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Contact:
Jack Lufkin, (515) 281-8295
Sarah Oltrogge,
(515) 281-4011
DES
MOINES, Iowa
Before television was invented and news about
America fighting wars was limited to radio and the
news reels at the movies, there were the propaganda
posters.
The State Historical Society of Iowa will open a
new exhibit on Sept. 11 called "'A Vast
Enterprise in Salesmanship': World War I Poster
Propaganda and Art," which explores the ways in
which artists depicted the war effort to garner
support. The exhibit will be on display until the end
of January.
Shortly after America's entry into World War I
against Germany in 1917, millions of posters and
billboards appeared throughout the country.
America's best-known artists, illustrators and
cartoonists voluntarily offered some 700 designs to
relay the message that this war was a noble mission
and required a massive commitment.
"These posters are very visual and use few
words to convey their message because they needed to
be understandable and recognizable instantly for
people walking by who may or may not have been able to
read," said Jack Lufkin, curator of the exhibit.
"In that sense, this is also a very colorful
exhibit."
The posters focus on the need for money to provide
food, materials and to support the soldiers and aid
war victims. The images and words fired a mix of
passions and symbols.
The Red Cross, for example, produced a large number
of posters urging Americans to volunteer by offering
clothing or money for Christmas packages, and
rendering medical assistance behind the lines. The
organization was already conducting relief work well
before the United States declared war on Germany.
President Woodrow Wilson named newspaperman George
Creel to head a crusade to mobilize American's
emotions. Creel tapped the creator of the famous
Gibson girl, Charles Dana Gibson, to head the Division
of Pictorial Publicity, to create the posters. Creel
characterized their successful efforts as "a vast
enterprise in salesmanship."
The State Historical Building, located at 600 E.
Locust, Des Moines, is open Tuesday-Saturday, 9
a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Sunday from noon-4:30 p.m. Call
515-281-5111.
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