World War II Posters

During World War II, various United States government agencies produced posters as part of propaganda campaigns to mobilize public support for the war effort. Posters were mass produced, distributed around the country, and displayed in public spaces. They urged Americans to conserve the nation’s vital resources by rationing goods and services, growing, canning and preserving their own food, and limiting travel, all for the sake of the soldiers. Other posters promoted patriotism—encouraging Americans to contribute to war funds by buying bonds, to work for Victory, to remember Pearl Harbor, and to avoid careless talk that could reveal national secrets and undermine the war effort.

Government agencies responsible for issuing posters in the collection include The Office of War Information (OWI), the War Production Board (WPB), and the Office of Defense Transportation (ODT). The OWI was established in June 1942 by Executive Order 9182. The agency’s primary purpose was to formulate and execute information programs in the United States and abroad promoting the progress of the war effort and war policies, activities, and aims of the United States government. The War Production Board was established in January 1942 by executive order 9024. Its primary purpose was to supervise federal war procurement and production programs during World War II. The United States Office of Defense Transportation was established within the Office for Emergency Management in December 1941, by Executive Order 8989.The primary purpose of the ODT was to coordinate and direct the utilization of domestic transportation facilities during World War II.