Poster, Cleveland: Many Peoples One Language

Description:

Waves of non–English–speaking European immigrants flooded the cities of industrial America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Local governments and civic groups sought to encourage immigrants to learn to speak, read, and write English. This 1917 poster from the Americanization Committee of the Cleveland Board of Education was posted in schools in an attempt to reach immigrant parents through their children.

An appeal to attend free evening English classes appears on this poster in six languages : Italian, Hungarian, Slovenian, Polish, Yiddish, and English. Cleveland's factories, steel mills, port facilities, and assembly plants teemed with the new working–class arrivals from central and eastern Europe. On the eve of the American entry into World War I, nationalistic passions were rising and new immigrants were especially encouraged to "become American" by learning English and preparing for American citizenship.

The 29" x 43" poster is a J. H. Donahey publication printed by the Artcraft Company of Cleveland, Ohio.

Date Made: 1917

Referenced: Cleveland Board of EducationGraphic Artist: Artcraft CompanyMaker: Donahey, James Harrison

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: United States: Ohio, Cleveland

See more items in: Work and Industry: Graphic Arts, Cultures & Communities, Communications

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: 1986.0799.01Accession Number: 1986.0799Catalog Number: 1986.0799.01

Object Name: posterprint

Physical Description: paper (overall material)ink (overall material)Measurements: overall: 106.4 cm x 70 cm; 41 7/8 in x 27 9/16 in

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ab-93bb-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_1276325

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