World War I Poster - Victory Girls

Item Information

Title:
World War I Poster - Victory Girls
Description:
The "Every Girl Pulling for Victory" World War I poster depicts a woman wearing a navy uniform rowing a small boat named Victory. Below are the words "Victory Girls," and beneath that, "United War Work Campaign." At the request of the Commissions on Training Camp Activities, the Playground and Recreation Association of America formed the United War Work Campaign, bringing together seven organizations: the YMCA, YWCA, American Library Association, War Camp Community Service, Knights of Columbus, Jewish Welfare Board, and Salvation Army. They provided soldiers with access to “better” sources of entertainment, such as movies, theaters, libraries and museums, swimming pools, gymnasiums, athletic fields, and clubs.
Creator:
Penfield, Edward
Date:
1918
Format:
Documents
Location:
Springfield College Archives and Special Collections
Collection (local):
College Archives Digital Collections
Series:
IMLS YMCA Posters
Subjects:
Young Women's Christian Association
World War, 1914-1918
International Young Men's Christian Association
War work
Posters
Sailors
Extent:
71 x 57 cm
Link to Item:
https://cdm16122.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15370coll2/id/2280
Terms of Use:
Text and images are owned, held, or licensed by Springfield College and are available for personal, non-commercial, and educational use, provided that ownership is properly cited. A credit line is required and should read: Courtesy of Springfield College, Babson Library, Archives and Special Collections. Any commercial use without written permission from Springfield College is strictly prohibited. Other individuals or entities other than, and in addition to, Springfield College may also own copyrights and other propriety rights. The publishing, exhibiting, or broadcasting party assumes all responsibility for clearing reproduction rights and for any infringement of United States copyright law.
Contact host institution for more information.
Publisher:
United War Work Campaign
Language:
English
Notes:
They also secured invitations to local homes, thereby allowing soldiers to meet chaperoned girls of high society. Their goal was to safeguard soldiers from the twin threats of immorality and venereal disease. During World War I, Victory Girls was an organization through which girls collected pennies, nickels, and dimes to support the war effort. However, by World War II, "Victory Girls" (comparable to "Khaki-Wackies" and "Good Time Charlottes") became slang for women who offered soldiers companionship. The illustrator, Edward Penfield (1866-1925), named the father of the American Poster, was a key figure in the evolution of graphic design and is credited for bringing abstractionism to commercial art. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Penfield studied under the well-known painter George de Forest Brush and ultimately became the art director of Harper's Weekly. After leaving the magazine, Penfield traveled, chronicling his experiences in Holland Sketches (1907) and Spanish Sketches (1911).
There is a duplicate (SC17003). The duplicate has a small tear in the center of the top edge and a small crease on its left edge.
Identifier:
SC17020