, "Don't Cook Dinner -- Starve A Rat Today," was co-opted by participants of the 1970 Women's Strike for Equality March. The march was organized by the National Organization of Women as a nationwide work stoppage by women - no cooking, no cleaning - to draw attention to the unequal distribution of domestic labor.
Description
A black and yellow pinback button with the slogan [Starve a rat today.]. The exterior edge of the button has a manufacturer's stamp that is illegible. The back of the button has a metal pin without a clasp.
Place used
United States, North and Central America
Classification
Memorabilia and Ephemera - Political and Activist Ephemera
Type
buttons (information artifacts)
Topic
Government
Health
Urban life
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of T. Rasul Murray
Object number
2013.68.47
Restrictions & Rights
Unknown - Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd541ec1223-400c-474d-9638-dcdfc7eeef73

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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