Artifact #4: Canadian Patriotic Fund
Citation:
Unknown Artist, Give To The Canadian Patriotic Fund. 1917. Lithograph on Wove Paper. Canada, Printed in Hamilton, Ontario. Reference number: A146/X1
Label:
The Canadian Patriotic Fund was a financial program created to support the families of soldiers. Social activist and manufacturer Sir Herbert Ames created the CPF. It differed from Victory Bonds in that Victory Bonds helped raise funds to pay for the war rather than directly supporting families. Due to the gender norms at the time, families during WWI were often faced with economic hardships while the male soldiers were away from home. The Canadian Patriotic Fund Poster was one of the many forms of media used to campaign the charitable cause, calling for the support of those who have sacrificed their lives for our country. The poster displayed uses emotional appeal to encourage those to donate. The poster depicts a soldier writing to his wife that he “couldn’t have gone if I hadn’t felt that the fund would help you.” The CPF reassured and supported soldiers and their families during challenging times. Citizens united as a nation and raised nearly $23 million for soldiers' families.
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