Title

Our Service Creed

Creator

J. M. R.
American Red Cross

Preview

Creation Date

1917

Description

“Our Service Creed” was one of many posters issued by the U.S. government during World War I to encourage support of the war. This poster describes the service creed of a member of the American Red Cross. Before the war, the Red Cross was a small and insignificant organization based in the U.S. During the war, the organization saved money and provided help to the warring nations in Europe. Once the U.S. entered the war, the Red Cross was inundated with volunteers and funding from the government. WWI made the Red Cross into a global organization that was capable of providing aid to people around the world. As the creed states, “it is the desire and policy of the American Red Cross to extend every courtesy, every service, every assistance that lies within its power.” This poster was commissioned by the Red Cross organization from an unknown artist. In the bottom right-hand corner, there is an inscription of the initials "J.M.R." It is unclear if this referring to the artist or to a member of the Red Cross. The exact publication date is unknown, but this poster was likely circulated in 1917 or 1918. This poster was most likely created and reproduced as a lithographic print at the time of its distribution.