WWI - Fundraising

The United War Work campaign asked Americans to contribute at least $170,500,000 to the war effort. The organizations represented in this campaign included the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), the National Catholic War Council, the Jewish Welfare Board, the War Camp Community Service, the American Library Association, and the Salvation Army. People of Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant faith stood side by side, cooperating for a common cause.

For Americans who were not inclined or able to enter into military service, fundraising offered an alternative demonstration of patriotism. In the business realm, patriotism, and perhaps the desire for public acclaim, inspired many companies to contribute products and resources to the war effort.

As the government strove to raise money for the war, Liberty Loans were conceived as a way of asking U.S. citizens to donate in support of the Allied cause. The government aggressively campaigned for these loans using graphic posters, broadsides, and even movie star endorsements. On April 24, 1917, Congress authorized the Emergency Loan Act, which issued $5 billion in bonds. Over the course of the war, the government offered over $17 billion in war bonds. New Yorkers did their part by participating in the ongoing fundraising drives, while also offering food and other aid to help fund the war effort.

*WWI. Third Liberty Loan Poster. Third Liberty Loan poster.

*WWI. Liberty Bonds. Poster describing the benefits of liberty bonds.

*WWI. Fleming Fundraising. Poster encouraging fundraising in Fleming.

WWI. Governor Whitman's Proclamation for the Second Liberty Loan, 1917. Governor Whitman's Proclamation for the Second Liberty Loan, October 16, 1917.

WWI. Governor Whitman's Proclamation for the Third Liberty Loan. Governor Whitman's Proclamation for the Third Liberty Loan.

*WWI. Liberty Loan Math. Mathematical word problems about Liberty Loans arranged by teachers of the Arnold Avenue School.

*WWI. Little Round Dollar Poem. Little Round Dollar Poem.

WWI. Defense Council Helps United War Work Campaign. Letter from New York Defense Council offering help to the United War Work Campaign.

*WWI. Food Offer. The Preisach brothers of Le Roy, New York offer to use their greenhouses to grow food instead of flowers.

WWI. Questions Regarding Finances. Letter from Director of Finance for War Camp Community Service with questions for the State Defense Council.

WWI. Response to Questions Regarding Finances. Response from the State Defense Council regarding finance questions.

WWI. Chain Letter. Chain letter asking for donations to fund army health improvements.

WWI. Chain Letter Response. Response to the chain letter asking for donations to fund army health improvements.

WWI. War Relief Letter. May 11, 1917 letter from the War Relief Work of the Anti-Suffrage Association in an unfiled envelope.

*WWI. New York State Library War Fund Campaign. Description of local efforts for the New York State Library War Fund Campaign in Troy, New York.

*WWI. Liberty Loan of 1917. Poster describing the Liberty Loan of 1917.

WWI. Fourth Liberty Loan Parade. Photograph of the Student Army Training Corps of RPI marching in the Fourth Liberty Loan Parade.

*WWI. Westchester School Wins Prize for Selling Stamps, 1918. Quaker Ridge School in Westchester County, New York wins the prize for selling War Savings Stamps in 1918.