Peace Corps Posters

1976

Fifty years ago, President Kennedy signed an Executive Order establishing the Peace Corps. The selection of posters calling for Peace Corps Volunteers and Partners over the years, is from the organization’s digital collection. Except for a series produced by Young & Rubicam in the late 1960s, there’s very little in the way of attribution for design. I’ve included dates where available.

1980s







Designed in 1968, by Bernie Zlotnick while he worked
at Young & Rubicam.

Also by Young & Rubicam, 1968.







In the copy with “The Peace Corps ruined my Bernie’s life,” Bernie’s mom explains how she had everything worked out for him—whom he would marry, where he would live (two blocks from her), she even had the furniture picked out. 1968.




This 1970 Peter Max poster was not an official Peace Corps issue. The artist has produced many posters throughout the years for various causes to which the proceeds are donated.

Great Loves

Those would be typographic "Loves" I'm referring to here ...

“Right” half of the iconic "LOVE" and "HATE" tattoos on the knuckles of the killer and faux preacher, played by Robert Mitchum, in ‘Night of the Hunter.


Peter Max’s famous “Love.” Poster was issued to commemorate the 40th anniversary or the Summer of Love.


Two Alexander Girard “Love” designs on pillows. “International Love,” at right, from Urban Outfitters, includes the word “love” in 19 languages.


Never saw the movie, but I remember the type from when I was a kid.


Probably the greatest “Love” of all, is by Robert Indiana. This was the first “Love” stamp issued by the Postal Service, 1973. Below, subsequent typographic “Love” stamps issued.





The knottiness of polygamy is woven right into the logo of the HBO’s series, Big Love.



A while back, I found these hand silk-screened cards. I loved how of-an-era they were in image, color, and medium. The “Tiber” on the back refers to Tiber Press, which was started in Greenwich Village by Italian-born artist Floriano Vecchi and his partner, in 1953. Turns out that in addition to creating fabulous cards, he taught the silk-screening process to Andy Warhol.

Happy V-day to all.