The Need to Work
The American economy had tremendous capacity to turn out vast quantities of the materials necessary to fight a total war, but the transition from producing consumer goods in a free market environment to war supplies in a more directed economy was not easy. Stressing the spirit of voluntary cooperation, wartime posters exhorted managers and workers to increase production, farmers to grow more food, urban dwellers to plant their victory gardens, and those not typically in the work force, especially women, to step into the positions vacated by servicemen. Without their best efforts, the fighting man was handicapped and the war prolonged. In total war the worker and the soldier were both essential for victory. Posters employed powerful images to convey these messages.
POSTERS
Title: “The Five Sullivan Brothers, Missing In Action Off The Solomons, They Did Their Part”
Date: 1943
Sponsor: Office of War Information
Title: “Enlist In A Proud Profession! Join The U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps”
Artist: Edmundson
Date: 1943
Sponsor: Cadet Nurse Corps
Title: “Serve Those Who Served. Nurses Are Needed In Veterans Administration Hospitals”
Artist: Douglas Crockwell
Date: 1945
Sponsor: Veterans Administration
Title: “I Need You On The Job Full Time, Don’t Get Hurt”
Artist: Harry Morse Meyers
Date: 1943
Sponsor: War Department Safety Council
Title: “You’ve Got What It Takes Soldier, Now Take Care Of What You’ve Got”
Artist: Ernes Hamlin Baker
Date: 1943
Sponsor: U.S.
Title: “Fool The Axis – Use Prophylaxis, Prophylaxis Prevents Venereal Disease"
Artist: Arthur Szyk
Date: 1942
Sponsor: John Wyeth & Brothers, Inc.
Title: “Victory Starts Here”
Artist: Bates
