Food Conservation and World War I
During World War I, food became an essential part of the war effort. The Great War, as it was known, decimated the landscapes of Europe making food production incredibly difficult. As the war raged on, the need for food became increasingly severe, prompting the United States to begin an effort to send food to Europe's starving citizens. Thus began the publishing of a series of posters and lithographs calling for Americans to save food for the troops and those in Europe. This movement became one of patriotism and national pride.
Upon the United States entering the war in 1917, the U.S. Food Administration was created in order to support the immense need for food on the warfront. This conservation project targeted communities with propaganda and posters encouraging people to limit their consumption of essential foods, most notably, wheat, meat, fats, and sugar as shown by several of the posters. Slogans and catchphrases were created to inspire people to consume less so the shipments of food could be made to Europe.
The World War 1 poster project was a massive community effort that played to the ideals of the American society in the early 20th Century.
Artist Unknown
America's Food Pledge, 20 Million Tons - United States Food Administration
color lithograph on paper
30 x 20 in. (76.1 x 50.8 cm)
Gift of Mr. Maurice F. Lyons
Francis Louis Mora
Don't Let Up - Keep on Saving Food - United States Food Administration
color lithograph on paper
20 7/8 x 14 1/8 in. (53 x 35.8 cm)
Gift of Mr. Maurice F. Lyons
Artist Unknown
Don't Stop Saving Food - United States Food Administration
color lithograph on paper
29 15/16 x 20 in. (76 x 50.8 cm)
Gift of Mr. Maurice F. Lyons
Harry Everett Townsend
War Rages in France - We Must Feed Them - United States Food Administration
color lithograph on paper
29 15/16 x 20 1/8 in. (76 x 51 cm)
Gift of Mr. Maurice F. Lyons
John E. Sheridan
Food is Ammunition--Don't Waste It
color lithograph on paper
36 1/16 x 24 1/16 in. (91.5 x 61 cm)
Gift of Mr. Maurice F. Lyons
Albert Hendee
Eat Less, and let us be thankful that we have enough to share with those who fight for freedom - United States Food Administration
color lithograph on paper
28 15/16 x 21 1/8 in. (73.5 x 53.5 cm)
Gift of Mr. Maurice F. Lyons
John E. Sheridan
Food is Ammunition--Don't Waste It
color lithograph on paper
29 9/16 x 20.9 in. (75 x 53.2 cm)
Gift of Mr. Maurice F. Lyons
Charles Edward Chambers
Food Will Win the War - You cam here seeking Freedom - You must now help to preserve it - Wheat is needed for the allies - Waste nothing
color lithograph on paper
36 1/16 x 24 1/16 in. (91.5 x 61 cm)
Gift of Mr. Maurice F. Lyons
J. Paul Verrees
What are YOU doing? The Kaiser is canned - Can Food - Can Vegetables, fruit, and the Kaiser too - National War Garden Commission
color lithograph on paper
36 1/16 x 24 1/16 in. (91.5 x 61 cm)
Gift of Mr. Maurice F. Lyons
Jay Norwood Darling
Registered War Garden Under Protection of State Council Defense - Food Will Win the War.
color lithograph on paper
28 x 22 1/16 in. (71 x 56 cm)
Gift of Mr. Maurice F. Lyons
Frederick Gross Cooper
Save ... and serve the cause of freedom
color lithograph on paper
28 7/8 x 21 1/8 in. (73.3 x 53.5 cm)
Gift of Mr. Maurice F. Lyons
Artist Unknown
Farmers! Housewives! Children! - The President of the United States Appeals to You Personally - United States Department of Agriculture
color lithograph on paper
30 x 21 3/16 in. (76.2 x 53.8 cm)
Gift of Mr. Maurice F. Lyons