World War I Poster Collection
MS882
Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives
English
56
Linear Feet
17 oversize folders
1914
1918
circa 1914-1918
American charities and the government launched campaigns through posters to encourage civilians to support the war effort. This collection contains propaganda posters pertaining to World War I publicizing efforts of organizations including the United states Food Administration, the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), the Red Cross, the United States Treasury department, and other American and allied organizations.
Historical Note
World War I began on July 28, 1914. The war was fought between two sides: the Allies (the United
Kingdom, Japan, France, Russia, and Italy) and the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the
Ottoman Empire). The United States joined the Allied side in 1917. The war was fought in Europe and the Middle East, ending on November 11, 1918, after Germany signed an armistice. However, warfare continued until June 28, 1919, with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. The casualty total was approximately 37 million, with 7 million civilian deaths.
American participation in the war required an enormous output of economic, industrial, and military resources. The American government relied heavily on the American public to supply military personnel, raw materials, labor, industrial goods, and funds to support the war effort. Many American charitable organizations as well as the American government launched campaigns to encourage civilians to support the war effort, through activities such as purchasing war bonds and stamps, enlisting in the armed forces, and donating money and goods. Posters were a popular method to deliver these messages to the American population.
Collection Overview
This collection contains approximately 200 propaganda posters pertaining to World War I. These posters were published primarily between 1914 and 1918, with a select few published outside these years. Publishing organizations include the United States Food Administration, the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), the Red Cross, the United States Treasury department, and other American and allied organizations.
Preferred Citation
World War I Poster Collection (MS882), Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for use.
Copyright Notice
The nature of the WFU Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The Archives and Special Collections of ZSR Library claims only physical ownership of most materials. The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to the U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.
Related Materials
To view these posters online, please visit our [World War I Posters Digital Collection] on JSTOR.
"2 Inspiring Cablegrams"1918191817"10,000,000 Members by Christmas - On Christmas Eve a Candle in Every Window and Red Cross Members in Every Home" (3)191719175"All here have given"19141918circa 1914-19189"America the hope of all who suffer - the dread of all who wrong"19141918circa 19182"Americans All!" (2)1919191916"America's food pledge 20 million tons"19141918circa 1914-19184"And they thought we couldn't fight"1917191716"Answer the Call January 4th 6th and 7th"19141918circa 1914-191810"Answer the Red Cross Christmas Roll Call"191819182"Attendez un instant. ça chauffe! Les Foyers du soldat" in French language19161916French1"Back our girls over there"19141918circa 1914-19182"Be a U.S. Marine!"19171919circa 191817"Beat Back the Hun with Liberty Bonds" (2)19172"Behold the boy of yesterday our protector of to-day"19141918circa 1914-19181"Buy Another Join the YD" (2)1919191911"Buy W.S.S at Any Bank or Post Office"19171919circa 19188"Carry On! Stamp! Stamp! Stamp! Who'll buy a Stamp?"19171919circa 191816"The Child at Your Door"19141918circa 1914-19181"Civilians - When we go through this we need all the help and comfort we can give"191819185"Civilians - When we go through this we need all the help and comfort we can give."1918191814"Do Your Duty. Join the U.S. Marines"19141918circa 1914-19185"Don't stop saving food" (2)19141918circa 1914-19184"Eat Cane Syrup and Molasses - Save Sugar By Using Best Louisiana molasses and Sugar Cane Syrup" (2)3"Eat less and let us be thankful that we have enough to share with those who fight for freedom"191819184"Eat more corn, oats and rye products- fish and poultry- fruits, vegetables and potatoes baked, boiled, and broiled foods" (2)191719172"E-E-E-YAH-YIP - Go over with U.S. Marines"1917191711"Every girl pulling for victory - Victory Girls United War Work Campaign"1918191812"Finish the Job Subscribe to the 'Victory' Liberty Loan"19141918circa 1914-19181"Food - Don't waste it" (2)191719173"Food is Ammunition - Don't waste it" (2)19171919circa 19183"Food: Keep the Home Garden going" (2)191819183"Food Will Win the War" (2)1917191713"Food Will Win the War" in Yiddish language19171917Yiddish13"For Every Fighter a Woman Worker Y.W.C.A." One woman worker191819186"For Every Fighter a Woman Worker Y.W.C.A." Women workers in uniforms1918191816"For Home and Country: Victory Liberty Loan" (2)1918191817"For Your Boy"191819185"Give!"19141918circa 1914-191811"Goal"19141918circa 1914-19182"Go over the top with U.S. Marines"191719172"Good Bye, Dad, I'm off To Fight For Old Glory, You Buy U.S. Gov't Bonds"191719178"The Greatest Mother in the World" (3)19171919circa 19186"Have you answered the Red Cross Christmas Roll Call?" (2)1918191812"Have YOU a Red Cross Service Flag?" (3)191819188"Have YOU a Red Cross Service Flag?" (2)191814"He can win!"19141918circa 1914-191813"He did his duty - will you?"
19141918circa 1914-19185"Help!"19141918circa 1914-19185"Help Our Town Win This Flag"19141918circa 1914-191811"Hey Fellows! Your money brings the book we need when we want it"1918191814"His home over there"19141918circa 1914-191817"I am telling you on June 28th I expect you to enlist in the army of war savers to back up my army of fighters" (3)191819188"I summon you to the comradeship - Woodrow Wilson. Answer the Red Cross Christmas roll call for universal membership" (2)191819182"If You Want to Fight! Join the Marines"1915191515"Invest in the Victory Liberty Loan"191919197"Is This Your Hand?" (2)19141918circa 1914-191813"Join" (3)19141918circa 1914-19189"Join - all you need is a heart and a dollar"19141918circa 1914-19189"June 28th is National War Savings Day" (2)19141918circa 1914-19184"Keep 'em smiling! Help War Camp Community Service" (2)1918191815"Knowledge Wins. Public Library Books are Free" (3)19141918circa 1914-191813"Launching Another Victory Ship"19171919circa 19181"Le Travail eloigne de nous trois grands maux: L'Ennui, Le Vice et Le Besoin: vous tous qui cherchez du travail oudésirez des renseignements: Adressez-vous aux "Foyers" de L'Union Franco-Américaine; YMCA" in French language19171919circa 1918French17"Les Foyers du Soldat et du Marin - Y.M.C.A. - Union Franco-Américaine" in French language19141918circa 1914-1918French15"Les Foyers du Soldat - Y.M.C.A. - Union Franco-Americaine," winter scene19141918circa 1914-1918French15"Les Foyers Du Soldat. Union Franco-Americaine. Foyers Means Home in France" in French language19181918French7"Les foyers du soldats - Y.M.C.A. - Union franco-americaine. Quand tu parles de la femme, pense a ta mere, a ta soeur, a ta fiancee, et tu ne diras pas de betises" in French language19171919circa 1918French17"Lest they perish"1917191710"Lest we perish"19171920circa 19188"Let Santa bring W.S.S. War Savings Stamps to All Patriots"19141918circa 1914-19189"Light Consumes Coal -Save Light, Save Coal"191719172"Little Americans Do Your Bit"19141918circa 1914-19181"Make Our American Red Cross In Peace as in War 'The Greatest Mother in the World'"191919194"Munissez Vous De Monnaie!" in French language19161916French1"Oh, Boy! That's the Girl! The Salvation Army Lassie!"1918191817"On Est Prie De Ne Pas Cracher Par Terre" in French language19161916French1"On the Job For Victory"1918191814"One of the Thousand Y.M.C.A Girls In France"1918191816"One Million Dollar War Fund: To be collected from Lincoln's to Washington's birthday." Salvation Army vehicle (2)19141918circa 1914-191810"One Million Dollar War Fund: To be collected from Lincoln's to Washington's birthday." Salvation Army workers in France19141918circa 1914-191810"One Million Dollar War Fund: To be collected from Lincoln's to Washington's birthday." Soldiers' huts in France (3)19141918circa 1914-191810"Order your coal now. Get it out of Uncle Sam's way - he needs the railroads for the war"19141918circa 1914-19188"Pas Trop De Chahut S.V.P." in French language19161916French1"Patriotic League" (3)1918191812"'Put fighting blood in your business. Here's his record! Does he get a job!' Arthur Woods, Assistant to the Secretary of War"19141918circa 1914-19188"Red Cross Christmas Roll Call" (2)1918191813"Remember Belgium Buy Bonds Fourth Liberty Loan"19171919circa 19182"Save food for world relief" (3)19141918circa 1914-191812"Save a loaf a week - help win the war"191719173"Save the products of the Land. Eat more fish - they feed themselves" (2)191719173"Save and serve the cause of freedom"191719173"Save the Survivors - 3,950,000 starving people"19171919circa 19184"Save the Survivors - 3,950,000 starving people"19141918circa 1914-191814"Salvation Army War Fund" (3)19141918circa 1914-191810"See Him Through Help Us to Help the Boys" (2)191819188"Share in the victory--Save for your country--Save for yourself--Buy War Savings Stamps"191819185"The ships are coming"191719172"Soldiers-Sailors and Women Guests Welcome to the Y.W.C.A. Hostess House" (2)191719177"The Spirit of War Camp Community Service"191819185"Stop - Have you gone your limit in Liberty Bonds? Fighting 4th Liberty Loan"19141918circa 1914-191811"Sugar Means Ships"1917191710"Sure! We'll Finish the Job"191819187"TAG Day, Nov. 23, 1918. Italian War Relief Fund. Give!" (3)1918191810"Tell that to the Marines!" by James Montgomery Flagg19171919circa 1917-191915"Teufel Hunden - German Nickname for U.S. Marines"1917191713"Third Red Cross Roll Call" (2)191819186"This Device on Hat or Helmet Means U.S. Marines"1910192016"This is what God gives us. What are you giving so that others may live?"19141918circa 1914-19184"To-day buy that liberty bond" (2)1917191711"USA Bonds Third Liberty Loan Campaign Boy Scouts of America"19141918circa 1914-19188"United War Work Campaign" in Yiddish langauge19141918circa 1914-1918Yiddish9"United We Serve" (2)1918191813"Universal Membership Week" (3)1918191815"U.S. Marines - Active Service on Land and Sea"19141918circa 1914-191815"U.S. Marines. 'Be a Sea Soldier'"1917191715"U.S. Marines 'Soldiers of the Sea,'" soldiers looking out to sea1917191717"U.S. Marines 'Soldiers of the Sea,'" soldiers with a rifle and a bugle1917191717"U.S. Marines 'Soldiers of the Sea,'" soldiers with weapons in a landing party19141918circa 1914-191815"The U.S. Marines Want You"19141918circa 1914-191813"Use The Handkerchief and Do Your Bit to Protect Me! The Public" (2)19141918circa 1914-191810"V"1917191714"V - Invest" (2)1917191711"War Rages in France"19141918circa 1914-19184"Will You Be One of A Million Workers to Secure Members for The American Red Cross"19141918circa 1914-19188"Workers lend your strength to the red triangle" (3)1918191812"The 'Y' has More than 2000 Such Homes for Our Boys"191819187"The 'Y' has More than 2000 Such Homes for Our Boys"191819183"YMCA United War Work Campaign November 11-18, 1918"1918191814"You can help"191819185"Your War Savings Pledge"191719179"Y.W.C.A"19141918circa 1914-19189"Y.W.C.A Social Club"19171919circa 19184