Greenock, Scotland: WW1 Propaganda Posters at the McLean Museum

PA16 8JX - McLean Museum, Greenock

The McLean Museum in Greenock holds a collection of some three hundred World War One propaganda posters. This astonishing array was the result of one man’s efforts.

Thomas Thomson was the treasurer at the McLean Museum at the time of the conflict and it’s thanks to his collector’s zeal that the collection exists. In addition, Thomson was tracking down the posters during hostilities.

“He wrote to embassies and high commissions across the world for examples of their posters,” explains McLean Museum curator Valerie Boa. “New Zealand, America and Canada were just a few of the countries he was in touch with. “I think he must have been compelled to have as a comprehensive collection as he could. Many collectors want to have every last piece, and I think perhaps this is what motivated him.”

“Of course we have examples of recruitment posters,” Valerie says, “But there are other posters for example, exhorting the public to save food and be economical and posters encouraging saving and the purchase of war bonds to help the fighting.”

“In fact the collection is so expansive that we have some of the only examples of certain country’s propaganda posters. For example, recently we’ve had requests for images of posters from New Zealand’s Te Papa Museum in Wellington- because they don’t have their own examples.”

A century on, the power of the propaganda posters remains undiminished.

“Over the thirty five years I’ve worked with them, the posters have made a great impression on me,” says Valerie. “The images are really ‘burned’ on my retinas. I can just summon up a particular poster when I think of it – they make such an impression on you.”

Images courtesy of The McLean Museum