Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Don't Be a Dope! Handle Equipment Right!
Artifact IDMO 2005.13.35.51
Object Type
Poster
Artist
Will Eisner
(American comic book artist, 1917 - 2005)
Maker
U.S. Government Printing Office
(American, founded 1861)
Issuing Body
U.S. Army
(American, founded 1775)
Issuing Body
U.S. Army Ordnance Corps
(American, founded 1812)
Date1943
Mediumpaper, ink
Dimensionsoverall H 14 1/8 in x W 18 1/8 in (35.9 cm x 46 cm )
Physical DescriptionA World War II U.S. conservation poster titled “Don’t be a dope! HANDLE EQUIPMENT RIGHT!” The orange, black, and white poster features a cartoon illustration of a bumbling U.S. Army soldier named Joe Dope gleefully and recklessly driving an Army jeep over sharp rocks, resulting in the shredding and destruction of the tires. As the vehicle bounces along the rough ground, boxes of supplies and ammunition fall out of the jeep. Text in the upper portion of the illustration states: “To prove he's game as the fliers / Whose daring the public admires, / Joe Dope hurls his loads / Over rock-studded roads— / And boy! is it tough on the tires!" The artist’s facsimile signature is in the upper right corner of the illustration : “CPL Will EiSNER ORDNANCE.”
Additional small text in the bottom margin reads: “ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT, U. S. ARMY / U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1943—O-512339 A.”
Additional DetailsAdditional small text in the bottom margin reads: “ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT, U. S. ARMY / U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1943—O-512339 A.”
Custodial History NoteDonated to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum by the Adriance Memorial Library.
Credit LineGift of the Adriance Memorial Library
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesOriginal Posters from World War I and World War II (National Archives Identifier 739394)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedCopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.In Collection(s)
Not on view
