People Profiles

Table of Contents
Terre Spencer Fowler
Nancie Glazer
Peggy Jo Nieuwenhuis
Charles J. Linderman Jr.

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So far, she’s collected about 3,000 buttons, and her husband, a former Air Force pilot who is now a Civil Air Patrol official has learned to appreciate military buttons. While shopping in New York City, she found 12 purple mother of pearl buttons. Although she doesn’t know how old they are, she loves the rich luster.

A former graphic artist with three kids, 15, 14 and 10 and a Dalmatian, she’s now a textile buyer. She’s always looking for more mother of pearl buttons, especially those made into beautiful graphic inlays.

Button Bytes Light Profiles:   NANCIE GLAZER of Quincy, Massachusetts

After she received a degree in Costume Design, Nancie Glazer was fascinated by buttons. Three years ago she decided to get back in touch with an active button club, and she has joined the Massachusetts Metropolitan Button Club. Belonging to a club has been wonderful, she said, because there are "some terrific people in my local club who are my greatest resource."

Enamels are a special favorite, but she also like other buttons, and she enjoys hunting for buttons. "I am happy when I make a good find," she said, "and I was thrilled to get my Aunt's collection from the 1930’s."

Button Bytes Light Profiles:   PEGGY JO NIEUWENHUIS of Delavan, Wisconsin

About 18 years ago, Peggy Jo Nieuwenhuis of Delavan, Wisconsin, inherited her Grandmother's sewing boxes, which contained a lot of buttons. Those buttons, which have been added to over time, have reminded her of her grandmother.

Peggy Jo is also a fan of shell or mother of pearl buttons, "because of their natural color and beauty. I also like the way they can be "touched' by an artist and changed into miniature works of art." She’s always looking for more, and usually finds tins of buttons at rummage sales.

"Inside I find not only buttons but other great treasures!," she said. "I have found sterling thimbles, semi-precious gems, baby teeth, broken silver and gold jewelry and dental gold. Many times I can retrieve the cost of the [buttons] by scrapping the gold."

Although her husband collects coins, not buttons, her oldest daughter has just joined the junior button collectors club. And now, they are learning together!

Button Bytes Light Profiles:   CHARLES J. LINDERMAN Jr. of Daleville, Alabama

After starting out with Civil War Reenactments, Charles "Chuck" Linderman, Jr. of Daleville, Alabama, became interested in historic Civil War era buttons. "The uniforms are drab, but the buttons are varied, by State, Branch of Service, and manufacturer," he said.

He’s looking for a State of Alabama Militia Button (with an oak tree) or the government issued AVC button. So far, he’s most thrilled with four original State of Georgia, Civil War Staff Officer’s buttons that he found at a garage sale, and got for a dollar.

Unlike many collectors who enjoy competitions, Chuck is "hoping to assemble a nice collection of replica Civil War era buttons for permanent display in our city library."

He’s also looking for help dating Waterbury buttons, because the backmarks can be confusing.