WPA Posters

Lack of Funds

This WPA Federal Art Project poster from New York was used to promote health care, c. 1936: "Lack of funds need not discourage from seeking competent medical care. Consult your health bureau."

Save Your Eyes

This WPA Federal Art Project poster for the Illinois Safety Division promotes safety and proper eye protection: "Save your eyes. Use your goggles" Created in either 1936 or 1937.

Keep Your Teeth Clean

1938 WPA silkscreen poster promoting oral hygiene. Artist unknown. Work Projects Administration Poster Collection.

Dont Jay Walk

A public safety poster from Pennsylvania implores pedestrians, "Don't jay walk. Watch your step." A Works Progress Administration/Federal Art Project poster illustrated by Isadore Posoff in 1937.

An Orderly Line Is a Safe Line

A poster promoting safety and orderly conduct during WWII civil defense air raid drills: "An orderly line is a safe line!" A Federal Art Project poster by Christopher DeNoon from the New York City Works Progress Administration War Service, between 1941 and 1943.

Dont Kiss Me

While not about swine flu, this vintage WPA Federal Art Project poster from New York about tuberculosis carries a timely warning about methods of disease transmission. "Tuberculosis. Don't kiss me! Your kiss of affection the germ of infection."

Work With Care

A 1937 WPA Federal Art Project poster from Pennsylvania promoting safety in the workplace.

Swim for Health

This Works Progress Administration poster from Ohio urges people to "Swim for health in safe and pure pools." The poster was created for the Cleveland Division of Health in 1940 to promote swimming as healthy exercise.

Safeguard Your Home

A Works Progress Administration/Federal Art Project poster from Ohio promoting home safety: "Safeguard your home - always disconnect cord when leaving iron even for a minute." 1940.

Syphilis May Cause Heart Trouble

This poster encouraging blood tests for syphilis warns of the danger of the disease: "Syphilis may cause heart trouble, blindness, deafness, mental disorders. Have your blood tested." A Works Progress Administration/Federal Art Project poster, c. 1941.

Death Below

A WPA Federal Art Project poster promoting workplace safety. Watch out for that girder: "Failure here may mean death below Safety first." Created in Pennsylvania by Allan Nase in 1936 or 1937.

The Enemy is Syphilis

This public health poster from the WPA Art Project was created for use in Chicago between 1936 and 1940. "The enemy is syphilis. Enlist employees in a campaign against it."

Be Careful Near Machinery

This woodblock WPA poster promoting safety in the workplace was created as part of the Federal Art Project in Pennsylvania between 1936 and 1941.

Learn to Swim Campaign

This poster for the New York City Department of Parks was created to announce classes for swimming lessons: "Learn to swim campaign. Classes for all ages forming in all pools." The poster shows African Americans on one side and white children on the other. It was illustrated by John Wagner for the WPA Federal Art Project, c. 1940.

Work With Care

This poster by artist Robert Muchley uses a man with a rivet gun to promote safety in the workplace: "Work with care." It was created for use in Pennsylvania in 1936 or 1937 for the WPA Federal Art Project.

Stamp Out Syphilis and Gonorrhea

A New York poster encouraging blood testing and examinations to identify syphilis and gonorrhea: "Stamp out syphilis and gonorrhea. Have you had your blood test and examination. Go to your doctor or Dept. of Health." Created between 1936 and 1938 by the New York City Works Progress Administration Federal Art Project.

Protect Your Hands

A WPA Federal Art Project poster from Pennsylvania promoting safety in the workplace: "Protect your hands! You work with them." Illustrated by artist Robert Muchley, c. 1936.

Be Wise Dont Play With Firecrackers

A New York City Department of Health poster using the face of a boy with an injured eye to warn of the dangers of playing with firecrackers: "Be wise. Don't play with firecrackers." Created in either 1936 or 1937 by the New York City Works Progress Administration Federal Art Project by artist Vera Bock.

Milk For Summer Thirst

A poster for the Cleveland Division of Health promoting milk as a summer thirst quencher. The poster was illustrated by the WPA Federal Art Project in Ohio in 1940.

Just a Scratch

This poster for the WPA Illinois Safety Division encourages immediate first aid for on-the-job injuries: "'Just a scratch' But! Infection is avoided by immediate first aid on-the-job!" The poster was created as part of the WPA Federal Art Project between 1936 and 1941.

Eat Fruit, Be Healthy

A WPA Federal Art Project poster promoting good eating for good health: "Eat fruit. Be healthy." Illustrated in New York between 1936 and 1938.

Find Syphilis

How well do you know your employees? This poster was created as part of the Illinois WPA Art Project and used to promote employer-sponsored blood tests for the detection of syphilis: "Find syphilis. Help employees get blood tests."

More Courtesy

Can't they just get along? This poster encouraging better interpersonal communications in the workplace was created by the WPA Federal Art Project in New York City between 1936 and 1941.

Dont Gamble With Syphilis

This WPA Federal Art Project poster created in Illinois between 1936 and 1940 warns about the dangers of syphillis: "Don't gamble with syphilis -- Consult health authorities."

Drive Safely: Handle With Care

This Federal Art Project, WPA Poster promotes safe driving. The poster was created in Missouri in 1943.

Pneumonia strikes like a man eating shark

This 1937 WPA, Federal Art Project poster was created in New York to encourage citizens to visit their doctor for treatment of the common cold: "Pneumonia strikes like a man eating shark led by its pilot fish the common cold. Consult your physician."

Athletics during The New Deal

This 1939 poster from the WPA Federal Art Project in Chicago shows young athletes playing playing basketball, baseball, and volleyball.

Athletics during The New Deal

This is another 1939 athletics poster from the WPA Federal Art Project in Chicago showing young athletes playing playing basketball, baseball, and volleyball.

The fly is as deadly as a bomber!!

Beware the fly. This poster for the Philadelphia Department of Health warns of the potential health risks from exposure to flies: "The fly is as deadly as a bomber!!" The poster was illustrated by Robert Muchley some time between 1941 and 1943 as part of the WPA War Services Project.

Cellar Ceilings Must Be Fire-retarded

The couple in this WPA Federal Arts Project poster should have been more careful and used fire retardant materials in their home construction: "Cellar ceilings must be fire-retarded. Keep cellars clean." Illustrated by Martin Weitzman in 1937 and used in New York City.

Support Local and State Efforts to Reduce Syphilis

Produced between 1936 and 1940, this Illinois WPA Art Project poster promotes a civic duty to hault the spread of syphilis: "Stop syphilis. Support local and state efforts to reduce syphilis."

This is the Storekeeper

This WPA Federal Art Project poster was created New York in 1937 to educate children about retail food markets, merchants and healthy eating: "This is the storekeeper. He sells the things that are good for you to eat. He must keep the food clean."

False Shame and Fear May Destroy Your Future

This WPA Federal Art Project poster was created in Rochester, N.Y. between 1936 and 1938 to encourage testing and treatment for syphilis: "Syphilis. False shame and fear may destroy your future. Have your blood tested." The poster was illustrated by Erik Hans Krause.

Dont Mix Em

This WPA Federal Art Project poster by artist Robert Lachenmann warns of the dangers of drinking and driving, c. 1937.

To-day is another day

A poster for the Illinois WPA Safety Division promoting safety in the workplace, c. 1937: "To-day is another day. Make it safe!"

Milk Truckers Do Not!

A WPA Federal Art Project poster from Cleveland, Oh., encouraging milk truck drivers to report cases of communicable diseases along their routes to authorities, c. 1940. "Milk truckers do not! Pick up milk at farms where there are cases of diphtheria, scarlet fever, infantile paralysis, spinal meningitis, smallpox, typhoid. Report all cases on your route to .... Food and Drug Adminstration [sic]."

Milk For Warmth

A WPA Federal Art Project poster for the Cleveland Division of Health promoting milk as a healthy drink, c. 1941. "Milk for warmth. Energy food."

Health Care For Children

A WPA Federal Art Project poster promoting proper health care for children: "No creature in this world so ignorantly nurtured as the average baby. Advice at your health bureau." Illustrated by artist Erik Hans Krause between 1936 and 1938.

John Is Not Really Dull

A WPA Federal Art Project poster from 1937 promoting eye examinations for children who may be having difficulty learning: "John is not really dull - he may only need his eyes examined. Sponsored by Town of Hempstead, W.H. Runcie, M.D., Health Officer." We have also recreated this posters with a number of other male names in the John Is Not Really Dull gallery.

Help Your Neighborhood

This poster was created for the Tenement House Dept. of New York City to promote cleanliness in public housing, c. 1936. "Help your neighborhood by keeping your premises clean Tenement House Dept. of the City of New York : F.H. La Guardia, Mayor : Langdon W. Post, Commissioner." Illustrated by the WPA Federal Art Project.

Protection Against Syphilis

A poster created for the New York State Department of Health encouraging examination and treatment for syphilis: "Your family needs protection against syphilis Your wife or husband and children should be examined and treated if necessary." Works Progress Administration, Federal Art Project, circa 1936.

Safety For You, For All

A poster created by the WPA Illinois Safety Division promoting safety and showing a civil defense symbol: "Safety For You, For all." Works Progress Administration, Federal Art Project, 1936.

Evite Accidentes

Illustrated by Miguel A. Rodriquez for the WPA in Illinois, this 1942 Civil Defense poster shows a man lying on the sidewalk next to an automobile crashed into a lamp post and reads: "Evite Accidentes. No se quede en la calle durante una alarma." Roughly translated to, "Prevent accidents by not staying on the street during an alarm."

Syphilis: Menace to Industry

Illustrated in Chicago as part of the Illinois WPA Art Project, this health poster warns about the dangers of contracting Syphilis: "Syphilis. Menace to Industry. Dont [sic] Lose Your Pay." Circa 1940.

A Good Lunch

Illustrated by the WPA Oklahoma Art Project between 1936 and 1941, this poster promoting good school eating habits reads: "A Good Lunch. One Hot Dish - Meat - Vegetables - Sandwich - Fruit - Milk. WPA School Lunch."

Shame May Be Fatal

This public health poster was created by the New York City Works Progress Administration Federal Art Project, circa 1937. It encourages people with syphilis to seek treatement as quickly as possible: "Shame may be fatal. If you fear you have contracted a disease don't let false shame destroy health & happiness. Consult a reputable physician."

Prevent Syphilis in Marriage

This public health poster was created by the New York City Works Progress Administration Federal Art Project for the New York State Department of Health encouraging couples to act to prevent syphilis in marriage. Circa 1936.

Expecting? Get the Right Advice

This WPA Federal Art Project poster promoting proper health care for pregnant women shows a stork in flight. Circa 1938. It reads, "Expecting? Get the right advice from the right sources, your doctor or health burea."

Fight Cancer

From the New York WPA Federal Art Project between 1936 and 1938, this poster encourages early treatment for cancer: "Fight Cancer. Delay is dangerous. Consult your doctor or health bureau."

March on to Health

March on to health. Get your test now. City of Chicago Municipal Tuburculosis Sanitarium. WPA Federal Art Project, between 1936 and 1939.