Original Item: Only One Available. This U.S. WWII Office of War Information (OWI) Poster is in great condition. The poster shows head-and-shoulders of a woman operating a machine as part of World War II production effort. Because a lot of men were needed in the Military during the second world war, there was a big shortage of personnel in the war industry. During WWII, women worked in munitions factories, shipyards, and airplane factories, as air-raid wardens, fire officers, and evacuation officers, as drivers of fire engines, trains, and trams, as conductors, and as nurses. During this time, some traditionally male-dominated trade unions, such as engineering, began to admit women as members.

The entry of women into traditionally male-dominated occupations, such as fire engine, train, and tram drivers, as well as the engineering, metal, and shipbuilding industries, reignited debates about equal pay.

The poster is in great shape, and only has one small tear in the right corner of the poster. It has been folded and shows minor damages on the end of the folds. The size measures 22 ½” by 16”.

The propaganda poster bears the text:

I’ve found the job
where I fit best!

FIND YOUR WAR JOB
In Industry- Agriculture-Business

OWI Poster No. 55. Additional copies may be obtained upon request from the Division of Public Inquiries, Office of War Information, Washington D.C.

U.S. Government Printing Office: 1943-O- 520464

Guns, tanks, and bombs were the principal weapons of World War II, but there were other, more subtle forms of warfare as well. Words, posters, and films waged a constant battle for the hearts and minds of the American citizenry just as surely as military weapons engaged the enemy. Persuading the American public became a wartime industry, almost as important as the manufacturing of bullets and planes. The Government launched an aggressive propaganda campaign with clearly articulated goals and strategies to galvanize public support, and it recruited some of the nation's foremost intellectuals, artists, and filmmakers to wage the war on that front.

The Government tried to identify the most effective poster style. One government-commissioned study concluded that the best posters were those that made a direct, emotional appeal and presented realistic pictures in photographic detail. The study found that symbolic or humorous posters attracted less attention, made a less favorable impression, and did not inspire enthusiasm. Nevertheless, many symbolic and humorous posters were judged to be outstanding in national poster competitions during the war.