Save a shovelful every time you can... the supply is running low
Stylised poster of a coal shovel heaped with lumps against orange-and-white flames, with the text 'Save a shovelful every time you can... the supply is running low'. The appeal is a scarcity warning: a fuel shortage is stated in the last line and nothing else is explained. The fear-appeal is mild.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1944
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- U.S. Army, Office, Chief of Engineers (Army Conservation Program)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- Military
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Own forces
- Purpose
- Mobilize or secure compliance
- Themes
- Home front, Economy and finance
- 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)
U.S. Army, Office, Chief of Engineers. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-1668 (NAID 515336).
Text on the object
SAVE A SHOVELFUL EVERY TIME YOU CAN... THE SUPPLY IS RUNNING LOW ARMY CONSERVATION PROJECT NO. 54-E-11 OFFICE, CHIEF OF ENGINEERS U.S. ARMY SAVE CONSERVATION PROGRAM [imprint:] U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1944-O-574620
