Old WWII Posters

Old WWII Posters

  

Fly - U.S. Army Air Forces

 

Army-air-forces-wwii-poster

 

A WWII recruiting poster for the Army: "Fly - U.S. Army Air Forces."

 

 

Let Me Do the Talking

Let-me-do-talking-wwii-poster

 

This not-so-subtle poster by artist Homer Ansley was used during WWII to remind citizens to be cautious about careless talk and let the military do the speaking with heavy weapons: "Let me do the talking! Serve in silence." From the norther California WPA Art Program between 1941 and 1943.

 


Buy War Stamps & Bonds

 

 

Buy-stamps-bonds-wwii-poster

 

Created at some point between 1941 and 1943 this poster from the WPA War Services of Louisiana encourages the purchase of war stamps and bonds during WWII: "He gives 100%, you can lend 10%. Buy War Stamps & Bonds." Illustrated by John McCrady.

 


Join the WAC now!

 

Join-wac-wwii-poster

 

This WWII poster for the Recruiting Publicity Bureau of the United States Army was illustrated by artist Bradshaw Crandell, c. 1943. "Are you a girl with star-spangled heart? Join the WAC now! Thousands of Army jobs need filling! Women's Army Corp. United States Army."

 


Classes in War Training

 

Training-wwii-poster

 

 A WWII poster promoting Federal government sponsored classes in industry related occupations to aid the war effort, at the University of Southern California, War Training Office. Illustrated as part of the WPA Federal Art Project some time between 1941 and 1943.

 


This Is Your Air Raid Protection

 

This-is-your-air-raid-protecti

 

A WWII WPA poster for the Pennsylvania State Council of Defense encouraging civilians to be properly prepared for air raids. "This is Your Air Raid Protection. Get it Now." Illustrated by Zebedee Johnson, c. 1941

 


Enlist Now! U.S. Coast Guard

 

Enlist-now-us-coast-guard

 

This WWII poster encourages boat owners to enlist in the U.S. Coast Guard: "Operators of Small Boats. Enlist Now! U.S. Coast Guard. Recruiting Station, 146 Baronne St., New Orleans, La." Created by WPA War Services of Louisiana, circa 1942.

 


Grow It Yourself

 

 

Grow-it-yourself-ww2-poster

 

This WWII poster for the U.S. Department of Agriculture was used to promote victory gardens. It reads, "Grow It Yourself. Plan a Farm Garden Now. Rural Electrification Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture." Illustrated by Herbert Bayer, circa 1942.

 


 

Careless Talk Costs Lives

Careless-talk-costs-lives

 

This WWII poster warns that irresponsible communication may harm the war effort. Illustrated by Al Doria for the WPA War Service of Louisiana, 1943.

 


 

Are You Helping with Salvage?

Are-you-helping-with-salvage-w

 

This WWII poster shows a man welding and sea planes in an effort to encourage citizen participation in salvage for the war effort. Text at the bottom of the poster reads, "War Production Board. Designed & Produced by Work Projects Administration. So. Calif." Circa 1941.

 


 

Decontamination Squads

 

Decontamination-squads

 

This WWII-era poster encourages civilians to join civil defense squads; "Join Now. The Office of Civilian Defense Needs You For Decontamination Squads." Illustrated by Louisiana W.P.A. War Services, c. 1943.

 


 

Stop and get your free fag bag

 

Fag-bag-wwii-poster

 

A WWII WPA poster from the War Services Project in Pennsylvania: "Stop and get your free fag bag Careless matches aid the Axis." The poster encourages the use of a "fag bag" for disposal of matches. "Fag" is a colloquialism for cigarettes commonly used during the '40s. Illustrated by Louis Hirshman some time between 1941 and 1943.

 


 

Buy War Bonds

 

Buy-bonds-wwii-poster

 

 

A WWII poster promoting war bonds: "If you can't go buy war bonds. Our bonds are their security!! This hotel pledges a 100% payroll allotment." Illustrated as part of the WPA Federal Art Project some time between 1941 and 1943.

 


 

War Industry Needs Water

Water-wwii-poster

 

A WWII poster promoting conservation of water in Philadelphia in support of war production. "War industry needs water. Protect production, use it wisely." Illustrated by Glenn Stuart Pearce at some point between 1941 and 1943 for the WPA Federal Art Project in Philadelphia.

 


 

Make New Orleans a Safe Port of Departure

New-orleans-safe-wwii-poster

 

Illustrated by John McCrady for the WPA War Services in Louisiana between 1941 and 1943, this poster warns about the dangers of carless talk about ship departures: "This happens when you talk to others about ship sailings. Let's make New Orleans a safe port of departure."

 


 

Let's Go Get 'em! U.S. Marines

 

Marines-wwii-poster

 

 

This World War II recruiting poster shows marines bearing rifles with bayonets in a jungle: "Let's go get 'em! U.S. Marines," c. 1942.

 


Production, America's answer!

 

Production-wwii-poster

 

 

 

This promotional poster was created for the Office for Emergency Management, Division of Information, in 1941: "Production, America's answer!" Illustrated by Jean Carlu.

 


 

Support the War Effort: Sew For Victory

Sew-for-victory-wwii-poster

 

This WWII poster encourages women on the home front to "Sew For Victory" in support of the war. Designed by Pistchal for New York City WPA War Services between 1941 and 1943.

 


 

Keep It To Yourself Buddy

Keep-to-yourself-wwii-poster

 

This poster shows a soldier with a finger to his lips warning people not to be careless in what they say during WWII: "Keep it to yourself buddy." A WPA Art Project illustration by Russell W. Kraus between 1941 and 1943.

 

 

 

Keep Cool, Don't Scream

Air-raid-wwii-poster

 

A Works Progress Administration/Federal Art Project poster provides instruction on proper air raid behavior: "Air raid precautions. Keep cool, don't scream, don't run, prevent disorder, obey all instructions." Illustrated by Charlotte Angus for the Pennsylvania Art WPA between 1941 and 1943.


 

Let's Censor Our Conversation

Censored-wwii-poster

 

This WWII Works Progress Administration/Federal Arts Project poster from 1943 for the War Services of Louisiana warns people to be cautious in discussing the war effort: "'Censored.' Let's censor our conversation about the war."

 


 

An Orderly Line Is a Safe Line

Orderly-line-wwii-poster

 

A poster promoting safety and orderly conduct during WWII civil defense air raid drills: "An orderly line is a safe line!" A Federal Art Project poster by Christopher DeNoon from the New York City Works Progress Administration War Service, between 1941 and 1943.

 


Your Wartime Duty

Wartime-duty-wwii-poster

 

A poster for The New York City Department of Water Supply, Gas & Electricity urging people to conserve water: "Your wartime duty! Don't waste water. Do not use hose for washing your automobile. Do use water from a pail." Silkscreen illustration by Earl Kerkam between 1941 and 1943 as part of the New York City Works Progress Administration War Services.