US poster of black smoke around displayed national flags
Extent and Medium
overall: Height: 28.000 inches (71.12 cm) | Width: 20.000 inches (50.8 cm)
Creator(s)
- United States Office of War Information (Distributor)
- Leslie Ragan (Artist)
- United States Government Printing Office (Printer)
Biographical History
The United States Office of War Information (OWI) was created on June 13, 1942, to centralize and control the content and production of government information and propaganda about the war. It coordinated the release of war news for domestic use, and using posters along with radio broadcasts, worked to promote patriotism, warn about foreign spies, and recruit women into war work. The office also established an overseas branch, which launched a large-scale information and propaganda campaign abroad. The government appealed to the public through popular culture and more than a quarter of a billion dollars' worth of advertising was donated during the first three years of the National Defense Savings Program. Victory in Europe was declared on May 8, 1945, and in Japan on September 2, 1945. The OWI ceased operation in September.
Archival History
The poster was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1988 by David and Zelda Silberman.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of David and Zelda Silberman
Funding Note: The cataloging of this artifact has been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.
Scope and Content
US propaganda poster depicting the flags of the world rising triumphantly out of the smoking fires of war as the United Nations. It was issued by the Office of War Information as a symbol of the unity of the Allied forces against their common enemies. On January 1, 1942, representatives of the US, Great Britain, Soviet Union, and China signed the United Nations Declaration, joined the next day by 22 other nations. In this document, the signatory governments pledged to exert the maximum war effort and not to make a separate peace. The United Nations was founded 3 years later. The OWI was created in 1942 to control the design and distribution of war information to the American public and commissioned work, such as this painting, from leading artists.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No restrictions on use
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Offset color lithographic poster depicting a battle with several tanks, ships, and planes against a background of yellow and orange flames forming towering black clouds of black smoke. Appearing through the smoke are the colorful, waving flags of the Allied countries and member nations of the United Nations. There is text at the top and bottom. On the back is printed postal information and the paper has fold creases.
People
- Ragan, Leslie Darrell, 1897-
Corporate Bodies
- United Nations
Subjects
- War posters, American.
- Allied Powers (1919- )--Posters--Specimens.
- World War, 1939-1945--United States--Posters--Specimens.
- Patriotism--Posters--Specimens.
Genre
- Posters
- Object