US Women’s Army Corps recruitment poster depicting a woman in uniform
Extent and Medium
overall: Height: 28.000 inches (71.12 cm) | Width: 20.000 inches (50.8 cm)
Creator(s)
- Jes W. Schlaikjer (Artist)
- United States Government Printing Office (Printer)
- United States Army, Recruiting Publicity Bureau (Issuer)
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
Recruitment poster for the United States Army, Women's Army Corp, featuring a young recruit inspired by combat troops in action. The Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps, WAAC, was formed in 1941. Women were recruited to support the war effort in noncombatant military jobs, which allowed the Army to transfer men to combat duties. The 1943 Women’s Army Corps bill converted the WAAC into the Women’s Army Corps, WAC, and fully incorporated it into the Regular Army. Women worked in jobs, such as stenographers, translators, secretaries, and telegraph and teletype operators. More than 150,000 American women served in the Army during World War II.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No restrictions on use
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Offset color lithographic poster reproducing a painting of a young women in an olive drab uniform jacket and visor cap, her head turned to the left, eyes looking up and into the distance. She is illuminated by a yellow sunbeam that streams down from the top left. In the background are the black silhouettes of combat soldiers and planes illuminated by a column of white curling smoke. There is a line of uppercase yellow text across the top. The artist’s name and date are printed in the bottom right. Across the bottom is a yellow panel with text and the Women’s Army Corps insignia. There are several fold creases and, on the back, is printed postal information.
People
- Schlaikjer, Jes Wilhelm, 1987-1982.
Corporate Bodies
- United States. Army. Women's Army Corps
Subjects
- War posters, American--Specimens.
- World War, 1939-1945--United States--Posters--Specimens.
- World War, 1939-1945--Participation, Female--Posters.
- War posters--Specimens.
- United States--Armed Forces--Women--Posters.
Genre
- Object
- Posters