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Weird and Wonderful Government Publications: Blog

There are some odd and interesting materials published by various government agencies. This is a place to share those strange and the stunning materials.

Mascots and Safety

by Jenny Groome on 2025-01-31T11:55:44-05:00 | 0 Comments

There is a trend to use mascots and spokespeople (real or created) when developing public relations (PR) campaigns.

I'm sure many of us can name several right off the top of our heads, thinking of commercial campaigns. Government agencies also use mascots and spokespeople in PR campaigns - think Smokey Bear and McGruff. My favorite being Sprocket Man. Here are a few of the lesser known ones.

Safety Sadie

WorldCat.org search results had several federal documents with Safety Sadie - yet she doesn't seem well known.

Cover Art 0 Red, White and Blue with a picture of "Sadie"Take a tip from Safety Sadie : celebrate ... but you'd better watch out. by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Call Number: Y 3.C 76/3:8 Sa 1
Publication Date: 1977
From Google Books. GPO Item No: 1062-C-6
[10] pages : illustrations ; 23 x 10 cm OCLC: 3066769
Cover Art picture of "Sadie" holding up can of oven cleaner and can of drain openerTake a Tip from Safety Sadie, Poison-proof Your Home by Consumer Product Safety Commission
Call Number: Y 3.C 76/3:8 P 75/4
Publication Date: [1977]
GPO Item Number: 1062-C-6 OCLC: 3423750
[8] p. : ill. ; 15 x 23 cm.

 

 

Looks like Sadie didn't get her picture on this poster. 

University of Maryland Digital Collections: "Pink poster featuring drawing of items in a bathroom cabinet and text reading "Be on the poison lookout. Safety Sadie says poison-proof your bathroom." Includes text on verso: "Teaching Poison Prevention," and background information. Circa 1977"Be On The Poison Lookout : Teaching Poison Prevention by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Call Number: Y 3. C76/3:14 P75
Publication Date: 1977
University of Maryland Digital Collections: "Pink poster featuring drawing of items in a bathroom cabinet and text reading "Be on the poison lookout. Safety Sadie says poison-proof your bathroom." Includes text on verso: "Teaching Poison Prevention," and background information. Circa 1977"

 

El Gato the Cat 

Cover Art - Title and black cat with tail on fireThe 9 Lives Of El Gato The Cat : A Fire Safety Comic Book by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Call Number: Y 3.C 76/3:2 F 51/2
Publication Date: 1988
Online access from State Library of Pennsylvania. Little Bird offers fire safety tips, while El Gato and El Gatito ignore the bird and get into trouble.

Woodsy Owl 

U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service had Woodsy Owl teaching about ecology from mid 1960s through mid 1980s (and later too). Woodsy Owl commercials often played during TV programs geared toward children and families.

Woodsy Owl Activity Guide by Forest Service (USDA), Washington, DC.
Call Number: ED 1.310/2: 448026
Publication Date: 1997
ERIC Number: ED448026
 
Internet Archive Video Collection

Freddie Food Stamp

This is an example of a PR effort with lower production value.

Cover Art Black and white, with title and a square cartoon figure with a face on it.Food Stamps For You : Introducing Freddie Food Stamp by United States. Food and Nutrition Service; United States. Department of Agriculture; Mississippi. State Department of Public Welfare
Call Number: A 98.9:119
Publication Date: 1974
Black and white comic about food stamps

Sprocket Man 

I couldn't leave out my favorite.

Sprocket Man : CPSC Comics by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Call Number: Y 3.C 76/3:2 SP 8/994
Publication Date: 1994
CGP #000653193
 
Meet Sprocket Man. “Sprocket Man, the Superman of bike safety, returns”  This article by Barbara Palmer, in the Stanford Report - October 23, 2002, gives a history of Sprocket Man.
 

 

Cover of Prepare With Pedro

Prepare with Pedro: disaster preparedness activity book. SuDoc Number: HS 5.102:D 63/26 Publication Date: 2018

This activity book is designed to teach young children and their families about how to stay safe during disasters and emergencies.

Comics

Not all mascots/spokespeople are in cartoon form, but many are.

Here are links to guides about comics and government information.

U.S. Government Comics From University of Mississippi Libraries

Government Comics (UNT)  University of North Texas Libraries: "Cartoons and comic books published by government agencies; also government publications that discuss cartoons and comics."

Government Posters and Graphic Publications- Community Guides FDLP (Federal Depository Library Program) list of guides

Weird Government Mascots Pinterest Board

 

 
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