Name/Title
Cleveland: Many Peoples, One Language PosterEntry/Object ID
2120ADescription
Waves of non–English–speaking European immigrants flooded the cities of industrial America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Local governments and civic groups sought to encourage immigrants to learn to speak, read, and write English. This 1917 poster from the Americanization Committee of the Cleveland Board of Education was posted in schools in an attempt to reach immigrant parents through their children.
An appeal to attend free evening English classes appears on this poster in six languages : Italian, Hungarian, Slovenian, Polish, Yiddish, and English. Cleveland's factories, steel mills, port facilities, and assembly plants teemed with the new working–class arrivals from central and eastern Europe. On the eve of the American entry into World War I, nationalistic passions were rising and new immigrants were especially encouraged to "become American" by learning English and preparing for American citizenship.
The poster is a J. H. Donahey publication printed by the Artcraft Company of Cleveland, Ohio.*
**Description written by the National Museum of American HistoryContext
This poster was placed in schools by the Cleveland Board of Education to encourage children to help their parents learn English.Collection
WRHSMade/Created
Artist Information
Artist
J.H. DonaheyRole
CartoonistManufacturer
The Artcraft CompanyDate made
circa 1917Time Period
20th CenturyPlace
Region
NortheastContinent
North AmericaInscription/Signature/Marks
Location
MMJH 2.1Transcription
(English)
Come to the Public Schools.
Learn the Language of America.
Prepare for American Citizenship.
Free Classes for both Men and Women.
Classes in the Evening and Afternoon.
Apply to the nearest Public School or Library
for further information.
(Slovenian)
Pridite v ljudske Šole.
Ucite se ameriskega jezika!
Pripravljajte se za drzavlianstvo.
Razredi za moske in zenske!
Poduk zvecer in popoldne!
Vprasajte v bliznji publik soli ali v citalnici
za nadeljna pojasnila.
(Italian)
Venite alle Scuole Pubbliche.
Imparate la lingua di America.
Pereparate di diventare un cittadino Americano.
Ve ne sono classe per uomini e donne.
Le classe sono serali ed anche dopo mezzogiorno.
Andate alla scuola pubblica piǔ vicina o alla
Biblioteca pubblica per altra informazione.
(Polish)
Zapisz sie do Szkoly Publicznej.
Ucz sie jèzyka angielskiego.
Przygotùj śie do Obywatelstwa tego kraju.
Otwieramy klasy dla meźczyzn i kobiet
wieczorami i po pòludniu.
Zgloś sie do najbliźszej Publicznej Szkoly
lub Biblioteki po dalsze informacye.
(Hungarian)
Jöjjenek a Public Schoolokba.
Tanulják meg amerika nyelvét.
Készüljön amerikai polgámak.
Ostályok ugy férfak mint nök számára.
Elöadások délután és este.
Jelentkezzék a legközelebbi iskolában vagy
könyvtárban bövebb felvilágositásért.
(Yiddish)
קומט אין פּאַבליק סקוהל
לערנען די אמעריקאנער שפראך
זיך פֿאָרבערייטען פֿאַר אמעריקאן סיטיזענשים
פרייע קלאַססען פאר מענער און פרויען.
קלאטען אין אבענד און נאכמיטאג.
ווענדעט זיך צום נאהענטסטען סקודל אדער לייברערי
פאר ווייטערע אויסקינפטע.Language
MultilingualTranslation
Come to the Public Schools.
Learn the Language of America.
Prepare for American Citizenship.
Free Classes for both Men and Women.
Classes in the Evening and Afternoon.
Apply to the nearest Public School or Library
for further information.
Bottom text reads:
"Board of Education
East Sixth and Rockwell
In Co-operation With The
Cleveland Americanization Committee
(Mayor's Advisory War Committee)"Material/Technique
paperDimensions
Dimension Description
UnframedHeight
21-1/2 inWidth
13-1/2 inDimension Description
FramedHeight
24-5/8 inWidth
16-1/2 inInterpretative Labels
Label Type
Object LabelLabel
Tower of Babel:
"Americanization" was promoted by local institutions to blend immigrants into the existing culture and eliminate many of their Old World characteristics. This poster in six language, including Yiddish, advertises courses in English and preparation classes for the citizenship text.