This series of 774 World War I posters and magazine ads was collected and donated by Cuyler Reynolds (1866-1934). Reynolds, an author and journalist, was the “Albany Historian” for 20 years and served as the director of the Albany Institute of History and Art and was its first curator. His major publication is Albany Chronicles: a history of the city arranged chronologically, from the earliest settlement to the present time (1906).

According to an obituary appearing in The Knickerbocker News (May 25, 1934), Mr. Reynolds was an avid collector relating to matters of historical and contemporary importance to Albany. He donated his collection of 2000 books signed by their authors to the Albany Institute of History and Art as well as his collection of 50 crests of old Albany families which he had reproduced in hand paintings. The poster collection, reflecting Reynolds’ interest in World War I, contains posters and advertisements promoting the war effort. Personal papers in the Institute’s collections document his desire to erect monuments to honor New York State residents who served in World War I.