When Posters Went to War: The Division of Pictorial Publicity and Propaganda Posters in World War I

In the Great War, the United States of America established its first large-scale propaganda agency, calling upon 300 artists to inspire the nation to contribute to the war effort. Since radio and film would not gain popularity until the Second World War, posters were the primary news source of war information during the Great War. Poster topics focused on recruitment, financial needs, and homefront issues. Over two-thirds of the total war cost was raised by the Fourth Liberty Loan Drive advertised by the Division’s compelling posters. The artists took their jobs seriously and recognized the significance of their duties to the US government, the war effort, and propaganda machinery. This study employs a historical analysis framework, utilizing primary sources such as posters, memoirs, advertisements, and other printed sources from the Great War. It heavily relies on the correspondence between George Creel, executive director and chairman of the Committee of Public Information, and Charles Dana Gibson, President of the Society of Illustrators and head of the Division of Pictorial Publicity. The study also focuses on the paintings, posters, and journals of James Montgomery Flagg, who created more posters during the war era than any other artist on the committee. Even though the United States participated in the last year of the war, the nation outproduced every other country involved, and many poster designs became iconic symbols of America, freedom, and courage.