Welcome!

     Welcome to the Charmstring Museum! Here you will find information about and pictures of charmstrings and the stories that go with them. We are Susan and Kelly Buffum (respectively the editor for and vice president of the Massachusetts State Button Society). The idea for this blog came from Kelly, who is still slightly in shock at the current extent of her mother's charmstring collection (numbering 70 at writing). We believe that it is important to preserve these historical artifacts. We also think that they should be shared with the wider world. As you all can't come to us to see them, this seems to be the best medium.
     Our goal is to show of the strings in our collection with words and pictures. We'd also like to welcome you to share your charmstring and its story with us (and through us, the wider world). Charmstrings are also called memory strings, button strings, or friendship strings. The fad of making these strings occurred between the 1860s and early 1900s.