Darracott, J., Loftus, B. Second World War Posters London: HMSO, 1972 (Reprinted 1981)

A well illustrated work that accompanied an exhibition of war posters at the Imperial War Museum. It was edited by Joseph Darracott, the head of the Art Department at the IWM, with many illustrations prefaced by a short introductory piece. Each of the colour poster illustrations, most of which are British (a reflection of the holdings of the IWM, which contains some 20-30,000 British posters) are accompanied by biographical information about the artist, and contextual information about the situation in which the posters were produced.

“Posters are not designed to last, rather, they are intended to catch the mood of the moment and turn it to advantage. … As we look at war posters, we see our modern world reflected.” [p9]

Women of Britain, Come Into the Factories

Great things come out of little postcards. I bought this poster as a postcard in the Imperial War Museum whilst 15-17, and then put it on the wall, along with a few others, but it’s the colour of this one that stood out, and that I remembered when it came to choosing my A-Level history project, which then became an undergraduate dissertation, and then a PhD.

Poster Title: Women of Britain, Come Into the Factories

Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Date: Probably 1941

Artist Philip Zec

Printer Lowe and Brydone, London Size 29 3/4″ x 19 1/4″

Sources IWM PST 3645

Other Information: Some catalogues list this as being by Donald Zec, Philip’s brother. Donald Zec has recently completed a biography of Philip Zec’s work, and this poster is definitely by Philip Zec.

Weapons of Mass Communication

“In the 21st century we have become accustomed to mass communication developing to unbelievably sophisticated levels, yet a new exhibition at the Imperial War Museum shows how for a large part of the 20th century, the humble poster was the key means of influencing public opinion.

The exhibition explores this phenomenon by presenting hundreds of the most eye-catching and iconic posters used to sell war and attendant ideologies from WWI to the present day.

Running until March 31 2008 Weapons of Mass Communication mines the museums’ vast poster archive to present a snapshot of the ideas that have been used to both promote and oppose conflicts and political ideas. “

Read full entry. The accompanying book: “War Posters: Weapons of Mass Communication” by James Aulich is beautifully produced, and some information remains online.

Birthday Boogie in the Bunker!

“The Churchill Museum and Cabinet War rooms in association with the London Swing Dance Society is proud to host the 10th anniversary celebrations of the incomparable South London Jazz Orchestra with an evening of song and dance ‘Birthday Boogie in the Bunker!’

The Cabinet War Rooms, the historic site where Churchill led Britain to victory during the Second World War, commemorates its 70th anniverary this year from becoming operational in 1939.  In November we also commemorate Churchill’s 135 birthday. Come on out on 20 November for a night of song and dance, our birthday boogie in the bunker.”

Find out more on the Imperial War Museum site.

Telegraph: Posters

Seventy years after the radio announcement that informed the nation that Britain was at war, Imperial War Museum London is mounting Outbreak 1939, a new special exhibition, which will explore the build-up to and preparations for war, from August 20. Terry Charman, senior Imperial War Museum Historian, describes some of the iconic posters from 1939.

Austerity Era Cushions

Heraldic Needlepoint’s Austerity Era cushion designs are all taken from posters issued by various departments of the British Government during previous periods of austerity (stylistically, the last 3 are First World War, the remainder are Second World War)

1. Dig for Victory
2. Dig on for Victory
3. Dig for Plenty
4. Make Do and Mend
5. Make Do and Mend (Mrs Sew-and-Sew)
6. Go Through Your Wardrobe
7. Freedom is in Peril: Defend it with all your might
8. Keep Calm and Carry On
9. Save Kitchen Scraps to Feed the Hens
10. Save Kitchen Waste to Feed the Pigs
11. We Want Your Kitchen Waste
12. Don’t Take Alcoholic Drinks
13. To Dress Extravagently in Wartime
14. Rally Round the Flag: Every Fit Man Wanted

Please note: These images are reproduced by courtesy of The National Archives and The Imperial War Museum who own the reproduction rights and these images may not be reproduced without their permission.

The Austerity Era cushions cost £ 34.99 plus postage
Alerted by this media release.

Outbreak 1939, Imperial War Museum, London

20 August 2009 to 6 August 2010. Free admission.

“At 11.15am on 3 September 1939, the British public heard Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announce that Britain and France were at war with Germany.

Seventy years after the announcement that signified the start of the Second World War and changed the lives of millions, this special exhibition explores how being a nation at war shaped the lives of ordinary men and women as well as those who were actively involved in the political negotiations and their aftermath. Historical material and personal memorabilia will illustrate the build-up to war, an hour-by-hour countdown of events on 3 September, and the early months of the conflict.”

Great online poster gallery, with explanation on a number of posters, some of which I recognise! 22nd October, get an exclusive tour with Terry Charman.

The Independent has already given a review, to which I have responded that it’s rather strange if the Imperial War Museum have put Keep Calm and Carry On up as posters from 1939… that’ll be one to address in Creating and Consuming history module in Semester 2! Culture 24 also has an expanded article with a lot of interesting information!

Forties Frugality is Back

We mentioned before that the Imperial War Museum is re-using posters from the Second World War to encourage us into good habits to get through the recession! Following the Twitter feed of Mrs Sew & Sew, the campaign is definitely being noticed! 

Sarah Mower, Prêt-à-rapporter: This week: Forties frugality, cardie codes and the new nudes, 14 Apr 2009

More of Interest?
My Google Alerts is bringing in the usual run of online stores jumping on the bandwagon and selling the Keep Calm items, but a few other interesting odds and ends: 

• David Beckham’s wearing it…
• Probably the rudest version seen so far..
• Britons & the ‘stiff upper lip’
• Web Watching for Archivists

Imperial War Museum: Posters of Conflict

Imperial War Museum Poster Collection
Whilst researching my PhD I had great hopes of access to the Imperial War Museum’s poster collection, but was restricted to the few hundred in the onsite art collection (which are still an amazing collection) .

In 2002 however, Manchester Metropolitan University, under the leadership of James Aulich, received funding to digitise 10,000 posters from the collection. Digitised copies of the posters are available from the Imperial War Museum Collections online, and VADs (most subject to copyright/image rights, etc.).

Imperial War Museum recruits Mrs Sew and Sew

 Mrs Sew and Sew Engages with New Technology
 The other week I referred to the Imperial War Museum’s information ‘Top Tips for Tough Times‘, using advice from the 1940s to those of us stuck in the noughties recession. What they didn’t mention there (a trick missed, I feel), was that they had also set up a blog, and a Twitter feed… a real innovative use of modern technology to bring out relevant information from the 1940s. Anyone who thought my PhD was irrelevant… clearly wrong!  And having tracked down a number of public information shorts to use at conferences, the IWM is now uploading a number of great films to YouTube ! Listen to the creative agency: The Team talk about their work.

I love the start of this blog:

“Hello m’ dears!

Mrs Sew&Sew here, reporting from the home front in 1943! The nice people at the Imperial War Museum (yes, it’s even around in our day) have given me a special typewriter, so I can send you telegrams from here. Don’t worry, we’ve set it up so your replies get sent through to me as well, so feel free to have a chat!…. I’ve heard there’s some kind of problem with the banks in 2009, so maybe some of these ideas will come in handy there too. Do let me know if you have any great ideas I can pass onto my neighbours. Or even if they’re not relevant in my time, let me know anyway, and I’ll pass them back to all the lovely people in your time.”

 

Advertiser’s Weekly, 4th April 1944, p.154 notes…
 W.S.Crawford, Ltd invented the figure in order to humanise the ‘make-do-and-mend’ campaign. Made first appearance in the press on May 15, and will feature in forthcoming displays and posters. “Mrs Sew-and-Sew is a pleasant figure, rather like a ventriloquist’s dummy, with a cherubic smile. A wooden figure of her will be placed at the door of advice centres, inviting people to come in, and she will also appear in window displays and exhibitions. Copy for the first advert describes her as a ‘designing woman’. The campaign will then invite women to identify themselves with her domestic habits, and to follow her example in overcoming household difficulties.” 

Keep Calm and Carry On
A beautifully detailed entry by owentroy,  including all of the new police (Keep Calm inspired) posters… which I keep spotting when I don’t have a camera to hand!  And the slogan has become so famous (in a way it never was in the Second World War), that it now has its own Wikipedia entry, and had been seen around Westminster, and compared to the anti-terrorism posters. See how many crazy variations have been created, all collated together on Flicrk!

Thesis is listed at the British Library

My thesis, available since June 2004 in the Library and RKE Centre at the University of Winchester, at the Imperial War Museum, and at the Mass Observation Archives, was requested by the British Library earlier this year for digitisation (they should have asked me, I have it on CD!), so can be seen on the computers at the British Library, St Pancras. Still surprised my thesis hasn’t been picked up more by the press, but then I’ve been abroad for most of the past 2 years, and only now getting back to grips with my research and looking at ways of publishing it…  although even whilst travelling I managed to complete a chapter for the London Transport Museum, and pre-trip wrote an article for the Second World War Experience Centre.