---
title: 'Know your timber: it''s good business'
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/know-your-timber-1945/
description: 'Forest Service poster: a painted man in a hat and work shirt holds a calliper across the trunk of a large pine, a notebook in his back pocket.'
section: Collection
---

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3. Know your timber: it's good business

[![Know your timber: it's good business, 1945 US poster: Forest Service poster](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/know-your-timber-1945.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/know-your-timber-1945.jpg)

# Know your timber: it's good business

Forest Service poster: a painted man in a hat and work shirt holds a calliper across the trunk of a large pine, a notebook in his back pocket, above a red panel reading 'Know your timber' and 'It's good business'. The technique is faint: an ordinary working figure and a business-interest slogan, with no wartime wording.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Plain folks](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/plain-folks/) [Glittering generalities](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/glittering-generalities/)

## Text on the object

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

```
KNOW YOUR TIMBER
It's Good Business
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
FOREST SERVICE
[signature: Earle [illegible] Winslow]
[imprint: U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1945 O - [illegible]]
[handwritten on the notebook: Notes]
```

[← Know Your Enemy: Japan, War Department Orientation Film title card (OF-10)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/know-your-enemy-japan-war-dept-title-card-1945/) [Let's talk about you! →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/lets-talk-about-you-usafi-1945/)

## 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)