Artist Howard Christy (1872-1952)

A 1915 World War I poster issued by the United States government showing a half-length portrait of a woman in military uniform and a trench warfare scene with troops carrying the flags of the United States and the Marines. This poster is one of Howard Christy's most iconic. The model is Nancy Palmer, who later became Christy's wife and who was featured in many of Christy's best works.

During World War I, many branches of the federal government used posters to urge Americans to support the war effort. In a time without radio, TV, or the Internet, posters were an inexpensive way to deliver powerful messages to millions of people. The government hired well-known artists to create designs that unified the American people. Posters continued to be published during World War II, and new posters are still in production. The National Archives holds close to 20,000 posters produced by military and civilian agencies.