Weapons for Liberty, 1917-1919

Item — Folder: 1

Identifier: A1996-089-014

Scope and Contents

World War I political poster depicting an American boy scout kneeling in front of an American Minerva and handing her a sword labeled "BE PREPARED". The caption reads "U.S.A. Bonds/ Third Liberty Loan/ Campaign/ Boy Scouts/ of America/ Weapons for Liberty".

Dates

Creation: 1917-1919

Creator

American Lithographic Co (Organization)
Leyendecker, J. C. (Joseph Christian), 1874-1951 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Full Extent

1 item/s : Chromolithograph and paper

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Exhibition Label

Object labels, from Americans, Do Your Bit: World War I in Posters Opened 3 June 2017

Weapons for Liberty, 1918 Joseph Christian Leyendecker (1874-1951) Printed by the American Lithographic Co. New York, New York Gift of H. Brian Holland, A96/089/14

During World War I, the Boy Scouts of America sold $335 million worth of Liberty Loans. By placing a uniformed boy offering a sword at the foot of a female warrior, this poster presents the Scouts as the nation’s ready helpers. Like the bond purchasers who received buttons declaring their support, every Scout who sold loans to ten or more people received a bronze emblem to mark his participation and accomplishment.