With June heralding the opening of our exciting seasonal exhibit, “From Spies to Satellites: The Cold War Era” (running June 1-September 1), we are excited to dive into the interesting and compelling era that was the Cold War. Join us Tuesday nights at 7 p.m. to learn more about spies, diplomacy, and how the conclusion of WWII set the stage for this fascinating and unique time in American history.
June 3
American historian Elyse Graham, author of Book and Dagger – How Scholars and Librarians Became the Unlikely Spies of WWII, will join us to discuss the untold story of the academics who became OSS spies, invented modern spy craft, and helped turn the tide of the war.
At the start of the war, America found itself in desperate need of an intelligence agency. Learn more about how the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), a precursor of today’s CIA, was formed and how the country’s literature professors, librarians, and historians were recruited to become some of our most successful undercover operatives and investigators. Their contributions profoundly shaped the course of the war and our cultural institutions.
June 10
Moving on from the beginnings of modern spy craft, the museum will host historian David S. Foglesong, Professor of History at Rutgers University, for a riveting discussion entitled “From Allies to Enemies: Truman, Stalin, and the Start of the Cold War.” Drawing on his vast expertise on American-Soviet and American-Russian relations, Dr. Foglesong will analyze and explain the drastic deterioration of U.S.-Soviet relations from the culmination of the wartime alliance to the first use of the term “cold war” in the United States. Emphasizing the influence of U.S. domestic politics and the major changes in American public opinion about the Soviet Union during 1945-1947, this is a night you don’t want to miss.
June 17
Lieutenant Colonel (U.S. Army Retired) Ron Janowski will join us at the museum to discuss “The Cold War: Decades of Division and Diplomacy.” An Army veteran and “military brat” who served 22 years of active duty in the Field Artillery in the United States, Germany, and Canada, Mr. Janowski will draw on his expertise as a military historian to give us a broad overview of the entirety of the Cold War. From its long timespan (1947-1989) to the complex interplay between the United States and the Soviet Union, join us to learn more about the major events of the Cold War.
June 24
Norwich University Professor of History Dr. Rowland Brucken will join us to discuss The Bretton Woods Conference. Formally known as the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference, this July 1-22, 1944 conference was held in our home state of New Hampshire at Bretton Woods. 730 delegates from all 44 allied nations met to determine how to regulate the international monetary and financial order after the conclusion of the war. This conference set the stage for the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Monetary Fund as well as creating what is known as the Bretton Woods system for international commercial and financial relations. What a fantastic way to wrap up our June lecture series!
We hope you’ll join us for all of our June Lecture Series, but remember to register to ensure your seat. As always, registration is available by phone at (603)569-1212 or online!
