c.1942 American Community Must Be Protected Preserved Civilian Defense WWII Home Front

Date: c.1942
Artist: Unknown           
Size (in): 12.375” x 9”
Size (cm): 31.5 x 23 
Condition: A-

This vintage original small format poster isn’t dated but was issued not long after the Office of Civilian Defense (OCD) was established in May of 1941.   This poster features a brief outline of how the OCD was organized on the national, regional and local levels and encourages the American public to get involved and volunteer for the civil defense of the United States.  The OCD had a staff of only about 75 people but oversaw and coordinated the activities of some 11 million American civilian volunteers engaged in everything from scrap drives to civilian air defense programs.   This poster is bracketed by text that reads THE AMERICAN COMMUNITY MUST BE PROTECTED and THE AMERICAN COMMUNITY MUST BE PRESERVED on the top and bottom edges.  The WWII era civil defense pictograms designed by noted graphic designer Bill Coiner for the right and left borders.  

This vintage original poster is free of tape or pinholes and shows only light handling wear.  Overall condition is very good.