George Creel and the Committee on Public Information

Image courtesy of Missouri History Museum

Just seven days after declaring America's entry into World War I, President Woodrow Wilson established the Committee on Public Information. This new independent agency's goal was to distribute information about the war and inspire the public to take action both at home and abroad. Under the influence of the chairman, Missourian George Creel, the Committee produced the most extensive propaganda campaign the world had ever seen.

Over There

Over There, by George M. Cohan, was first recorded in 1917 and became vastly popular in America. Cohan, a famous Broadway producer and writer, wrote the song shortly after the U.S. declared war on Germany and officially entered the war. Because of its popularity, Over There served as a morale booster and recruitment tool for the U.S. Army, and even became the unofficial anthem of American soldiers. Lyrics to the song express moods of patriotism, pride, and an eagerness to serve, and reflect a general positive outlook on America’s entry into the war. Over two million copies of the song’s sheet music were sold by the end of the war.

Missouri and the Great War

Over There: Missouri and the Great War is a statewide, collaborative initiative to document Missouri’s World War I history.  This project will develop a single digital collection consisting of documents, photographs, artifacts and other media in preparation for the centennial remembrance beginning in 2014.  This digital collection will be a combination of material from organizations across the state and from private individuals.  If you have photos, documents, or artifacts to share let us know!