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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鈥檚 efforts.

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

鈥淗e wrote to embassies and high commissions across the world for examples of their posters,鈥� explains McLean Museum curator Valerie Boa. 鈥淣ew Zealand, America and Canada were just a few of the countries he was in touch with. 鈥淚 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.鈥�

鈥淥f course we have examples of recruitment posters,鈥� Valerie says, 鈥淏ut 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.鈥�

鈥淚n fact the collection is so expansive that we have some of the only examples of certain country鈥檚 propaganda posters. For example, recently we鈥檝e had requests for images of posters from New Zealand鈥檚 Te Papa Museum in Wellington- because they don鈥檛 have their own examples.鈥�

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

鈥淥ver the thirty five years I鈥檝e worked with them, the posters have made a great impression on me,鈥� says Valerie. 鈥淭he images are really 鈥榖urned鈥� on my retinas. I can just summon up a particular poster when I think of it 鈥� they make such an impression on you.鈥�

Images courtesy of The McLean Museum

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