US careless talk poster depicting a drowning sailor pointing at the viewer
Extent and Medium
overall: Height: 22.000 inches (55.88 cm) | Width: 14.000 inches (35.56 cm)
Creator(s)
- Adjutant-General's Office, United States, Army Service Forces (Issuer)
- United States Government Printing Office (Printer)
- United States Office of War Information (Distributor)
- Frederick Siebel (Artist)
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 careless talk poster with an image of a drowning sailor to warn people to guard what they say in public because it could lead to the death of military personnel. The careless talk series of US propaganda posters was an Army Services project, distributed by the Office of War Information. The need to manage the war on the Home Front led to the establishment of the OWI in June 1942. This office controlled the design and distribution of war information to the American public in all media and commissioned work from leading artists, such as Frederick Siebel, who painted this image. Siebel was an Austrian born artist who came to the US in 1936. His design was the winning entry in a competition put on by Devoe & Reynolds Painting Company, judged by Eleanor Roosevelt. The careless talk series originated in 1940 in Great Britain. It highlighted the many ways that careless talk could leak sensitive information that our enemies would use to kill soldiers, sink ships, and undermine the war effort.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No restrictions on use
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Offset color lithographic poster with a reproduction of a painting depicting a drowning, young, man with only his head and 1 oversized, outstretched forearm exposed above the wavy black water. His wide open eyes stare anxiously to his right and his index finger points at the viewer, in a simulated 3-D effect. The 2 word title is printed in bright white letters on the black background. The artist’s name Siebel is printed within the image.
back, top right, cursive, pencil : Someone talked, / Someone talked, / New Haven CT / United States of America back, top, cursive, pencil : Someo Someone / USA USA / Someone talked. / Someone talked / Maurice H. Baller / Hartford Conn. / United States of America / U.S.A. U.S.A. U.S.A. / United States of America / U.S.A. USA / USA USA USA / USA USA / Robinson Robinson / Robuns Robuns back, bottom right, cursive, pencil : Ruth / Ruth / Saur + Ruth Ruth / Saur + Ruth / Saur + Ruth Ruth / back, bottom, cursive, pencil : Discount / Discount / Discount / Discount 433
Subjects
- National security--United States--Posters--Specimens.
- World War, 1939-1945--Communications--Posters--Specimens.
- Espionage--United States--Prevention--Posters--Specimens.
- United States--Social life and customs--1918-1945--Posters--Specimens.
- World War, 1939-1945--Posters--Specimens.
- Propaganda, American--Posters--Specimens.
- World War, 1939-1945--United States--Posters.
- World War, 1939-1945--Social aspects--Posters--Specimens.
- War posters, American--Specimens.
Genre
- Object
- Posters