The Pritzker Military Library was founded in October 2003 by Colonel (IL) J.N. Pritzker, IL ARNG (Retired) with his collection of 8,500 books on military history. It began with his desire to share these books with others. He hoped their lives would be as enriched as his had been by the stories of Citizen Soldiers. In seven short years, the Library collection has expanded to include over 50,000 volumes of books, archival collections, artifacts, original artwork, prints, and posters.

The pieces in this exhibit were chosen by staff of the library as some of the most representative of our current collection. These books, original artwork, posters, and artifacts span the breadth of the history of Citizen Soldiers in the United States and support a central theme: that of the Citizen Soldier. Whether it’s the iconic Uncle Sam or a Christy Girl, an exhortation to join the WAVES or buy a war bond, each item shows the importance of the Citizen Soldier in the preservation of democracy. Also evident in the items is the duty of civilians to support our citizen soldiers; everyone can do something to support the United States, its history, and its future.

Some of the artists devoted a great deal of time and work to support the country in times of war. In one case, the artist himself died in defense of the country. The striking images, bold colors, and timeless words all work together to show and tell the rich history of this country, and the stories of these Citizen Soldiers that we don’t want to forget.