January 11, 1987
By David M. Buchanan
Vigo County Historical Society
WWII posters depict pro-war sentiments
“War-Uh-What is it good for?--Absolutely nuthin!” So states a popular 1960s anti-war song undergoing a revival. Though the pros and cons of any way can be debated, for those interested in the graphic arts, a war is good for something--the war poster.
It would be impossible to tell how far back the earliest form of posters might go, but the printed single sheet poster only became common after the 1890s. Before that, most posters were primarily handbills with little artwork and lots of text. They were meant for a slower-paced society where the person walking past could take the time to stop and read.
By the 1890s, life’s pace was beginning to move faster. The benefits of the industrial revolution were being seen. Consumerism was becoming a force encouraged by more and more private enterprises. Artists were beginning to look upon the poster as an art form.
The military poster came into popular use by all governments engaged in World War I, usually as a means to sell war bonds. During World War II, governments again began issuing war posters to educate their people. The selling of war bonds was still popular, but the posters also were used to convince people of the need to conserve supplies, to fight black marketing, to turn in scrap materials for recycling for the war effort, to warn people about the possibility of spies and saboteurs, and to recruit volunteers for the service.
Every branch of the United States Armed Services offered posters for recruitment, including the U.S. Merchant Marines.
This week’s historical treasure is a 1944 recruitment poster for the U.S. Army. The poster states that women had 239 different types of jobs available in the Army.
The poster depicts a young, blond-haired woman intently soldering a radio. The dark and stormy clouds of war have gathered in the sky behind her while service men move their trucks and heavy equipment in the impending gloom. Through it all the woman gives a sense of calm and purpose. Unhurried, she does her task and does it well. The message of the poster is not just that a woman can become a part of a work force badly depleted while the men are serving on the battlefield. It also shows that there is little to worry about if everyone does his or her part. The dark clouds are lifting on the horizon. All soon will be well again.
This war poster is in excellent condition, through not mint. To be in mint condition, a poster would not have any signs of creases, folds or marks. Most were folded to be mailed, so posters in mint condition are seldom found. This war poster and others are on display in the Military Room of the Museum.
The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth, is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.