FOUR YEARS IN THE FIGHT

The women of France inspire American fundraising efforts!

This visually striking propaganda poster was designed by the talented Lucien Jonas and printed by the Istrobridge Lithograph Company of Cincinnati and New York. Its distribution was sponsored by the Y.W.C.A. as part of the 1918 United War Work Campaign.

The scene presents a number of French women working in what appears to be a makeshift weapons foundry, while a member of the infantry ‘supervises’ (note the pantalon rouge). Shod in wooden clogs, working in grueling heat with hair pulled back and without gloves, the ‘women of France’ had been fighting since 1914, and their sacrifices were meant to inspire contributions from an appreciative American homefront. According to VCU;

“The United War Work Campaign was a one-week fundraising effort during World War I. At the request of President Woodrow Wilson, seven voluntary organizations — the National War Work Council of the YMCA, the War Work Council of the YWCA, the National Catholic War Council (Knights of Columbus), the Jewish Welfare Board, the War Camp Community Service, the American Library Association, and the Salvation Army sought to raise $170,500,000 in subscriptions and pledges during the week of November 11–18, 1918, to help boost American soldiers’ morale and provide them with recreational activities. A National Publicity Committee was formed and headed by Bruce Barton, a magazine editor who chaired the YMCA’s War Work Council. Posters, lapel pins, newspaper ads, The campaign raised more than $203 million for soldier-aid programs.”

Sources: VCU Library;  MFA Boston