The National Archives Powers of Persuasion
Poster Art from WW II
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Introduction

About this Exhibit

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Part 1

Man the Guns!

It`s a Woman`s War Too!

United We Win

Use it Up, Wear it Out

Four Freedoms

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Part 2

Warning! Our Homes
Are in Danger Now!

This is Nazi Brutality

He`s Watching You

He Knew the Meaning
of Sacrifice

Stamp `Em Out!

Its's A Woman's War Too

These jobs will have to be glorified as a patriotic war service if American women are to be persuaded to take them and stick to them. Their importance to a nation engaged in total war must be convincingly presented.

--Basic Program Plan for Womanpower
Office of War Information

In the face of acute wartime labor shortages, women were needed in the defense industries, the civilian service, and even the Armed Forces. Despite the continuing 20th century trend of women entering the workforce, publicity campaigns were aimed at those women who had never before held jobs. Poster and film images glorified and glamorized the roles of working women and suggested that a woman`s femininity need not be sacrificed. Whether fulfilling their duty in the home, factory, office, or military, women were portrayed as attractive confident, and resolved to do their part to win the war.

Victory Waits on Your Fingers

Produced by the
Royal Typewriter Company
for the U.S. Civil Service Commission
NARA Still Picture Branch
(NWDNS-44-PA-2272)

(Click on poster for high-resolution image)

Poster Victory Waits on Your Fingers--Keep 'Em Flying, Miss U.S.A.
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Longing Won`t Bring Him Back Sooner...
Get a War Job!
by Lawrence Wilbur, 1944

Printed by the
Government Printing Office for the War
Manpower Commission
NARA Still Picture Branch
(NWDNS-44-PA-389)

(Click on poster for high-resolution image)

Poster Longing Won't Bring Him Back Sooner...Get a War Job!
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We Can Do It!
by J. Howard Miller

Of all the images of working women during World War II, the image of women in factories predominates. Rosie the Riveter--the strong, competent woman dressed in overalls and bandanna--was introduced as a symbol of patriotic womanhood. The accoutrements of war work--uniforms, tools, and lunch pails--were incorporated into the revised image of the feminine ideal.

Produced by Westinghouse
for the War Production
Co-Ordinating Committee
NARA Still Picture Branch
(NWDNS-179-WP-1563)

(Click on poster for high-resolution image)

Poster We Can Do It!

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