Combating Venereal Disease During the World Wars

Join us to learn how the military used public health posters created by artists at the medical museum to make good choices!
About this Event

Think it Over, Soldier: Combating Venereal Disease During the World Wars, a lecture by Laura Cutter, National Museum of Health and Medicine Chief Archivist.

Venereal diseases, now known as sexually transmitted infections, posed unprecedented challenges for the U.S. military during the two great, global conflicts of World War I and II. The effect on readiness was significant, and military medicine used a variety of health messaging to address the health needs of service members. Join the NMHM’s Chief Archivist, Laura Cutter, who will highlight archival materials from the NMHM collections to illustrate the different techniques used for education and to influence behavioral choices. And, see some related specimens specially on display for the occasion. (Topics discussed will be most suitable for mature audiences.)