The WPA was one of the first government programs that included support for the arts, and these posters stand as a testament to the program's power. You can find the full collection, By the People, For the People: Posters from the WPA here. To purchase a copy of any of the WPA posters, find the desired print here, write down the reproduction number and contact the Photoduplication Service of the Library of Congress. Prices depend on size and type of print.
(Thanks, Amanda!)
(Re-edited from a post originally published 4.16.09 - JL)
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I love these!
At long last, posters that are actually good.
I love the "Sew For Victory" poster! And perhaps I am being dense, but what is up with the "6 8" penguins?!
Lovely posters - what a great resource. Thanks muchly. Bit of a pity that the Library of Congress database is not more user friendly, though!
I'm with clampers - what's with 6 8? Its my favourite.
Poster promoting education and civic activity, showing two columns of penguins, six on the left, eight on the right.
SUBJECTS
Penguins--1930-1950.
Education--New York (State)--New York--1930-1950.
Community service--New York (State)--New York--1930-1950.
Posters--1930-1950.
Screen prints--Color--1930-1950.
MEDIUM
1 print on board (poster) : silkscreen, color.
CALL NUMBER
POS - WPA - NY .01 .S58, no. 1
REPRODUCTION NUMBER
LC-USZC2-962 DLC (color film copy slide)
SPECIAL TERMS OF USE
No known restrictions on publication.
REPOSITORY
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
DIGITAL ID
(color film copy slide) cph 3b48862 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3b48862
http://www.rainfall.com/posters/WPA/1238.htm
Another place to get these.
WPA, WWII and others subjects in high quality prints are available at:
http://www.vintagraph.com
Thanks, NavySeabee! Just blew $$$ on vintagraph.com.
Wow...totally buying "Don't Play with Firecrackers"!!!!
THANK YOU! This is a gem!
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/I?wpapos:1:./temp/~ammem_Fk42::displayType=1:m856sd=cph:m856sf=3b48841:@@@wpapo
You can just order them from the Library of Congress store, too :) http://www.loc.gov/shop/index.php?action=cCatalog.showSubCategory&cid=14&scid=183&PHPSESSID=ff6d95c7cad8f1e1d3af6405d18ada2d
Thanks all for the pointers on where to buy these posters easily!
many are big enough that if you have a good printer, you can print a little one at home
These posters are cool. Look at these ORIGINAL vintage European posters I found here: www.vepca.com They are stunning!
Buy them here too:
http://www.zazzle.com/lc_wpa
I love these posters - always have. Thanks for featuring them!
All the posters use a limited number of colours. Less is definitely more. Gorgeous. Magical. They make me want to do what ever they tell me to do!
i recommend also checking out your state/local parks department and sometimes even your transit system - many of mine are printing posters they have recently commissioned and they are beautiful and definitely have a connection to the time when i am using them. i think i will still appreciate them many years from now when i remember living in this town and using these resources :)
Is it just me, or does that look like Katie Couric on the milk poster? Maybe her mom was a wpa poster model.
REPORT DOG BITES
love it.
Re "6 8", I think the idea is that counting the penguins will teach school children how to do simple addition.
It's so damn hot... milk was a bad choice.
- ron burgundy
I couldn't resist.
A recycled post, complete w/recycled comments (note the dates!) ... what's up, AT?
Great post, and great recommendations from the rest of you on other places to check out.
I ditto mirandabee -- why the repost? Not that the posters aren't great, but we just saw them in April...
I'm glad they recycled the post, I missed it the first time. Thanks for the info. I love these and plan to buy several.
Recycled or not this was a good post from April.
I have 3 of these on my refrigerator along with two others by my sink. Instead of buying prints, I took the high quality images from Library of Congress website, vectorized them myself using Vector Magic, had them professionally printed on glossy 5x7" paper, and attached adhesive magnetic sheets I cut to fit on the backs of the refrigerator placed ones.
Cost next to nothing ($3 for the prints and $2 for two pages of the magnet sheets) and turned out great.
I love these posters. Simple, yet beautiful.
these are gorgeous.
nouniard, would you mind sharing where you got the printing done? $3 for a 5x7 from a vector file seems reasonable.
Love these posters but umm...did anyone else notice the section labeled "Jews". Not Judaism or even Jewish. Just "Jews".
Printcollection.com is another great place to find these WPA Posters,
http://www.printcollection.com/category/categories/collections/wpa-posters/travel