Reading Under Fire: Arming Minds & Hearts During Wartime

Angelina Lippert ’07, Executive Director and Curator, has invited us to return to Poster House, for an SCC NYC members-only private tour of the show “Reading Under Fire: Arming Minds & Hearts During Wartime”.

During World Wars I and II, nearly every nation involved recognized the importance of providing materials to maintain soldier wellbeing and morale. Because foot soldiers had to carry all of their possessions, small, portable entertainment was preferred, and books quickly soared in popularity. Between lulls in action or while waiting far from the front lines, troops read to escape their surroundings and fears.

This exhibition includes book-related posters from the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Germany printed during both world wars. Posters encouraged public book donations and fundraising efforts to supply troops with reading material ranging from escapist fiction to educational books that prepared soldiers for promotion, future jobs, or civilian life.

The tour will be led by Molly Guptill Manning, curator of the show, author, historian, and associate professor of law at New York Law School. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller When Books Went to War and has spoken widely about the role books, magazines, and newspapers played during World Wars I and II.

🔗  View full exhibition details

Tickets are $10 and limited to 25 SCC NYC members.

💡 Have questions?
Email us at events@smithclubnyc.com