 |
Misc small
"Follow the Pied Piper," was created circa 1919 to recruit children into the United States School Garden Army (USSGA).
The artwork was designed by Maginel Wright Enright Barney (1881–1966), a prolific illustrator and the sister of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
Historical Context and Meaning
The United States School Garden Army: Formed in 1917–1918 by the Bureau of Education and funded by the War Department, this program aimed to mobilize children aged 9 to 15 to grow food during and immediately after World War I.
Symbolism: The poster depicts Uncle Sam as the "Pied Piper," leading children away from being mere consumers and toward becoming "Soldiers of the Soil". Instead of rats or children being led to their doom, these children carry garden tools like hoes, rakes, and trowels to fight food shortages.
Purpose: The campaign promoted gardening as a patriotic service, teaching kids "thrift, industry, service, patriotism, and responsibility". President Woodrow Wilson supported the initiative with $200,000 in funding, stating that gardening was "just as real and patriotic an effort as the building of ships or the firing of a cannon".
Legacy: At its peak, the USSGA enlisted over 1.5 million children, who produced millions of dollars worth of food in "Liberty Gardens" (later called "Victory Gardens").
Poster Details
Feature Description
Artist Maginel Wright Enright Barney
Date Circa 1919
Motto "A garden for every child, every child in a garden"
Publisher The Graphic Company, Washington D.C. |
|
|
