The Uncle Sam poster enjoys some good company with other iconic American imagery like Rosie the Riveter and Kilroy Was Here. Like these icons, Uncle Sam, too, has a fascinating history that isn’t all that well-known to the American public. To try and raise awareness of this awesome story, an entire day is dedicated to good ole’ Uncle Sam. Celebrate Uncle Sam Day with us by learning more about his history.
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More Than Propaganda: The Origins of the Uncle Sam Poster
The Uncle Sam origin isn’t 100% proven. However, the leading and generally accepted theory for the man behind the poster, Uncle Sam himself, is that he was a man named Sam Wilson (and yes, this is exactly where the Captain America character Sam Wilson came from). Mr. Wilson was a meat packer based out of Troy, NY, who would stamp “U.S.” on all of the meat barrels he sold and shipped to the United States Army during the War of 1812. Makes perfect sense, right?
Somewhat of a local legend and widely-loved man around town, those who knew him and knew of him often called him “Uncle Sam” due to his kindly and parental nature. It made sense, then, that when people saw his meat barrels marked with “U.S.,” they believed he was marking it with his own “Uncle Sam” nickname.
Soon enough, the real acronym for U.S., meaning United States, became thoroughly intertwined with this legend of “Uncle Sam,” and Uncle Sam quickly became the personification of the United States.
Is this his true origin? Uncle Sam, the meat packer from Troy, NY? The real truth may be lost to history, but this is America, so feel free to believe what you will.
What Is Uncle Sam Day?
National Uncle Sam Day is celebrated on September 13 every year. This date isn’t arbitrary; Sam Wilson, the man who’s widely believed to have been the original Uncle Sam, was born on September 13, 1766.
A simple yet heartfelt origin, Uncle Sam Day not only honors the spirit of the American Uncle Sam but also the spirit of Sam Wilson, himself – a man who embodied much of what America was and is all about. A hard-working blue-collar man who devoted much of his labors to the war effort, Sam Wilson is an icon in his own right, even aside from the Uncle Sam posters he inspired.
The Original Uncle Sam Poster and More Popular Variants
The original Uncle Sam poster was created in 1917 by J.M. Flagg, an American illustrator. It was first displayed on the cover of the July 6, 1916, issue of Leslie’s Weekly magazine. From that time to 1918, over 4 million copies of the poster were printed.
The original version is probably the exact one that you have in your mind. A gruff, determined fellow with white hair and a star-spangled cap leaning forward, almost bursting off the page, and pointing into your very soul. The text “I WANT YOU FOR U.S. ARMY – NEAREST RECRUITMENT STATION” is demandingly displayed below him.
Uncle Sam got to be so prominent that other countries even started following in his footsteps. A Veteran of the British military, Lord Kitchener, is seen in Britain’s own version of the recruitment poster with the text “YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU.” Oh yeah, and he’s pointing, too, the copycat. We have to hand it to him, though; his facial hair is definitely cooler than Uncle Sam’s.
Other versions of the poster, though not nearly as popular, have been created, too. One common variant includes the same Uncle Sam standing upright with his hands on his hips instead of leaning forward and pointing.
Celebrating the Uncle Sam Poster and Everything It Represents
Join us on September 13 to celebrate the life and legacy of Uncle Sam, both the man and the symbol. Military recruitment in the modern day might be far more complex than just spreading around an Uncle Sam poster around town, but he’ll always be an inspiration and a great representation of the country.
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