1942 Kilroy

While Graffiti iconography has been around since Egyptian times, it was not until World War II, that one name became identified with Graffiti.  That name was “KILROY”.  “KILROY” worked in a bomb plant in Detroit where, after checking a bomb he would scrawl in white chalk “KILROY WAS HERE", on its side.  These bombs found their way throughout war torn Europe and “KILROY” became a celebrity.  As American forces took back towns from the Germans, a soldier would invariably write “KILROY WAS HERE" on whatever wall was left standing.  After the war, the name “KILROY” became synonymous with Graffiti, finding its way on countless student's notebook covers.