---
title: Hold on to your Social Security card
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/hold-on-to-your-social-security-card-patterson-1941/
description: 'A cartoon everyman in a polka-dot bow tie holds up a Social Security card, with three panels giving reasons not to lose it: it may be needed on a new job.'
section: Collection
---

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3. Hold on to your Social Security card

[![Hold on to your Social Security card, 1941 US poster: A cartoon everyman in a polka-dot bow tie holds up a Social Security](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/hold-on-to-your-social-security-card-patterson-1941.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/hold-on-to-your-social-security-card-patterson-1941.jpg)

# Hold on to your Social Security card

A cartoon everyman in a polka-dot bow tie holds up a Social Security card, with three panels giving reasons not to lose it: it may be needed on a new job, a duplicate takes time, and replacing lost cards cost Uncle Sam the price of 550 jeeps. The ordinary-man figure carries the plain-folks appeal; the fear-appeal is mild, an inconvenience and a cost.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Plain folks](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/plain-folks/) [Fear appeal](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/fear-appeal/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
hold on TO YOUR
SOCIAL SECURITY CARD
don't lose it,
BECAUSE
YOU MAY NEED IT ANY
DAY, ESPECIALLY IF YOU
TAKE ANOTHER JOB
IT TAKES TIME
TO GET A DUPLICATE
REPLACING 1,861,871 LOST CARDS
LAST YEAR COST UNCLE SAM
THE PRICE OF 550 JEEPS
[card: SOCIAL SECURITY ... 000-[illegible]-0000 HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR J. Wilbur Worker EMPLOYEE'S SIGNATURE]
[imprint: ES-96]
[signature: Ralph Patterson]
```

[← Soviet War Poster (Hitler in Chains, reproduced by Russian War Relief Inc.)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/hitler-in-chains-soviet-war-poster-russian-war-relief-1941/) [Home Canning →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/home-canning-usda-1941/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [Trois Tetes sous l'meme bonnet (three heads under the same cap)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/trois-tetes-sous-le-meme-bonnet-1789/) (France · 1789 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['This log cabin was the first building erected on the North Bend', Whig print by T. Sinclair, 1840](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/harrison-north-bend-log-cabin-sinclair-1840/) (United States · 1840 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [Treeing Coons (pro-Polk cartoon), 1844](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/treeing-coons-polk-1844/) (United States · 1844 · Name-calling, Plain folks)
- [Zachary Taylor, People's Candidate for President (Currier banner), 1848](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/taylor-fillmore-peoples-candidate-1848/) (United States · 1848 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['Little Mac.' (from the Democratic presidential campaign songster)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/little-mac-song-sheet-feeks-1864/) (United States · 1864 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The peoples' choice, H. Greeley G. Brown](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/peoples-choice-greeley-brown-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The working-man's banner. For President, Ulysses S. Grant, 'The Galena Tanner.' For Vice-President, Henry Wilson, 'The Natick Shoemaker.'](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/working-mans-banner-grant-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [The Chappaqua farmer](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/chappaqua-farmer-1872/) (United States · Jul 1872 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)