When I was a young child, many decades ago, I would visit my nana here in Concord. She was a gifted seamstress who was always working on different projects and who utilized her craft to engage me at every chance she got. In time, she learned that my attention could be held captive by her prized collection of buttons.

When I arrived for our Saturday morning visits, she would scoop a handful of buttons from her sewing box and place them in a circular tin then shake it and chant, “Buttons, buttons. Who’s got the buttons?” Within moments, it was me – I had the buttons. They were very old, large and small, colorful, glittering and probably collectable, I am sure. There were even uniform buttons that my nana sewed onto my grandfather’s Boston & Maine Railroad uniforms. She would provide me with lengths of colorful thread and show me how to string the buttons together to create a multitude of button games. Buttons became our common ground all those years ago, a connection between generations and a means to quiet a very talkative young grandson.

As I grew a little older, I learned that my nana was indeed a gifted seamstress. She always had a waiting list of endless projects for her customers. A black Singer sewing machine with gold trim sat neatly in the corner of her sewing room, with bolts of fabric nearby, many spools of thread, and all those buttons. Nana belonged to local sewing clubs and to clubs that collected buttons. Sewing, for her, was a labor of love that also provided a unique social circle of like-minded people with shared interests.

Nana passed away when I was still quite young. I often think about her and miss the love we held for each other. I wish I had just one of her beloved buttons to hold in my pocket, just for a moment, when I think about her. Sometimes the years are a blessing and a curse. I don’t have that coveted button in my hand, but I do have those memories deep within my heart that I hope to carry to my final day.

As a historian, I have traveled often and visited many museums, my favorites being in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Each year as I make my pilgrimage to Gettysburg, I admire the many uniforms worn by soldiers during the Civil War. Some well-preserved while others not, there is still a glint that always catches my eye. The buttons so prominently displayed on old uniforms showcase a multitude of insignias, states, divisions and regiments. I find myself admiring the New Hampshire regimental uniforms with their old brass buttons that secured clothing, equipment, shoes and harnesses. Buttons proved vital to keeping everything secure, structured and organized during this period before snaps, Velcro and other modern fasteners.

History tells us the Indus Valley Civilization in present day Pakistan invented the first buttons, dating back to 2000 B.C. One of these buttons actually exists today, made from a curved seashell. Buttons like this one were not necessarily round when first invented, often made of seashells, wood and bone. People realized a slot in the fabric with an opposing button could be fastened to keep clothing or implements together.

As civilizations evolved, so too did buttons. Some, owned by the wealthy, became status symbols cut from diamonds, rubies or other precious stones with carved symbols and etchings. Buttons were also used to advertise and promote products and even politicians, rather than simply fasten.

Here in Concord, W.S. Baker produced buttons in the 1800s. His work still exists, shiny and made of brass with his name quite visible. We use buttons every day to fasten clothing, commemorate important events, and convey messages. There are many button collectors out there – people just like my nana all those years ago. The New Hampshire State Button Society has numerous members and clubs exists throughout the state.

Article continues after...

Yesterday's Most Read Articles

When is your car inspection due? Maybe never

Loudon Road bridge in Concord up for repair as federal funding gets shaky

Merrimack Valley teachers rally against impending school cuts

Letter: End New Hampshire vehicle inspections

Sunshine Week: Searchable database of what Concord city employees were paid in 2024

‘What the hell is going on?”: Chichester votes to defund entire town administrative office, but may reconsider

Your Daily Puzzles

Cross|Word

Flipart

Typeshift

SpellTower

Really Bad Chess

How I long to spend a Saturday morning with Nana once again, rattling that old tin of buttons while engulfed in the warmth of her hug, the comforting tone of her loving voice. Sometimes when I visit her grave at Blossom Hill Cemetery, I place a small button on top of her gravestone – a simple gesture from a grandson who misses her very much.