Food- Don’t Waste It

Food- Don’t Waste It

Just by taking a quick look at the 1917 U.S. Food Administration poster “Food, Don’t Waste It” appears to be almost too simple to hold any significance. The poster was created by Frederic G. Cooper. He made the poster very simple, with no imagery, decorative features,...
Enlist: On Which Side of the Window are You?

Enlist: On Which Side of the Window are You?

Both the U.S. government and private organizations conducted large scale propaganda in order to build support for the war, most notably in Laura Brey’s 1917 recruitment poster [4] “Enlist: On Which Side of the Window Are You?” This image captures what is likely a...
Civarro Family

Civarro Family

Lewis Hine’s 1917 photograph of the Civarro family powerfully captures the everyday struggles of working-class family life in early twentieth-century urban America. Taken inside a cramped New York tenement apartment, the photograph shows Mrs. Civarro holding her...
I Want You For U.S. Army

I Want You For U.S. Army

When an art enthusiast or visitor encounters the “I Want YOU for the U.S. Army” poster, they will most likely see a gruff, commanding figure in the persona of Uncle Sam, dressed in red, white, and blue, pointing directly at the viewer, which would be you. This is...
Columbia Calls

Columbia Calls

The World War I poster titled “Columbia Calls” was created in 1916 by Frances Adams Halsted and illustrated by V. Aderente. The poster was meant to encourage young men to join the U.S. Army during a time where America was still deciding whether or not to enter the...