Description
Welcome to the YWCA Hostess House – Soldiers, Sailors and Women Guests, 1917-1918
About This Welcome to the YWCA Hostess House Poster
Welcome to the YWCA Hostess House was a critical recruitment message during World War One. This original lithograph captured the Y.W.C.A.’s mission to provide comfort and companionship to servicemen returning from Europe. The poster’s composition—a soldier, sailor, and young woman in warm greeting—communicated safety, belonging, and domestic care.
Historical Significance of Welcome to the YWCA Hostess House
In December 1918, the Y.W.C.A. opened its Hostess House in the converted Potter & Stymus Building at 375-377 Lexington Avenue in Manhattan. Welcome to the YWCA Hostess House became the rallying cry for a facility designed specifically for wounded servicemen. The six-story building offered 56 sleeping accommodations, lounging areas with books and magazines, and most importantly, female companionship in a homelike setting.
The New-York Tribune reported that “relatives of the boys may sit about and rest” in comfortable spaces. Welcome to the YWCA Hostess House, which messaging addressed the psychological wounds of war: loneliness, displacement, and loss of normalcy. A woman’s smile, a firm handshake, domestic furnishings—these modest comforts became powerful recruitment tools.
This is an original lithograph printed in semitone colors, not a reproduction. The poster shows fine condition with original fold marks expertly restored during professional linen backing. Acid-free conservation mounting preserves this rare artifact for collectors.
Our IVPDA-certified gallery specializes in authentic vintage World War I posters. We guarantee the authenticity of every piece in our collection and provide detailed provenance documentation.
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