World War I Poster Collection

The United States' entry into World War I generated the creation and publication of thousands of colorful posters, both at the national and the local level. Over 350 World War I posters are preserved in the North Carolina State Archives collection. They include recruitment posters from all branches of the armed forces and posters by service organizations such as the American Red Cross and the YWCA, urging monetary donations to support their work at home and abroad. Other posters helped the government raise millions of dollars through the sale of Liberty Bonds. Posters by the US Fuel Administration and the Food Administration called for additional civilian participation in the common war effort. Posters issued by the US Labor Department, Norfolk Naval Shipyard, and the Emergency Fleet Corporation urged increased production and efficiency, so that equipment and war material could reach American soldiers on the front lines in Europe. Many artists used their considerable talents in the creation of posters. A few, such as Howard Chandler Christy, had already achieved commercial fame; others were of local note. This collection includes original posters created in North Carolina by Fred V. Owen and T. S. Davidson, whose hand-drawn and hand-painted works were apparently created for the US Army Recruiting Offices in Greensboro, Charlotte, and Asheville, NC.

A finding aid for the Poster Collection, as well as scanned images of additional posters, can be found by searching the MARS online catalog.

Click on an image to see a larger view.

	"The Spirit Of America - Red Cross." World War I poster by artist Howard Chandler Christy. Fine print in lower left corner reads "Copyright. The American Red Cross". Logo in lower right corner: "Forbes Boston." Call Number: Post.Coll.WWI III.Red Cross F5 #1.
	"Women Awake! Your Country Needs You." World War I recruitment poster. Fine print in lower left corner reads "Andrew B. Graham Co. Lithographers. Washington, D.C." Call Number: Post.Coll.WWI VIII.Recruitment F1 #2.
	"Team Work Wins." World War I poster by artist Roy Hull Still for the Ordnance Department. Small print in lower right corner reads "John H. Eggers Co., New York." Call Number: Post.Coll.WWI VII.Labor F4 #1.
	"Which? Soldier Or Mechanic." World War I recruitment poster. Small print in lower right corner reads "Central Map Reproduction Plant, Engineer School, Washington Barracks, D.C. 1918." Call Number: Post.Coll.WWI VIII.Recruitment F1 #1.
	"Books Wanted For Our Men." World War I public library service announcement. Call Number: Post.Coll.WWI IV.Service Orgs. F1 #2.
	"SOLDIERS - SAILORS And Women Guests." World War I YWCA poster by artist Walter Tittle. Small print in lower left corner: "Rotoprint Gravure Co., N.Y." Call Number: Post.Coll.WWI IV.Service F2 #2.
	"The Girl On The Land Serves The Nation's Need." World War I YWCA recruitment poster by artist Edward Penfield. The logo below the poster is for the United States Printing and Lithograph Co., New York. Call Number: Post.Coll.WWI IV.Service F2 #6.

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Last Modified: 06/17/2006