Before television, visual advertising was dominated by talented illustrators. During World War II, the U.S. Government leveraged these artists’ talents to create posters that delivered important messages in a single glance.
Viewed both as art and as historical artifacts; these posters had a very real job during the war. They encouraged and informed the average American on how he or she could help win the war. Posters promoted the purchasing of war bonds, growing and canning food, and taking jobs to aid in wartime production. The posters in this exhibition were chosen for their diverse themes and messages, as well as their graphic appeal. They reflect the themes of recruitment, patriotism, conservation and security. Everyone could do their part to win the war, and these posters illustrated how.
Several different U.S. Government organizations created and distributed posters. The Office of War Information was chief among them, as it was their primary duty to inform citizens about the war. The Office of Price Administration assisted in the rationing program by controlling ceiling prices. The War Manpower Commission balanced the labor pool for agriculture, industry and armed forces. All of these departments had their own posters and distributed them from Maine to Hawaii.
