Keep 'em Smiling with Letters from Folks and Friends
Three smiling servicemen, an Army soldier, a sailor and a Marine, read letters against red crayon-style rays. The headline and 'Write today and often' ask civilians to send mail to the forces. The shared smiles show the effect the letters are said to have, an appeal built on ordinary relationships rather than argument (plain-folks).
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1941
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S., artist Syd Bekell
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- NGO
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Mobilize or secure compliance
- Themes
- War and the military, Home front
- Event
- World War II
- Regime
- Roosevelt administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Posters, retrieved October 4, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (U.S. government work)
Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S.. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-211 (NAID 513654).
Text on the object
Keep 'em Smiling with LETTERS FROM FOLKS AND FRIENDS! Write TODAY AND OFTEN Ladies Auxiliary TO THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS of U.S. DO YOUR BIT FOR VICTORY—GIVE THIS POSTER PROMINENT DISPLAY [signature:] Syd Bekell [imprint:] [illegible printer's mark]
