Keep This Hand of Mercy at Its Work: War Fund Week, One Hundred Million Dollars
A giant arm in a white sleeve marked with a red cross reaches down in a beam of light toward a small group of refugees among ruined buildings, while shell bursts flash at the left. The tell of transfer is the radiant, outsized hand, which lends a quasi-sacred aura to a fundraising ask, while the ruins and explosions supply the fear-appeal.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1917
- Period
- First World War
- Made by
- American Red Cross (War Fund Week)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- NGO
- Regime
- Wilson Administration
- Leader
- Woodrow Wilson
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Fundraise
- Themes
- War and the military, Health
- 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
American Red Cross (War Fund Week). National Archives and Records Administration, 4-P-189.
Text on the object
Keep this Hand of Mercy at its work. War Fund Week One Hundred Million Dollars [artist's signature: P. G. MORGAN]
