CLARKE HISTORICAL MUSEUM
  • Home
    • Land Acknowledgement
    • How to find us
  • About the Clarke
    • Annual Report 2023
    • Staff & Board
  • Exhibits
    • Native Plant Garden
    • Main Hall >
      • History of McKinleyville
      • Emmerson Room >
        • Arsenic and Old Lace: A Victorian Cookbook
        • The Carolyn Burns Foundation
      • Historic Firearms
      • Clarke Bird Collection
      • Clarke Gem & Mineral Collection
    • Nealis Hall >
      • About Nealis Hall
      • History of Nealis Hall
      • Florence Harrie (1889–1981, Karuk)
      • Traditional Tastes
      • Shounarr Gaplhouyit! Let’s Eat!
      • Hover Collection
      • Wiyot People, Places, and Practices
      • Traditional Legacy: Baskets from the 1800's
      • Past Mini-Exhibits
    • Community Case
    • Opera Alley Mural >
      • Past Opera Alley Exhibits
    • WWII Memorial Exhibit at the Humboldt County Airport
    • Virtual Tours
    • Online Exhibits >
      • Historic Homicide: The Kjer Family Tragedy
      • Historic Homicide: Northern Humboldt’s Mysterious Murderer: The Unsolved Cases of Bert Porter and Joseph Vierra
      • MPH
      • Immigration, Expulsion, Homecoming
    • Exhibit Archive >
      • Membership
      • Fall Harvest
      • Stitched in Time: Humboldt County's Quilted History
      • Weaving Wonders: Exceptional Design
      • Nellie McGraw
      • Ecological Management
      • Hailstone Collection
      • Maritime History
      • Notable Women of Humboldt County
      • Bigfoot Quilt Raffle
  • Events
    • Second Annual Night At The Museum Gala 2025
    • Arts Alive
    • Saturday Speaker Series
    • Members Only Preview
    • Humboldt Marble Weekend 2025
  • Membership
  • Support
    • Admission
    • Volunteer
    • Donations & Fundraisers
    • Sponsorships
    • Internships
  • Blog
  • Education
    • Untitled
    • TikTok Videos
    • Teacher Resources
    • Additional Resources
    • Research >
      • Humboldt History
      • Local History Links
  • Tours
    • School Tours >
      • Donate & Schedule Your Tour
    • Chinatown Walking Tours
  • NCMA

Collections Finds: WWII Posters

12/18/2018

2 Comments

 
For the last few weeks, I’ve been working with two volunteers on a big project: moving our downstairs archive space upstairs to make room for more exhibits on the main floor of the museum. The process lately has involved moving large, flat file cases out of the archive room to a staging area while we prepare their upstairs home and, due to the size of some of the flat file cases, that’s meant we’ve had to take everything out of the drawers, move the drawer, then replace the items once the drawer has been moved. While it takes a while to move things this way, it gives us a chance to get a really good look at some of the things in the collection that we may not otherwise see. This week, those things were a number of WWII Posters produced by the Office of War Information (OWI).
​I had seen some of these posters before in the collection and outside of it. Of course the most well known include the Uncle Sam “I want You” pointing signs and Rosie the Riveter “We Can Do It” poster. They’ve transcended WWII era America to become something quickly recognizable (and oftentimes spoofed) however, many of the posters that were produced at the time and appear in the museum collections were rather alarming, with slogans like “a careless word, a needless loss” featuring an unconscious sailor on a beach.  
Picture
Picture
Picture
​It turns out, thousands of these posters were made, promoting the sales of war bonds, conserving resources, growing “victory gardens”, improving nutrition, and the promotion of working in war-related industries. They were overseen by the Office of War Information (OWI) Domestic Operations Branch, whose goal was to distribute the posters in every American town and swap them out every two weeks with new posters supporting the war through efforts like rationing, purchasing War Bonds and carpooling at home. The OWI teamed up with Boy Scouts, taxicab agencies, railroads, and the National Retail Association to distribute and update the posters country-wide through the duration of the war. The artists who drew these posters were unpaid and numbered 8,000, and they produced 30,500 images that were turned into posters and comics, becoming one of the faces of the United States during WWII. Artists were instructed to create posters that fit into one of the following themes:  
Picture
​1. The Nature of the Enemy - general or detailed descriptions of this enemy, such as, he hates religion, persecutes labor, kills Jews and other minorities, smashes home life, debases women, etc.
2. The Nature of our Allies - the United Nations theme, our close ties with Britain, Russia, and China, Mexicans and Americans fighting side by side on Bataan and on the battlefronts.
3. The Need to Work - the countless ways in which Americans must work if we are to win the war, in factories, on ships, in mines, in fields, etc.
4. The Need to Fight - the need for fearless waging of war on land, sea, and skies, with bullets, bombs, bare hands, if we are to win.
5. The Need to Sacrifice - Americans are willing to give up all luxuries, devote all spare time to the war effort, etc., to help win the war.
6. The Americans - we are fighting for the four freedoms, the principles of the Atlantic Charter, Democracy, and no discrimination against races and religions, etc.
Picture
Picture
​The posters used a variety of symbols and slogans promoting patriotism and support for the war effort, and many were happy individuals supporting the war effort, however some drew on incredibly racist stereotypes or dark subjects. Some of these posters made specific references to negative outcomes, like ships sinking, from people “talking”.
Picture
The phrase “loose lips sink ships” comes from these posters, which were meant to warn of the dangers of military personnel discussing war plans in the open. There was a major fear of spies in the US during WWII, or individuals who may sell secrets they overheard to the Axis powers, which had the very real possibility of causing an attack and fatalities on the side of the Allies. These particular posters were typically hung places where military personnel frequented, but did appear in civilian areas as well.
Picture
When the WWII period is viewed through these images, a polished, united picture of the population of WWII America arises, which leads to interesting questions on what kind of America people in that period were fighting for in the decision to engage in WWII, and how that image compared to the outcomes reached by the time the war came to an end.  
Picture
2 Comments
breakthrough basketball customer service link
6/14/2024 07:37:24 pm

Achieving peak sport fitness often hinges on more than just physical prowess—it's about strategy, mindset, and support. Breakthrough basketball customer service exemplifies this by providing tailored guidance, enhancing players' performance journeys. Whether advising on optimal training regimens or troubleshooting techniques, their expertise ensures athletes excel. This level of personalized care fosters trust and motivation, crucial for pushing limits and surpassing goals. Beyond mere assistance, it's a partnership in achieving athletic potential. In the realm of sport fitness, where every detail counts, breakthrough basketball customer service stands out, elevating athletes towards their peak performance with precision and dedication.

Reply
totogood link
8/9/2024 11:49:26 am

Casino games offer a thrilling mix of luck and strategy, drawing millions to tables and slots worldwide. From classic card games like poker and blackjack to vibrant slot machines, each game has its unique appeal. Players often seek out the best odds, and that’s where the term "totogood" comes into play. It refers to finding those games that provide the most favorable conditions for winning. Whether you’re a seasoned gambler or a novice, understanding which games are "totogood" can enhance your experience and increase your chances of hitting that jackpot. Ultimately, it’s about fun, excitement, and the allure of the gamble.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    About

    Keep up with the Clarke through our Blog!
    Posts are sent out once a month with our monthly newsletter, but they post here throughout the month so check back each week for something new!

    ​Posts created by Katie Buesch, Interim Director-Curator unless otherwise noted.

      Subscribe to our newsletter!

    Subscribe to Newsletter

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    August 2022
    March 2022
    November 2021
    October 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018

Clarke Historical Museum
240 E Street
​Eureka, California 95501
[email protected]
(707) 443-1947
Open Wednesday - Sunday
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Closed Monday and Tuesday

​Open until 8:30 p.m. during Friday Night Markets
Open until 9 p.m. during Eureka Arts Alive
Copyright © 2018. All Rights Reserved.