Who Was Here First?

How many times have you seen someone write on a desk, wall, or textbook, "John was here" or "Sarah was here?" Have you ever done it yourself? Have you ever stopped to think who the first person was to graffiti that somewhere?

The graffiti phrase was started by Shipyard inspector doing his job. His name was James J. Kilroy. During WWII, shipyard inspectors were in charge of making sure that all rivets were properly in place and checked. To allow for the next inspector to know where the last left off, they would chalk their signatures or make some type of indication on the ones checked. J.J. Kilroy's way of indicated what he had checked was by writing "Kilroy was here" accompanied by a man looking over a fence.

The phrase "Kilroy was here" became a symbol of hope for soldiers. It had displayed to them that someone else has been to the unfamiliar territories they were in. Soldiers began to copy the phrase for others. This later gave others the idea to write there name in different places to indicate that just like Kilroy, he too was there. 

The phenomenon has continued ever since with others scribbling there name in various locations for others to see.