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Conference Agenda

Overview and details of the sessions of this conference. Please select a date or location to show only sessions at that day or location. Please select a single session for detailed view (with abstracts and downloads if available).

Agenda Overview

Session

WKS-1: Historic Button Identification

Time:

Wednesday, 07/Jan/2026:

1:00pm - 5:00pm

Location: Marquette A

Instructor: Lindsay Bloch, Tempered Archaeological Services, LLC
Half-day Workshop: 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Maximum Enrollment: 30
Cost: $40 for SHA members, $50 for non-members, $25 for SHA student members, and $35 for student non-members

Session Abstract

Buttons are charismatic “small finds” and often offer useful dating or contextual information. However, their relative rarity and poor preservation in archaeological contexts makes them difficult to identify. Furthermore, most historic button guides emphasize ornate or specialty buttons, not the everyday buttons that most people wore. Using a material and technological approach, in this workshop we will cover how to identify 18^th- 20^th century buttons of metal, glass, porcelain, organic materials, and synthetics. We will discuss chronological change in button manufacture and decoration, as well as gendered aspects of button use. Through lecture and hands-on practice, participants will learn to identify button composition, date, and use context. Participants will work with real antique, non-archaeological buttons throughout the workshop, and will receive a small study collection to keep. Digital resources will be provided.