American Legion Posters

During the first half of the 20th century, print and paper were an effective way to convey ideas and information to the citizenry. During the years of the first and the second world wars, posters carried many messages. The American Legion's collection of World War I and II posters is truly outstanding.

Because of the fragile nature of many of these pieces of history, the collection has been photographed and can be viewed via 35mm slide format, or in our new online viewing gallery. Check back regularly to see new additions to our collection of posters.

There is perhaps no single person more responsible for The American Legion’s impressive collection than Verna B. Grimm (1892-1958), who was appointed the first librarian at The American Legion Library in 1923 and maintained that position until her retirement in 1957. She was instrumental in the collection of war posters from various sources (she states in one letter of March 7, 1938 that she had “secured our posters from so many sources it is difficult to give them.” But most were obtained from private parties and a significant number were purchased from American Library Service in New York City. Mrs. Grimm “urged the building up of the war poster collection … as important records of historical interest and of particular value to the student in future years.”

The first public exhibit of many of The American Legion’s World War I posters was on November 11, 1937 when approximately 500 were assembled on 21 huge display racks in the Indiana War Memorial. Thousands of individuals visited the Memorial to view the exhibit. Schools were specially invited to send their students. Viewing was between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. both weekdays and Sundays. Originally scheduled to run for the month of November, there were so many requests that the showing was extended and the exhibit ended on December 31.

The collecting of war posters continued after World War II. With the introduction of television, the production of propaganda posters lessened. Only a few Korean War and Vietnam War posters were produced as compared to earlier wars.

Mrs. Grimm had the foresight to see the value that these would hold for future generations. Each tells a story, is visually pleasing to the eye, and reflects how society at the time attempted to cope with the stress of war. As she wrote in the Guide to the exhibit, “The students and children will be interested in learning of these phases of the World War not found in history text books. They will learn that the war was not just a series of battles, but that with it life had to be lived as gallantly as possible and these personal associations helped make the ordeal endurable.”

SOMEONE TALKED! (koerner) 1942

JUNK RAINS HELL ON AXIS (artzybasheff) 1942

SAVE WASTE FATS

YOUR SCRAP BROUGHT IT DOWN (tudor) 1942

HAVE YOU REALLY TRIED TO SAVE GAS BY GETTING INTO A CAR CLUB? (schmidt, harold van) 1944

HELP WIN THE WAR - SQUEEZE IN ONE MORE (morehouse, lee; dr. suess)

HE NEEDS MORE THAN GUTS! (kling)

"KINGFISHERS" IN EUROPEAN WATERS (united aircraft corporation - world-wide radio photo)

I'LL CARRY MINE TOO! (sarra) 1943

SAVE WASTE FATS FOR EXPLOSIVES (koerner, h.) 1943

PREPARE FOR WINTER NOW! (solid fuels administration for war) 1944

YOUR STORE CAN PROVIDE SALVAGE FOR VICTORY (the national cash register company - ncr)

SAVE WASTE FATS (war production board) 1942

WIN WITH TIN (war production board) 1942

GET IN THE SCRAP (war production board) 1942