They're Still Giving, Are You?

This poster was created by artist John Falter for the National War Fund in 1943. The image shows a devastated soldier, looking down, next to the graves of his fellow soldiers. Falter included one Star of David to show the unity of American people, regardless oftheir faith. This poster was intended to encourage people to contribute and help the war effort, like the soldiers were doing in the front. In the poster we can distinguish the National War Fund eagle logo, which was widely used as the insignia for the 1943 campaigns.

The National War Fund was created in 1943, and described by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as "a philanthropic federation with three simple aims; first, to determine the nature and the extent of the war-related needs; second, to see that everybody has a chance to contribute to the funds required; and third, to channel the sums raised for its member agencies wherever American help is currently most needed—to raise enough and on time." Eighteen agencies were part of the Fund, USO (United Service Organizations) being the most important. During WWII they began the tradition of entertaining the troops abroad that continues today. The Fund continued until 1947, well after the war and supported by President Harry S. Truman.

The National War Fund had centers in many towns and cities in the United States that made their own campaigns to raise money for the Fund. This poster is to support these local community campaigns.

John Philip Falter (1910 - 1982) was an artist and illustrator famous for his The Saturday Evening Post covers. He studied at the Kansas City Art Institute and later moved to New York. He was influenced by the art of Frederic Remington and Norman Rockwell. In 1943 he enlisted in the Navy and designed over 300 recruiting posters for the American war. He became popular for the loose-lips-sink-ships theme in his posters, but also worked in the recruiting posters for the Waves. Falter was a prolific artist who depicted a wide range of subject matter in a variety of media. He illustrated over 40 books, and became an excellent portrait painter. In 1980, a documentary video: A View from the Standpipe: John Falter's World, was released by Nebraska Educational Television. This documentary provides more information about John's work, through one-on-one interviews in his Philadelphia location and shows a number of his paintings.

This is an Original Vintage Poster. It is not a reproduction. This poster is conservation mounted, linen backed and in excellent condition. We guarantee the authenticity of all of our posters.