Poster by Alva Edwards. Louisiana Agricultural Extension Division, c.1917“I had the conviction that the poster must play a great part in the fight for public opinion. The printed word might not be read, people might not choose to attend meetings or to watch motion pictures, but the billboard was something that caught even the most indifferent eye.” -George Creel, Chairman of the Committee for Public Information, in his World War I memoir, How We Advertised America. When Beans Were Bullets, an exhibit of food and agricultural posters from World Wars I and II currently on view at the USDA’s National Agricultural...
Winds Of War Stir Nation’s Libraries
Illustrator and theatrical designer Charles Buckles Falls created this lithograph to promote the American Library Association's First World War book drives for soldiers. Donated books were seen as a key to keeping up morale, and stocked temporary wartime libraries, as well as being given directly to soldiers. The most popular books on the frontlines were adventure and detective fiction, biographies, military histories, and travel journals. As the war wound down, soldiers began to request titles on farming, business, engineering, construction and other trades in preparation for the return to civilian life.It was the first, but sadly not the last, modern...