Collection #
P0156
World war ii
poster collection, 1942, 1943, n.d.
Collection Information
Historical
Sketch
Scope
and Content Note
Series
Contents
Cataloging Information
Processed by
Shirley Yegerlehner and Donna Zimmerman,
David Pfeiffer, Dorothy A. Nicholson
26 March 2008
Manuscript and Visual Collections Department
William Henry Smith Memorial Library
Indiana Historical Society
450 West Ohio Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3269
www.indianahistory.org
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VOLUME OF
COLLECTION:
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1 box OVC Graphics, 13 oversize posters in flat file
storage
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COLLECTION
DATES:
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1942, 1943, n.d.
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PROVENANCE:
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Rowland Allen, Indianapolis, July 1973; Unknown, 1974; Indiana State Chamber of Commerce, 1988
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RESTRICTIONS:
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None
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COPYRIGHT:
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REPRODUCTION
RIGHTS:
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Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection
must be obtained from the Indiana Historical Society.
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ALTERNATE
FORMATS:
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RELATED
HOLDINGS:
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ACCESSION
NUMBER:
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1973.0705, 1974.0509, 1988.0600
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NOTES:
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War posters served an important role on the Home Front in
the United States during World War II. The posters served to keep Americans
informed of the war, remind them of their patriotic duties, and instill a sense
of anger towards the enemy nations. This collection contains posters from the
Office of War Information, the Vital to Victory series, and a few on the
subject of War Relief.
The Office for War Information was created by an executive
order in June 1942. Records on the Office of War Information state that its
function was “to promote, in the United States and abroad, understanding of the
status and progress of the war effort and of war policies, activities, and aims
of the U.S. government.” The posters in this collection are mainly used to
rally public support to the cause by reminding people of enemy atrocities and
victories won by the military. Also included are a few posters done by Norman
Rockwell, celebrating rights that Americans hold dear and showing how buying
bonds helps protect those rights. The posters range from 1942–1943.
The Vital to Victory series is a locally produced group of
six posters devoted to informing people in Indiana of the important role that laundry
plays in the war effort. The posters are meant to encourage laundry workers by
showing how their work is valuable for the war effort and uses images of
soldiers to show how they keep Americans fighting. These posters were printed
in 1942 by Brown and Binford of Indianapolis.
The final series of posters are for War Relief Funds. The
International Red Cross considered war relief to civilians to include “financial
aid, food, clothing, medical and sanitary supplies, ambulance and automotive
equipment, and transportation services.” Funds donated through the various
relief funds allowed such items to be purchased and sent overseas to the countries
in need. The goal was to help Axis-held countries survive occupation and then
help countries affected by war rebuild. There are two posters produced by
Russian War Relief Inc. and one from the Greek War Relief Association. The
posters call for Americans to help the people of these war-torn countries
rebuild through monetary donations. Russian War Relief, Inc. was not connected
with the American government. The Greek War Relief Association was founded in
1940, shortly after Italy invaded Greece. The group raised money to send food,
clothing, and medical supplies to Greece. The Greek poster was part of the
National War Fund.
Sources:
“Greek War Relief Association.”
Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church. Accessed 26
March 2008. http://www.saintbarbara.org/about/war_relief.cfm
Information from the collection.
“Records of the Office of War
Information.” The National Archives. Accessed 19 March
2008. http://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/208.html#208.1
“World War II Accomplishments of
the Red Cross.” The International Red Cross.
Accessed 26 March 2008. http://www.redcross.org/museum/history/ww2a.asp
SCOPE AND
CONTENT NOTE
The posters have been arranged by organization. The Contents
section of the collection guide lists the Title, Artist (if identified), Size,
Organization, Printer, and a Description.
Series 1: Office of War Information Posters
Series 2: Indiana Vital to Victory Posters, six
multi-chromatic posters publicizing the work of laundry and dry cleaning
employees as “Vital to Victory” all printed in 1942 by Brown & Binford of
Indianapolis. Walt White credited as artist for two posters.
Series 3: War Relief Posters
Series 1: Office of War Information Posters, 1942, 1943, n.d.
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CONTENTS
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CONTAINER
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Title:
a careless word…A NEEDLESS LOSS
Artist: Anton Otto Fischer
Size: 40 x 28 inches
Organization: OWI Poster No. 36 Division of Public Inquiries, Office
of War Information, Washington D.C.
Printer: U.S. Government Printing Office :
1943—O-506018
Description: Dead sailor washed up on beach
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Oversize Graphics:
Folder 1
Flat File 2-b
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Title:
AMERICANS will always fight for liberty 1778 1943
Artist: B[ernard] Perlin
Size: 28 x 20 inches
Organization: OWI Poster No. 26, Division of Public Inquiries, Office
of War Information, Washington, D.C.
Printer: U.S. Government Printing Office: 1943—O-502684
Description: Revolutionary War Soldiers with rifles under caption 1778
and World War II soldiers with rifles under caption 1943
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Oversize Graphics:
Folder 2
Flat File 2-b
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Title:
AVENGE December 7
Artist: Bernard Perlin
Size: 27 x 22 inches
Organization: OWI Poster No. 15, Division of Public Inquiries, Office
of War Information, Washington, D.C.
Printer: U.S. Government Printing Office: 1942—O-491978
Description: Sailor with fist raised; sinking battleships at bottom;
in red, white and black
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Oversize Graphics:
Folder 3
Flat File 2-b
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Title:
Do with less-so they’ll have enough!
Rationing Gives You Your Fair Share
Size: 28 x 22 inches
Organization: OWI Poster No. 37 Division of Public Inquiries, Office
of War Information, Washington, D.C.
Printer: U.S. Government Printing Office: 1943—O-506014
Description: Photograph of smiling soldier in helmet drinking from tin
cup
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Oversize Graphics:
Folder 4
Flat File 2-b
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Title:
…now, are you mad?
Size: 21.5 x 28.5 inches
Printer: PA-10
Description: Two American servicemen tied and bleeding being
threatened by Japanese soldier with sword, American newspaper with headline
“JAPS EXECUTE YANK FLYERS” behind title; in black gray and red
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Oversize Graphics:
Folder 5
Flat File 2-b
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Title:
OURS…TO FIGHT FOR FREEDOM FROM FEAR
Artist: Norman Rockwell
(Painting from the Saturday Evening Post)
Size: 28 x 20 inches
Organization: OWI Poster No. 46, Division of Public Inquiries, Washington, D.C.
Printer: U.S. Government Printing Office: 1943—O-511887
Description: Mother and father putting children to bed.
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Oversize Graphics:
Folder 6
Flat File 2-b
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Title:
SAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH BUY WAR BONDS
Artist: Norman Rockwell (Painting from The Saturday Evening Post)
Size: 28 x 20 inches
Organization: OWI Poster No. 44, Division of Public Inquiries, Office
of War Information, Washington, D.C.
Printer: U.S. Government Printing Office: 1943—O-510257
Description: Man standing to speak at a town meeting in Vermont
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Oversize Graphics:
Folder 7
Flat File 2-b
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Title:
SAVE FREEDOM OF WORSHIP BUY WAR BONDS
Caption: EACH ACCORDING TO THE DICTATES OF HIS OWN CONSCIENCE;
Artist: Norman Rockwell (Painting from the Saturday Evening Post)
Size: 28 x 20 inches
Organization: OWI Poster No. 43, Division of Public Inquiries; Office
of War Information, Washington, D.C.
Printer: U.S. Government Printing Office: 1943—O-510256
Description: Profiles of people in prayer, showing heads and hands
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Oversize Graphics:
Folder 8
Flat File 2-b
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Title:
Strong in the strength of the Lord
We who fight in the people’s cause will never stop until that cause is won
Artist: David Stone Martin
Size: 28 x 22 inches
Organization: OWI Poster No. 8
Printer: U.S. Government Printing Office : 1942—O-488341
Description: Three arms, soldier holding rifle, male and female
factory workers holding tools
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Oversize Graphics:
Folder 9
Flat File 2-b
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Title:
We have just begun to fight!
Caption: Pearl Harbor, Bataan, Coral Sea, Midway, Guadalcanal, New
Guinea, Bismarck Sea, Casablanca, Algiers, Tunisia
Size: 28 x 20 inches
Organization: OWI Poster No. 62, Division of Public Inquiries,
Washington, D.C.
Printer: U.S. Government Printing Office: 1943—O-527284
Description: Soldier with rifle is shouting and has arm raised;
soldier sketched in black and battles listed in black; red title on white
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Oversize Graphics:
Folder 10
Flat File 2-b
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Series 2: Indiana “Vital To Victory” Posters, 1942
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CONTENTS
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CONTAINER
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Title:
AMERICA MUST SAVE TO WIN
Caption: Upon the laundry and dry cleaning worker rests the full
responsibility of conserving the nation’s fabrics; YOUR JOB HERE IS Vital
to Victory
Size: 20 x 16 inches
Printer: Brown & Binford—Indianapolis 1942
Description: Men operating cleaning equipment; eagle flying overhead;
in brown orange and green
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OVC Graphics:
Box 1, Folder 1
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Title:
CLEAN CLOTHES help Uncle Sam keep Thumbs Up
Caption: Serving 19 million families, laundry and dry cleaning workers
play an essential role in maintaining morale YOUR JOB HERE IS Vital to Victory
Size: 21.5 x 16 inches
Printer: Brown & Binford—Indianapolis, 1942
Description: Uncle Sam’s hand giving a thumbs up; battle scene in
background; red, green and black
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OVC Graphics:
Box 1, Folder 2
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Title:
CLOTHES SAVED mean DOLLARS SAVED; Dollars to win the war
Caption: Were it not for our industry, thousands of the dollars now
going into War Bonds would be going into new fabrics instead; YOUR JOB HERE
IS Vital to Victory
Size: 21.5 x 16 inches
Printer: [Brown & Binford—Indianapolis]
Description: Statue of the Minuteman; small battle scene in
foreground; pink, green yellow; one corner missing
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OVC Graphics:
Box 1, Folder 3
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Title:
FREED to join the fight for freedom
Caption: Each regularly employed laundry worker releases 7 housewives
for voluntary war service; YOUR JOB HERE IS Vital to Victory
Size: 21.5 x 16 inches
Printer: Brown & Binford–Indianapolis 1942
Description: Seven women in different types of uniforms; light red,
yellow, blue and white
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OVC Graphics:
Box 1, Folder 4
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Title:
THEY’RE ALL DEPENDING ON YOU
Artist: Walt White
Caption: The service you are providing is vital to America’s homes,
industries, institutions and armed forces YOUR JOB HERE IS Vital to Victory
Size: 22 x 16 inches
Printer: Brown & Binford—Indianapolis 1942
Description: Small sketches of an average house, a hospital, a
military reservation and a defense plant
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OVC Graphics:
Box 1, Folder 5
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Title:
VICTORY is a question of TIME
Artist: Walt White
Caption: Laundry and cleaning workers are giving women a total of 72
million extra hours weekly for voluntary patriotic service; YOUR JOB HERE IS Vital
to Victory
Size: 22 x 16 inches
Printer: Brown & Binford—Indianapolis 1942
Description: Woman’s hand making “V” for Victory sign ; smaller
figures of women in uniforms in front of clock face
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OVC Graphics:
Box 1, Folder 6
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Series 3: War Relief Posters, 1943, n.d.
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CONTENTS
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CONTAINER
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Title:
38,000,000 ESCAPED—10,000,000 DIED
Caption: Text describes casualties suffered by Russia
Artist: W Means
Size: 19.5 x 28 inches
Organization: Russian War Relief, Inc., 11 E. 35th St., New
York City
Description: Map of United States with map of western half of Soviet
Union superimposed over it to show extent of Nazi occupation; illustrates
need for American aid.
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Oversize Graphics:
Folder 11
Flat File 2-b
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Title:
HELP Put him back in OUR FIGHT
Size: 21.5 x 14 inches
Organization: Russian War Relief, Inc.
Printer: Einson-Freeman Co Inc, L.I. City, N.Y.
Description: Wounded Russian soldier falling on large red star, shells
bursting in background
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Oversize Graphics:
Folder 12
Flat File 2-b
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Title:
XAIRETE NIKOMEN [we will be victorious]
Artist: E. McKnight Kauffer, ‘43
Size: 31 x 22 inches
Organization: Greek War Relief Association, Inc. 730 Fifth Ave., New York 19. N. Y. A member agency of The National War Fund
Description: Symbolic robed figure of Greece wearing helmet and
holding sword in front of Greek flag, gray and blue on white
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Oversize Graphics:
Folder 13
Flat File 2-b
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For additional information on this collection, including a
list of subject headings that may lead you to related materials:
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to the Indiana Historical Society's online catalog: http://opac.indianahistory.org/
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