Anti-Japanese Propaganda Posters

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The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was a Depression and World War Two era Federal agency, employing millions on public works projects and operating theatrical and literacy projects. It also fed children and distributed food, clothing, and housing. Almost every community in the United States had a park, bridge or school constructed by the WPA. Created by order of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the WPA was funded by Congress in the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935.

As part of its overall mission, the WPA published posters for theatrical productions, WW2 propaganda, public health services, tourism, war bond drives, etc..

Pictured here are four anti-Japanese propaganda posters, showing the Japanese with buck teeth, slanty eyes, and glasses. One even pictures a "Jap" as a rat.

Salvage scrap to blast the jap

# Creator: Phul, Phil von artist

# Date Created/Published: [Washington : WPA Art Project, 1940 or 1941]

# Medium: 1 print on board (poster) : silkscreen, color.

# Summary: Poster for Thirteenth Naval District, United States Navy, showing a snake representing Japan being bombed by an eagle.

Alaska - death-trap for the Jap

# Creator: Grigware, Edward T., 1889- artist

# Date Created/Published: Washington : WPA Art Project, [between 1941 and 1943]

# Medium: 1 print on board (poster) : silkscreen, color.

# Summary: Poster for Thirteenth Naval District, United States Navy, showing a rat representing Japan, approaching a mousetrap labeled "Army Navy Civilian," on a background map of the state of Alaska.

Australia and the war

# Creator: Pollock, Charles, 1902- artist

# Date Created/Published: Michigan : Michigan Art & Craft Project, W.P.A., [between 1941 and 1943]

# Medium: 1 print on board (poster) : silkscreen, color.

# Summary: Poster showing a map of Australia and the face of Hirohito(?).

What about India?

# Creator: Merlin, Maurice artist

# Date Created/Published: Michigan : Michigan Art & Craft Project, W.P.A., [between 1941 and 1943]

# Medium: 1 print on board (poster) : silkscreen, color.

# Summary: Poster showing map of India, Buddha, Gandhi, the Taj Mahal, and (Japanese) bombs falling on them.