CELEBRATING THE ARTS
PAULA HORNER
HCCA PRESIDENT
There is a long history associated with the character of Uncle Sam. Dating back to the classical Roman era, allegorical figures were used to represent a place.
By the 17th century the Renaissance re-established the genre in Western art and culture. In the early days of the United States, a female figure, Columbia, stood for the nation, and was an often-used symbol of our country through the early 20th century.
Sometimes appearing with Columbia, Uncle Sam has been around for almost as long. The most cited origin story traces Uncle Sam back to a man who lived in Troy, New York, Sam Wilson.
During the War of 1812, Sam Wilson delivered meat packed in barrels to soldiers. He was a well-liked and trustworthy man, and local residents called him “Uncle Sam.” When those supply barrels — marked “U.S.” for United States — were seen by the locals, these two ideas merged, and the symbolism of Uncle Sam for the United States was born and became a symbol for the United States of America.
In 1961 Congress passed a resolution adopting this account as official history.
Soon after the War of 1812, references in literature and images of Uncle Sam began to surface. Political cartoons created by Thomas Nast, one of the country’s most well-known cartoonists, popularized the image of Uncle Sam.
However, the most enduring iteration of this character is the 1917 recruiting poster of Uncle Sam asking YOU to join the Army. The Division of Armed Forces History at the National Museum of American History holds in its permanent collection the original drawing by James Montgomery Flagg.
Dozens of posters were created by Flagg for the U.S. during World Wars I and II. As an illustrator and artist, Flagg originally made this particular drawing of Uncle Sam for the cover of “Frank Leslie’s Weekly Newspaper.” Originally titled, “What are you doing for preparedness?” the recruiting poster caption read, “I Want YOU for U.S. Army.” Flagg used his own face for that of Uncle Sam, adding age and a white goatee.
Flagg was born in 1877, in Pelham, New York. He was enthusiastic about drawing from a young age and had illustrations accepted by national magazines by the age of 12. By 14 he was a contributing artist for “Life” magazine and the following year was placed on the staff of “Judge” magazine.
From 1894 through 1898, he attended the Art Students League of New York. He studied fine art in London and Paris from 1898 to 1900, after which he returned to the U.S., where he produced countless illustrations for books, magazine covers, political and humorous cartoons, advertising and spot drawings.
At his peak, Flagg was reported to have been the highest paid magazine illustrator in America, having worked for both “The Saturday Evening Post” and “Colliers.”
Hill Country Council for the Arts develops and enriches an environment that supports and promotes appreciation, awareness, education and access to all the arts. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and visit our website often, www. hccarts.org; send inquiries to [email protected].
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