World War II Propaganda Posters

The Fort Thomas Military and Community History Museum has a collection of more than 250 propaganda posters from both World War I and World War II. These posters were published by both government departments and private businesses, and they offer a virtual catalog of propaganda techniques aimed at bolstering friends and discouraging enemies. They reflect the hopes and fears of a country at war and provide valuable historical context.

The artists who created these posters had varied backgrounds, but they shared the same goal of getting the desired message to the public. This was a time when television was in its infancy and AI and ChatGPT weren’t even a hint in science fiction stories. Whether the purpose was to encourage conservation, recruiting, patriotism, or civil defense, each poster had one shot at reaching the target audience. We will look at examples from several categories during this class.

ABOUT DEANNA BEINEKE

Deanna Beineke is Director of the Fort Thomas Military and Community History Museum. Her father was WW II veteran, and she has had a life-long interest in history.

Prior to becoming director, Deanna had collaborated with the museum to curate several exhibits, including a quilt exhibit associated with the Smithsonian “Journey Stories” traveling exhibit in 2011, an exhibit commemorating the Vietnam War, and another showcasing original WWI and WWII propaganda posters.

Deanna has grown the museum’s collection to over 4,500 artifacts, letters, pictures and uniforms, and she has written a coffee table history of the Fort Thomas military installation, spanning its existence between 1890 through 1947. She is currently writing a history of the city of Fort Thomas.

Deanna graduated from Highlands High School, University of Kentucky, and earned an MA Ed. and Rank I at Northern Kentucky University.