Recruiting Posters through the Ages

The impact of the recruiting poster as a means of communication was great. The ability of posters to inspire, inform, and persuade combined with vibrant design trends in many of the World One and World War Two posters are very interesting. As artistic works, the posters range in style from anonymous broadsides (predominantly text) used in the Civil War to graphically vibrant works by well-known designers during World War I and World War II.

Many posters asked men to do their duty and join the military forces. Compelling posters were an important tool in encouraging as many mean as possible to enlist.

Women, who weren't being recruited for the military, were also asked to do their part. They could serve through relief organizations such as the YWCA or the Red Cross, or through government jobs. It really was not until World War II that women were recruited into the service mostly as typists and clerks.

Enjoy the wide and varied collections that we have assembled and digitially enhanced and cleaned.