Friday, March 13

Vintage Reading Posters from the WPA

Hey it's been a while since I've done something for fun Friday!

Is it fair to say that "vintage" is in? I'm not sure, but I definitely enjoy looking at vintage items, especially graphic design. So imagine my pleasure in finding old library posters from the first half of the 20th century. The American Library Association has its own archive, but the source of my post today is the WPA archive at the Library of Congress. I searched for posters about "reading" and was not disappointed.

The WPA, or Works Progress Administration, was one of the most famous of President Roosevelt's New Deal programs. It employed millions of Americans to build roads, bridges, public parks, airports and more in the 1930s and 1940s. It also made fantastic propaganda posters.

1. Storytime is always an adventure, that's for sure!


2. Well, are you?


3. Or be stuck forever more like The Thinker...


4. Although the back cover might be funny, too.


5. I'm hoping they're referring to books, and not knights in shining armor.


6. But please don't drop your books in the snow! Or any liquid for that matter!


7. Don't let them blow away, either!


8. Well, now you can hit the books all summer long with the Summer Reading Program.


9. Why, this fits in quite nicely with yesterday's post.


10. That's quite the poll!


11. Even ghostly readers are better than none.


12. I would be less afraid of the spider if this were the case.


13. Wee Willie Winkie!


So which one is your favorite? The last one is quite adorable, but I'm definitely a fan of the first one, too: storytime is my favorite.

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