Waterbury responded to the April 2, 1917 call to take up arms against Germany by sending 5000 men and women to various branches of the services. But the “War to End All Wars” did not begin as a popular cause. In order to turn public opinion around, the government mobilized artists to create pictorial publicity for all aspects of the war effort. This selection of approximately thirty posters from the Museum collection gives glimpses of the war front, illustrates participation at home, reveals the new roles of women, demonstrates new technologies, and shows the breadth of military service.
Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website.