Category Archives: Cold War

Cold War Foundations: How Anti-Communist Sentiment Shaped University of Wyoming’s Coe Library

When students hurry through the doors of William Robertson Coe Library today, few may realize they’re entering a building born not just from architectural necessity, but from Cold War politics, academic freedom battles, and the vision of a passionate Americana … Continue reading

Posted in American Studies, Architecture, Campus Heritage, Cold War, Uncategorized, University of Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Wyoming’s Nuclear Response to Project Plowshare

Vice President Richard Nixon delivered these words in October 1960 to a Toledo, Ohio, fraternity group: “Our plan to develop peaceful constructive uses of nuclear explosives has been given the name of Project Plowshare, because it is literally an attempt … Continue reading

Posted in Cold War, energy resources, environmental history, Nuclear energy, Political history, Uncategorized, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Flying Saucers – For Real! The Papers of Jack D. Pickett

Jack Dean Pickett was born in Casper, Wyoming in 1926. As a young man, he worked for the Burlington Railroad Roundhouse, where on June 6, 1944, he was responsible for blowing the steam whistles announcing D-Day. He joined the Navy … Continue reading

Posted in Cold War, Conspiracy Theories, military history, UFO, Uncategorized, Unidentified Flying Objects | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Blacklisted! – The Albert Maltz Papers

Brooklyn-born Albert Maltz grew up in affluence. His Russian immigrant Jewish parents had made good in their new American home. Maltz’s education credentials were those of an elite. He studied philosophy at Columbia University, graduating in 1928. He then attended the … Continue reading

Posted in Authors and literature, Biography and profiles, Blacklisting, Cold War, Communism, Hollywood history, Hollywood Ten, Motion picture actors and actresses, motion picture history | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

From Manhattan Project Scientist To Anti-Nuclear Crusader

Dr. Harrison Brown found ways to separate plutonium to devise the world’s first atomic weapons and then spent the rest of his life urging the abolition of those same deadly devices. He was born in Sheridan, Wyoming, on September 26, … Continue reading

Posted in Cold War, military history, Political history, Politics, Post World War II, Science, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Spotlighting Communism & Hollywood in the papers of Sesame Street’s Mr. Hooper

One of the most recognizable figures of the first thirteen years (1969-1982) of PBS’s Sesame Street was Mr. Hooper the grocer, played by veteran actor Will Lee. He was one of the four original human characters on the show. Before … Continue reading

Posted in Blacklisting, Cold War, Communism, Hollywood history, Motion picture actors and actresses, motion picture history, Political history, Politics, popular culture, Social justice, television history, Uncategorized, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

In the Midst of McCarthyism: Wyoming Senator Edward Crippa’s Brief Senate Stint

Though a small collection, the Edward D. Crippa papers are of historical interest.  Crippa (1899-1960), who had served in World War I and been Wyoming state highway commissioner from 1941 to 1947, was appointed to represent Wyoming in the U.S. … Continue reading

Posted in Alan K. Simpson Institute for Western Politics and Leadership, Cold War, Communism, Politics, Uncategorized, western politics and leadership, Wyoming history | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Terror in the Theater – Fifties Fears

Science fiction films of the 1950s commonly expressed several themes: fear of technology leading to unintended consequences; invasion of the planet by aliens; and the effects of atomic radiation. Because science fiction movies were not constrained by reality, more imaginative … Continue reading

Posted in Cold War, Fantasy, Horror, motion picture history, Politics, Pop Culture, popular culture, science fiction, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

U.S. Information Agent’s Papers Shed Light on U.S. Propaganda Strategy in S.E. Asia

Lloyd Burlingham was a United States Foreign Service information officer. He was born in Manila, Philippines, around 1911. He graduated from the University of Rochester in 1952 and then studied at Columbia University’s Russian Institute. From 1955 to 1956, he … Continue reading

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The Adrian Scott Papers: A Look at the Hollywood Ten and McCarthyism

Greetings, readers!  My name is Patrick Conraads, and I just finished my first year as a graduate student in History at the University of Wyoming.  This past semester, I was enrolled in Rick Ewig’s Archival Methods class.  For my term … Continue reading

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