Enlist in 472nd Engineers
A soldier sights a surveying instrument on a tripod inside a circular vignette, with a trench and aerial reconnaissance aircraft behind him, above two small shields for aerial photography and map reproduction. The sheet lists the trades sought (surveyors, topographers, computers, photographers, lithographers, draftsmen) and an address, so it appeals through specific skilled work rather than slogans.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1918
- Period
- First World War
- Made by
- U.S. Army, 472nd Engineers (Washington, D.C.)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- Military
- Regime
- Wilson Administration
- Leader
- Woodrow Wilson
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Recruit
- Themes
- War and the military, Science and technology
- Event
- World War I
- Regime
- Wilson administration
- Leader
- Woodrow Wilson
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives (NARA), RG 4 (U.S. Food Administration), World War I Posters (NAID 512439), retrieved October 3, 2026
- Rights
- NARA Unrestricted; hosted by owner decision
U.S. Army, 472nd Engineers (Washington, D.C.). National Archives and Records Administration, 4-P-51.
Text on the object
ENLIST IN 472ND ENGINEERS [scroll over left shield:] AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY [scroll over right shield:] MAP REPRODUCTION SURVEYING-MAPPING REPRODUCING MILITARY AND AERIAL MAPS SURVEYORS - TOPOGRAPHERS COMPUTERS - PHOTOGRAPHERS LITHOGRAPHIC TOPOGRAPHIC DRAFTSMEN ADDRESS-COMMANDING OFFICER 472ND ENGINEERS 7TH AND B STREETS WASHINGTON, D.C. Central Map Reproduction Plant, Engineer School, Washington[, imprint line at bottom right, cut off at the edge]
