Venereal Diseases - Tomorrow's Citizen
A photograph of a small boy stands at the point of a light cone that throws a large dark adult shadow behind him, under the words 'Tomorrow's Citizen'. The text says he 'must not be handicapped by Venereal Disease passed on by Parents'; the looming shadow and the child at risk are the fear-appeal, paired with an offer of free confidential treatment.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1939
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- Ministry of Health and Central Council for Health Education, printed for His Majesty's Stationery Office; artist Reginald Mount; printer Henry Hildesley, Ltd., London
- Region
- Western and Central Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- State
- Regime
- Churchill Government
- Leader
- Winston Churchill
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Warn or inform
- Themes
- Health, Home front
- Event
- World War II
- Leader
- Winston Churchill
- 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 Foreign Posters, retrieved October 3, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (UK Crown copyright, 50 years from publication, expired before 1996; no URAA restoration)
UK government (HMSO / Ministry of Health and Central Council for Health Education, printed for His Majesty's Stationery Office), 1939-1945. U.S. National Archives, WWII Foreign Posters, NAID 44267323, local identifier 44-PF-494e.
Text on the object
Venereal Diseases VD TOMORROW'S CITIZEN He must not be handicapped by Venereal Disease passed on by Parents. Make sure you're fit to be the Parents of tomorrow's citizens Confidential information and advice about venereal diseases and their treatment can be obtained FREE from the Local Health Department or from the Medical Adviser, Central Council for Health Education, Tavistock House, Tavistock Sq., London, W.C.1 Treatment is free and confidential ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND THE CENTRAL COUNCIL FOR HEALTH EDUCATION PRINTED IN ENGLAND by Henry Hildesley Ltd. London. 51/ 3379
