Press Release
March 16, 2017
Contact: Steve Hawkins
Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-522-0754
shawkins@okhistory.org
www.okhistory.org/historycenter
Oklahoma History Center Announces "The Art of War: WWI Posters from the Oscar Jacobson Collection" Exhibit
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma History Center (OHC) will open its newest pictorial exhibit, “The Art of War: WWI Posters from the Oscar Jacobson Collection,” on April 3, 2017, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the United States’ entry into World War I in April of 1917. The exhibit is on display in the Chesapeake Events Center, which also is utilized for meetings and events. Visitors should call in advance to make sure the exhibit is open to the public.
On display will be 22 posters from the Oscar Jacobson WWI Poster Collection. Jacobson was the first director of the School of Art at the University of Oklahoma and the first director of the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. The poster was an integral tool for broad dissemination of information during World War I. Countries on both sides of the conflict distributed posters widely to garner support, urge action and boost morale. During World War I, the impact of the poster as a means of communication was greater than at any other time during history. As a valuable historical research resource, the posters provide multiple points of view for understanding this global conflict. As artistic works, the posters range in style from graphically vibrant works by well-known designers to anonymous broadsides. The posters express various themes such as food issues (shortages and rationing), enlistment and recruitment (“Uncle Sam Wants You”) and finance (war bonds).
Prints of the various posters will be available for purchase in the Museum Store. The Oklahoma History Center is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Oklahoma History Center is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, National Archives and is an accredited member of the American Alliance of Museums. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit www.okhistory.org.
