Patriots! Use Cornmeal (U.S. Food Administration, New York Federal Food Board)
A man in a suit speaks through a large megaphone filled with a cornmeal texture, standing on a ridge of loaves and rolls under the one-word headline 'PATRIOTS!'. The text gives practical reasons (cornmeal cannot be shipped, is cheaper than wheat flour, saves wheat) and offers free recipes. The tell is the opening label, which attaches the virtue word to the act of choosing one grain over another.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1918
- Period
- First World War
- Made by
- U.S. Food Administration, New York Federal Food Board
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- State
- Regime
- Wilson Administration
- Leader
- Woodrow Wilson
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Mobilize or secure compliance
- Themes
- Home front, Economy and finance
- 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
U.S. Food Administration, New York Federal Food Board. National Archives and Records Administration, 4-P-111.
Text on the object
PATRIOTS! USE CORNMEAL IT CANNOT BE SHIPPED IT IS SPLENDID EATING IT IS CHEAPER THAN WHEAT FLOUR IT SAVES WHEAT FREE RECIPES INSIDE GET YOURS U. S. FOOD ADMINISTRATION--NEW YORK FEDERAL FOOD BOARD
