Forensic Research Archive of Manipulation and Exploitation
Life-line of freedom: The Merchant Marine, 1942 US poster: Painting of officers on a ship's bridge, one raising binoculars

Life-line of freedom: The Merchant Marine

Painting of officers on a ship's bridge, one raising binoculars, with a line of steamers behind them, above a blue panel reading 'Life-line of freedom: The Merchant Marine' in red-and-white lettering among stars. The tell is the virtue-word 'freedom' and the flag colours attached to the merchant fleet.

Propaganda techniques used in this poster

Glittering generalitiesTransfer
Date
1942
Period
Second World War
Made by
Issuer not printed (painting signed Paul Sample)
Region
North America
Country
United States
Medium
Poster
Issuer type
Mixed
Regime
Roosevelt Administration
Leader
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Audience
Domestic public
Purpose
Persuade or win support
Themes
War and the military, Home front, Labor
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)
Issuer not printed. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-1287 (NAID 514893).

Text on the object

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

LIFE-LINE OF FREEDOM
THE MERCHANT MARINE

[signature:] Paul Sample 42

More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

Gypsum alabaster slab inscribed in cuneiform, from Nimrud (Kalhu), reign of Ashurnasirpal IINeo Assyrian EmpireGypsum alabaster slab inscribed in cuneiform, from Nimrud (Kalhu), reign of Ashurnasirpal II0000 · Transfer, Glittering generalitiesColour lithograph of the Latin text of the Res Gestae Divi Augusti on the wall of the temple of Roma and Augustus at Ancyra, with the heading in large letters (Perrot, Guillaume and Delbet, 1872)Roman EmpireColour lithograph of the Latin text of the Res Gestae Divi Augusti on the wall of the temple of Roma and Augustus at Ancyra, with the heading in large letters (Perrot, Guillaume and Delbet, 1872)0014 · Card stacking, Glittering generalitiesBronze sestertius of Trajan, reverse S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI, S C, the emperor on horseback riding down an enemyRoman EmpireBronze sestertius of Trajan, reverse S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI, S C, the emperor on horseback riding down an enemy0103 · Testimonial, Glittering generalitiesGold solidus of Constantine I, reverse RESTITVTORI LIBERTATISRoman EmpireGold solidus of Constantine I, reverse RESTITVTORI LIBERTATIS0313 · Glittering generalitiesGold solidus of Justinian I, reverse VICTORIA AVGGG with Victory holding a Christogram staffByzantine EmpireGold solidus of Justinian I, reverse VICTORIA AVGGG with Victory holding a Christogram staff0538 · Transfer, Glittering generalitiesThe Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I (Royal Museums Greenwich version), oil on panelEnglandThe Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I (Royal Museums Greenwich version), oil on panel1588 · Transfer, Glittering generalitiesMedal of Elizabeth I: portrait in a ruff, reverse an ark on stormy waves with SAEVAS TRANQVILLA PER VNDAS (18th-century aftercast of a 1588 model)EnglandMedal of Elizabeth I: portrait in a ruff, reverse an ark on stormy waves with SAEVAS TRANQVILLA PER VNDAS (18th-century aftercast of a 1588 model)1588 · Transfer, Glittering generalitiesFrontispiece to Eikon Basilike, The Pourtraicture of His Sacred Majestie in his Solitudes and Sufferings (Hollar, 1649)Dutch RepublicFrontispiece to Eikon Basilike, The Pourtraicture of His Sacred Majestie in his Solitudes and Sufferings (Hollar, 1649)1649 · Transfer, Glittering generalities