“Help the Red Cross”: A 1910s Appeal for Wartime Aid

During World War I, the American Red Cross relied on powerful imagery to raise funds and support relief efforts. This “Help the Red Cross” poster, created in the 1910s, used strong visual contrasts and bold lettering to convey urgency. It called on the public to donate resources and volunteer time, ensuring soldiers on the front lines and civilians in war-torn regions received medical attention, food, and shelter.

A Crucial Humanitarian Role

The American Red Cross had grown significantly since its founding in 1881. By the time war broke out in Europe, it was positioned to provide large-scale humanitarian assistance. Posters like this one reached broad audiences, encouraging ordinary citizens to play their part. The money raised helped fund field hospitals, nurses’ training, and shipments of supplies across the Atlantic.

Visual Messaging in Wartime

Printed in a limited color palette, the poster’s stark design made it easily noticeable. Its central figure, a nurse assisting the wounded, underscored the Red Cross’s mission: life-saving aid delivered under the toughest conditions. Such imagery helped build public trust and inspired immediate action.

Impact on Relief Efforts

Public contributions mobilized by these campaigns expanded the Red Cross’s capabilities. By the war’s end, the organization had established a global reputation for providing impartial, effective support. The success of these fundraising drives proved that simple, direct messages could unite communities around a shared humanitarian goal.

Did You Know?

• During World War I, the American Red Cross sent millions of care packages, blankets, and surgical dressings overseas.

• The Red Cross recruited thousands of nurses, many of whom served in challenging and dangerous environments.

• Graphic designers of the era understood that posters with minimal text and striking visuals were more likely to hold viewers’ attention.

This “Help the Red Cross” poster remains a record of how visual appeals for compassion and generosity helped shape global relief efforts during one of history’s most devastating conflicts.