WW II Poster: America Calling Eagle
This America Calling eagle poster was issued in support of the organization of the Civil Defense prior to and early in World War II. The artist was Herbert Matter, commissioned by the Office of Emergency Management in 1941. The original poster was 40 x 29 inches. This poster was researched by the New Hampshire State Library whose report reads: Rare among posters, this one is dramatically laid out higher than its message. At first glance it is a superb aviation poster or a poster more patriotic than its text. The angry sweeping bird was posed by a great American eagle in the National Zoological Park, Washington, DC and photographed by Arthur H. Fisher.
At the time of Pearl Harbor, the state of the nation's civilian defense was barely adequate. The national chairman of the Office of Civilian Defense was New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia. By the end of January 1942, there were 5,601,892 Americans enrolled in civil defense programs including 334,666 auxiliary police, 670,673 air raid wardens and 265,580 medical personnel. 8,478 defense councils had been organized.
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