The origin of the collection is not clear; the collection was most likely assembled by library staff members.

The World War I and World War II Poster Collection consists of over 245 original and duplicate World War I and World War II posters, many of which have been digitized (see Detailed Description).

Utilizing a variety of themes (such as military recruitment and enlistment, fund raising, communications, and the social, economic, and industrial aspects of the wars) these war-time posters illustrate the power of images and words.  The posters were issued by a variety of entities including: governmental offices and departments (including those of the United States, Great Britain, Norway, Denmark, New Zealand and Czechoslovakia); private companies, industries, and associations such as the United Nations and the American Red Cross.  Many of the posters contain artwork by anonymous creators; however, many well-known artists, illustrators, and graphic artists contributed their talents to the creation of the posters including Norman Rockwell, James Montgomery Flagg, N.C. Wyeth, Al Parker, Martha Sawyers, John Philip Falter, Joseph Christian Leyendecker, Walter Whitehead, Albert Herter, Artur Szyk, and Stanley Elkman.

Hutchins Library Staff.

Lithographs -- 1910-1920.
War posters -- 1910-1920.
World War, 1914-1918
World War, 1939-1945