WWI poster series on display at Ritzville Public Library

The East Adams Library District was recently awarded a World War I poster series that will be on display at the Ritzville Public Library the rest of this month.

The poster series, “World War I: Lessons and Legacies,” explores the history of the war and the lasting impact it has had on American life. The series is organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and the National Museum of American History.

“We are excited to display this fantastic collection of educational posters throughout November in honor of those that served a century ago,” said Kylie Fullmer, EALD Director. The library also has fliers for the public and a display of its own World War I materials for checkout and local historical research.

The poster series focuses on topics such as the new industries that arose from wartime technologies and medical advances, and how the roles that women and minorities played in the war led to the right to vote for women and a raised consciousness of civil rights issues throughout American society.

“From the Great Migration to the 1918 flu pandemic and from the unionization movement to women’s suffrage, World War I led to pivotal changes in America’s culture, technology, economy, and role in the world,” said an EALD press release. “It redefined how we saw ourselves as Americans and its legacy continues today.”

To find out more about this and other Smithsonian projects, visit https://historyexplorer.si.edu/.