Week 9

 Hello readers! This week I have worked on accessioning the Vacanti Collection. I am now about half way to completing the final box of the collection. This week I was especially interested in a collection of posters that were used during LCDR Vacanti’s time as a recruiter. I think they provide a good example of what Navy recruitment was like at the time.  

The first thing that stood out to me about the posters is that they are all very colorful and eye-catching. They use a lot of bright colors and bold fonts to attract attention. They also feature images of sailors and navy ships, which are likely to appeal to potential recruits. The posters also use a variety of persuasive techniques to encourage people to join the navy. For example, one poster states that the navy is a place where you can “see the world and learn a trade.” Another poster states that the navy is a place where you can “make a difference in the world.” These statements are likely to appeal to people who are looking for adventure, travel, and a sense of purpose. 

One poster I found particularly interesting highlighted the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology, specifically referencing the Navy's airships. This resonated with me because I recently learned about the Navy's use of blimps in the 1950s and 1960s, a period when Vacanti himself was involved in the program.  Seeing this connection between the recruitment materials and Vacanti's own experiences brought a new dimension to my understanding of his story.  It also highlighted how the Navy actively promoted its technological advancements to attract recruits, showcasing the unique opportunities available to those who enlisted. I think I will be able to use some of these posters in the exhibit. They will serve as a good backdrop for the other artifacts and will help to draw attention to the exhibit. 

Overall, I think these posters provide a good snapshot of what navy recruitment was like in the 1950s and 1960s. They are colorful, eye-catching, and persuasive. They also provide some interesting insights into the types of people that the navy was trying to recruit at that time.

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