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Mather Work Incentive Posters

Mather Work Incentive Posters (1923 and 1929) were designed to increase productivity and reinforce the morals and the morale of the American workforce.

Five posters hang in Government Information on 2nd floor south, near the elevators. Some posters were designed by artists Willard Frederick Elmes and Henry Lee Jr. A precursor to propaganda posters from the WPA and World War II, these artifacts are beautiful examples of some early 20th-century mass communication tools. The project was sponsored by the College of Fine Arts and Design.

Poster text:
ALL CLEAR AHEAD!
Making sure-
then making speed-
means making good
LET'S HURRY CAREFULLY

All Clear Ahead poster

Poster text:
LET'S CLEAR THE AIR
Let's iron out the trouble.
You'll feel better, work better, get farther
YOU'LL BE TREATED FAIRLY

Let's Clear the Air poster

Poster text:
NEXT MONDAY

Next Monday poster

Poster text:
RIGHT-OF-WAY!
Keeping
everything neat
gives you the
"go-ahead"
ORDER SPEEDS RESULTS

Right-Of-Way poster

Poster text:
WORRY BAGS NO GAME
Half your mind on worry
and half on work gets you
only "half" results
FACING TROUBLES KILLS THEM

Worry Bags No Game poster