World War I Poster Collection
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.
Biographical and 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.
Administrative Information
- Publication Information
- Processed by Finley Trent, 2017 December
- 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.
- Preferred Citation
- World War I Poster Collection (MS882), Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.