Throughout history, we have seen how government has played a role in the way we do things, such as eating. This was true during the first and second World Wars. At the time, government agencies did a lot of campaigning to persuade Americans to do their part in supporting the war effort.
The National Archives’ Still Pictures Branch holds numerous posters produced by different government agencies during World War I & II, which promoted not only military recruitment, but also conserving and growing food. I became fascinated with these posters while helping prepare for the exhibit What’s Cooking Uncle Sam?, which explored the government’s effect on American diet. The exhibit, which opened in the Summer of 2011, showcased some of the posters on healthy eating, gardening, farming, and saving food.
During World War I, the U.S. Food Administration was run by Herbert Hoover to monitor and provide food regulations, such as supply, conservation, and distribution. Within the administration, the Education Division, Advertising Section developed and distributed campaign posters to encourage food conservation and production. The series, World War I Posters, 1917-1919 (NAID 512439), features 291 posters campaigning the war effort. Phrases such as, “Food Will Win the War”, “Save It”, “Don’t Waste”, and “America’s Food Pledge” were the common themes used in promoting the war effort on food.
“Americans- Short Wheat Crop Needs Careful Distribution…Herbert Hoover, United States Food Administrator.” (4-P-74, NAID Identifier 512513) 
“Spirit of ‘18. The World Cry Food. Keep the Home Gardening Going.” (4-P-129, NAID Identifier 512568) 
“Food is Ammunition – Don’t Waste It.” (4-P-49, NAID Identifier 512488) 
“Eat less and let us be thankful that we have enough to share with those who fight for freedom.” (4-P-131, NAID Identifier 512570) 
“Eat more corn, oats, and rye products- fish and poultry- fruits, vegetables, and potatoes, Baked, Broiled, and Boiled Foods. Eat less wheat, wheat sugar and fats to save for the army and our allies.” (4-P-61, NAID Identifier 512500) 
“Eat Syrup and Molasses. Save Sugar by Using Best Louisiana Molasses and Sugar Cane Syrup.” (4-P-92, NAID Identifier 512531) 
“Will you help the Women of France? Save Wheat. They are struggling against starvation and trying to feed not only themselves and children- their husbands and sons who are fighting in the trenches.” (4-P-135, NAID Identifier 512574) 
“Little Americans Do Your Bit- Corn meal mush- Hominy- other corn cereals- and rice with milk. Save the Wheat for our Soldiers. Leave Nothing On Your Plate.” (4-P-127, NAID Identifier: 512566) 
“Food will win the war. You came here seeking Freedom. You must now help to preserve it. WHEAT is needed for the allies . Waste nothing.” (4-P-60, NAID Identifier 512499) 
“Sow the Seeds of Victory! Plant and raise your own vegetables. Write to the National War Garden Commission- Washington, D.C., for free books on gardening, canning, and drying. “Every Garden a Munition Plant” Charles Lathrop Pack, President.” (4-P-59, NAID Identifier 512498) 
“Be Patriotic sign your country’s pledge to save the food.” (4-P-58, NAID Identifier 512497)
Poster campaigning continued into the second World War. Various federal agencies developed posters and were assembled by the Office of Government Reports, Division of Public Inquiries, Office of War Information. The series, World War II Posters, 1942-1945 (NAID 513498), features 2,828 posters, including ones emphasizing the importance of growing, canning, healthy eating, harvesting, and not wasting food. Other posters on food include Garden Victory campaigns persuading Americans to garden more and employment advertisements encouraging Americans to work in food processing plants.
“Get Your Farm in the Fight” (44-PA-871, NAID Identifier 514376) 
“For Health…eat some food from each group..every day!” (44-PA-798B, NAID Identifier 514288) 
“Know your onions. Make all the food go away. Food is ammunition, don’t waste it.” (44-PA-1230, NAID Identifier 514836) 
“Can All You Can It’s a Real War Job!” (44-PA-118, NAID Identifier 513566) 
“Harvest War Crops, The Women’s Land Army.” (44-PA-934, NAID Identifier 514440) 
“Grow Your Own – Can Your Own.” (44-PA-219, NAID Identifier 513661) 
“Wanna Keep ‘Em Healthy? Overcooking Destroys…” (44-PA-2290, NAID Identifier 516013) 
“PLANT A VICTORY GARDEN. OUR FOOD IS FIGHTING” (44-PA-368, NAID Identifier 513818) 
“Groundwork for Victory Grow More in ’44” (NAID 513659, 44-PA-216) 
“YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS SOYBEANS, FOR FOOD FEEDS GUNS. GROW MORE IN ’44” (NAID 516252, 44-PA-2525) 
“USE LEFTOVERS – MARK OF A GOOD COOK – STUDY YOUR ‘ARMY COOK’ FOR RECIPES, IDEAS” (NAID 515949, 44-PA-2242) 
“Grow More Sugar Beets in 1945. Meet Wartime need for Sugar” (NAID 514424, 44-PA-919) 
“YOU TOO ARE NEEDED IN A WAR JOB. WORK IN A FOOD PROCESSING PLANT.” (NAID 516235, 44-PA-2508)
These types of campaigns helped America to win both world wars.
World War I Posters and World War II Posters are fully digitized and made available through our online catalog with no copyright restrictions.
A prologue article by curator Alice Kamps entitled“What’s Cooking Uncle Sam? New Archives Exhibit Examines Government’s Effect on the American Diet”, is available for reading from the Summer 2011 issue.