A collection of official government posters dating from the 1940s to the early 1950s.
About the collection
Detail from a Government poster encouraging people to join National Savings
The Mitchell Library has a large collection of official government posters dating from the 1940s to the early 1950s. Many of the posters have no actual date present but the themes represented clearly express propagandistic messages of the Second World War and early Cold War period.
The primary focus is on the Home Front and the common themes include encouraging civilians to salvage materials for the war effort, saving energy, growing your own food and the importance of the Home Front.
Finding aid
Please contact Special Collections or 0141 287 2988 if you would like to access this collection.
Image gallery
Air raid advice if you are at home. A poster advising people what to do in the event of an air raid if they are at home: At night see that your blackout is complete. Turn off all gas taps then turn of gas at the main. At all times keeps away from windows.
Air raid advice if you are out of doors. A poster advising people what to do in the event of an air raid: If you are out of doors get under cover at once. If in the open with no cover - lie down. If your home is within 5 minutes - go there.
Civil defence. A poster recruiting people for the Civil Defence. If interested they should enquire at the nearest police or fire station or City Chambers.
Danger hours. A poster issued by the Ministry of Fuel and Power. It advises people to 'go easy in the danger hours' and 'use your current by the clock'. The danger hours were between 8am - 10am and 4pm - 5.30pm.
Help with the harvest. "Help with the Harvest. Not a "Lazy" but a healthy holiday". A poster issued by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland.
National Progress, National Savings. A poster encouraging citizens to join the National Savings Group.
National Service Act. The 1948 National Service Act, which came into force on 1 January 1949, fixed the period of National Service to 18 months, with an additional 4 years in the reserves. This poster asks all men born between 1st January, 1932 and 31st March, 1932 to register at local offices of the Ministry of Labour and National Service on Saturday, 4th March, 1950.
National Service. Your Country still expects you to do your duty. A poster for National Service.
We too must defend our freedom. A poster issued by the National Savings committee encouraging people to join School Savings Groups.
Contact us
We welcome feedback from library users.
Contact us to let us know how we are doing or if you want to find out more.
