"Join American Red Cross" Vintage WWII Recruitment Poster by R. C. Kauffmann

Presented is an original WWII Red Cross recruitment poster. The poster was illustrated by R. C. Kauffmann and printed during the war. The poster shows a Red Cross nurse at the center, dressed in a white nurse’s outfit and red cape. Her arms are linked with four servicemen, two on each side. The men in uniform are a representative of each of the four branches: Air Force, Army, Navy, and the Marines. The poster urges viewers to "JOIN American Red Cross" in large blue and red block letters across the bottom of the poster. 

The American Red Cross efforts during WWII were outstanding. Throughout all of WWII, the Red Cross served 16 million military personnel, including one million combat casualties. Overseas, Red Cross workers served as field directors providing compassionate support for the troops. They were attached to military hospitals, hospital ships, and hospital trains and operated clubs and clubmobiles for the armed forces.  At home, millions of Red Cross volunteers provided comfort and aid to members of the armed forces and their families and served in hospitals suffering from severe shortages of medical staff. They produced emergency supplies for war victims, collected scrap, ran victory gardens, and maintained training programs in home nutrition, first aid, and water safety.

The American Red Cross was largely composed of volunteers. In 1945, at the peak of wartime activity, 7.5 million volunteers, along with 39,000 paid staff, provided service to the military. Recruitment posters, pamphlets, and signs just like this one were necessary in order to maintain enough volunteers to serve the needs of both the battlefield and the homefront. 

CONDITION:

Good condition overall. The colors are strong. Paper is fairly healthy, with only light surface smudges and two small marginal splits, not affecting image. The poster is signed in the lithographic stone at top right, “Kauffman.” “Litho in USA”is printed in the bottom left margin. Unframed Dimensions: 15" H x 20" W (sheet size).

Poster has been archivally framed in a custom black wooden frame with acid-free backing and UV glass. Framed Dimensions: 17 1/2"H x 22 1/2"W x 1"D.

Accompanied by our company's letter of authenticity.