New-York Historical Society collection of World War II posters
Call Number
Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
About 500 posters related to various aspects of the United States' mobilization during World War II. Topics include recruitment, war bonds, general war support, production, conservation, the need to avoid speaking freely about military matters, and more.
Arrangement
The collection is largely organized by subject matter. However, users should be aware that there are several folders of unsorted and miscellaneous posters, and some of the identified subjects also appear in those folders. Also, certain subjects cut across the files; for example, posters aimed at women and their role in the war effort can be found in several of the subject categories.
Scope and Contents
The collection is comprised of approximately 500 posters related to various aspects of the United States's mobilization for World War II. Topics include war financing (war bonds, donations); conservation and rationing; recruitment for the military and for the domestic workforce, including a target audience of women for the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAACs), Nursing Corps, and homefront jobs; the need to avoid loose talk concerning military and defense matters; production of goods; quality and safety; general war support using patriotic, religious and other themes; and other matter.
Most of the posters were produced by the U.S. government, though there are many produced by corporate or other private interests. Most of the posters are oriented to a national audience; a few are from New York City and have a local target audience is local. The collection also holds some posters from Canada and, to a lesser extent, the United Kingdom.
Subjects
Conditions Governing Access
For more information on making arrangements to consult the collection, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.
Some of the materials, as noted in the containr list, are fragile and are restricted. Arrangements must be made in advance to allow for review by Conservation.
Conditions Governing Use
Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff.
Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.
Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: https://www.nyhistory.org/about/rights-reproductions
Preferred Citation
This collection should be cited as The New-York Historical Society Collection of World War II Posters, PR 55-8, Department of Prints, Photographs, and Architectural Collections, The New-York Historical Society.
Location of Materials
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was compiled over time by New-York Historical Society from various donations and purchases.
About this Guide
Processing Information
The collection was processed and arranged topically at some point in time, perhaps in the 1990s. A container list was prepared in 2003 by archivist Jenny Gotwals as part of an overall Posters Collection (PR 55) finding aid. In 2018, archivist Larry Weimer prepared a finding aid for the World War II posters, incorporating and expanding on the 2003 container list.
Repository
View Inventory
War Bonds and Stamps (4 folders)
Anti-Conversation Campaign (3 folders)
Scope and Contents
Posters on the theme of not discussing military or defense matters (e.g., "no loose talk") in order to avoid inadvertently providing information to the enemy.
Conservation (3 folders)
Conservation
Rubber Conservation
Scope and Contents
Posters by the Bureau of Home Economics, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Anti-Inflation Campaign (Rationing)
Recruitment (2 folders)
Scope and Contents
Nurse Corps; Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAACS, and see also WAACS folder below); and general military service.
Recruitment
Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAACs)
Scope and Contents
See also Recruitment folder above.
Safety
"Joe Dope" Safety Campaign
Scope and Contents
Artist: Will Eisner.
Production
Scope and Contents
Some of the posters in the folder are by the Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies.
Production
Army E Navy [Excellence]
Scope and Contents
Posters from companies noting their excellence in providing products to the military. The bulk of the posters are from the Auto-Ordnance Corporation, the manufacturer of the Thompson submachine gun, or Tommy gun. Two other companies are represented: Nabisco/National Biscuit Company and Burroughs Wellcome & Co. See also the Bella C. Landauer Collection of Business and Advertising Ephemera (PR 31, series VIII) for extensive examples of E awards.
Women. Homefront Workforce
Scope and Contents
Posters advocating employment in the workforce in support of the war effort; workplace safety specifically geared to women.
Civilian Defense (2 folders)
Scope and Contents
At least one of these posters was produced by the Committee to Defend America by Aiding the Allies.
American Patriotism
Scope and Contents
Themes of liberty, patriotism, and the like for war support.
Allied Unity Against the Enemy
R. Hoe & Company National War Poster Competition Winners
Scope and Contents
Competition held at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), conducted under the auspices of Artists for Victory Inc.
Posters Incorporating Norman Rockwell Paintings
Foreign (3 folders)
Scope and Contents
From Canada and the United Kingdom.
Red Cross (2 folders)
"Camouflage Blinds the Enemy" Campaign
Campaigns for Donations
Book-related
Scope and Contents
One poster using a Nazi book burning as a reason to support the war effort and other posters calling for book donations.
Navy Training. Aircraft Recognition Tests
Navy Training. Equipment Maintenance (2 folders)
Air Force / Navy
Scope and Contents
Relates to the military services generally.
Car Cards (2 folders)
Message Banners
"Official Navy Poster"
Scope and Contents
Series of posters produced by the Navy, many if not all with a focus on the Pacific theater and the need to defeat the Japanese.
Unsorted / Miscellaneous (2 folders)
Scope and Contents
Among the various topics here are: buy bonds; religious themed reasons for war support; safety; general military service-related; anti-conversation/loose talk; interamerican cooperation (cartoons of Latin American characters confronting Nazis); and a New York Central Railroad notice of train service suspensions to conserve coal.
Unsorted / Miscellaneous
Scope and Contents
Topics include, among others, general war support/patriotism, buy bonds, civil defense, anti-conversation/loose talk, R. Hoe competition posters, and general military service.
Matted Posters (3 drawers)
Scope and Contents
Posters matted for a WWII poster exhibition at N-YHS in 1990-91.
Rolled Posters
Scope and Contents
Damaged, fragile items, which include landing craft posters.
Unsorted Posters (12 folders) (RESTRICTED)
Conditions Governing Access
These posters relate to various subjects. Many are fragile and torn. Many are unsorted, mixed with WWI era posters that are also fragile. Access must be arranged in advance and coordinated with Conservation.