2. FIRST CALL American Propaganda Posters of WWI

3. Introduction The enormous output of posters in the United States during and just after the First World War belies this country's late entry into that conflict. The enormous output of posters in the United States during and just after the First World War belies this country's late entry into that conflict. Spurred by the example of the various European combatants, the creation and production of appropriate "pictorial publicity" quickly achieved a very high level of artistic involvement and industrial application. Spurred by the example of the various European combatants, the creation and production of appropriate "pictorial publicity" quickly achieved a very high level of artistic involvement and industrial application. Thousands of designs were created, and most of them were printed in very large numbers. As a result, very few of these posters are scarce even today, and only a small handful might qualify as "rare." Thousands of designs were created, and most of them were printed in very large numbers. As a result, very few of these posters are scarce even today, and only a small handful might qualify as "rare."

4. How did Artists Start? A large number of artists were involved in the creation of posters during the war. A large number of artists were involved in the creation of posters during the war. Some of them came to the work with their reputations already secured through their commercial work in books, magazines, and advertising. Some of them came to the work with their reputations already secured through their commercial work in books, magazines, and advertising. As in Britain, some posters took advantage of work first published as cartoons in the daily papers. As in Britain, some posters took advantage of work first published as cartoons in the daily papers.

5. How did the Posters Help? The obvious aim of recruiting members for the armed forces The obvious aim of recruiting members for the armed forces In the multiple aims of the United War Work Campaign In the multiple aims of the United War Work Campaign In the work of the Red Cross In the work of the Red Cross Most notably in the rapid subscription of the Liberty and Victory loans. Most notably in the rapid subscription of the Liberty and Victory loans. –Each of the four Liberty loan campaigns (two in 1917, two in 1918) and the Victory loan campaign of early 1919 brought an outpouring of poster art on both the local and national levels.

6. How Much Money Was Made? In a context where the various Liberty and Victory loan drives achieved something like 30 billion dollars in returns these efforts may seem tiny, but cumulatively they and others like them did much for the proliferation of the poster as an important means of war effort communication In a context where the various Liberty and Victory loan drives achieved something like 30 billion dollars in returns these efforts may seem tiny, but cumulatively they and others like them did much for the proliferation of the poster as an important means of war effort communication

7. The Exhibit The following posters are in an exhibit opened on Armistice Day in 1997, at Georgetown University The following posters are in an exhibit opened on Armistice Day in 1997, at Georgetown University The works are a collection of Roger N. Mohovich, as a gift from his heirs, David Van Buskirk and Warren Wilson The works are a collection of Roger N. Mohovich, as a gift from his heirs, David Van Buskirk and Warren Wilson