Hoover Institution Library and Archives

09/08/2026

The Hoover Institution Library & Archives is partnering with the International Spy Museum to co-host a hybrid book talk event on "The Troika: A Story of Three Families, Friendship, and the Cold War", a memoir by Markus Wolf.

"The Troika", appearing in English for the first time, was edited by Dr. Christian F. Ostermann, a Research Professor at the University of Maryland and Executive Director of the National Cold War Center, and Dr. Katharina Friedla, Taube Family Curator for European Collections/Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

When: Tuesday, September 15th, 2026, from 6:30 PM ET
Where: International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. and Zoom

RSVP to join us in person or online for a glimpse into a notorious spymaster's lived experience and overscale role in East Germany:

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09/08/2026

This 1917 World War I poster, produced by the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Corporation, features a pilot framed in a medallion and two small airplanes against a red, white, and blue background. The accompanying story follows a young man from birth to military service, culminating in his parents proudly watching him march off to fight in the "Great Struggle for Freedom and Humanity." By linking the soldier's battlefield sacrifice to the purchase of Liberty Bonds, the poster urges Americans on the home front to financially support the troops and the nation's wartime effort.

The American Story. One Image at a Time.

For more on USA@250, visit: https://www.hoover.org/usa-at-250

09/08/2026

This poster, created in 1917, captures a pivotal moment in World War I when the United States welcomed the new Russian provisional government into the democratic fold after the February Revolution that year toppled the Romanov dynasty. By depicting Uncle Sam linking arms with a Russian soldier, the illustration celebrates a shared commitment to global freedom. The Russian Revolution enabled President Woodrow Wilson to rationalize America's entry in the conflict as a struggle to make the world "safe for democracy." The poster serves as a powerful reminder of how quickly political alliances can shift, as this idealistic vision of unity dissolved just months later when the Bolsheviks seized power in the October Revolution.

The American Story. One Image at a Time.

For more on USA@250, visit: https://www.hoover.org/usa-at-250

09/03/2026

Issued by the U.S. Treasury Department during the First World War, this poster features the "Torch of Liberty" seal alongside a War Savings Stamps (W.S.S.) flag. Produced as part of the Treasury's War Savings Service campaign, it encouraged Americans on the home front to support the Allied war effort by purchasing War Savings Stamps. Widely reproduced on a variety of wartime ephemera, the "Torch of Liberty" seal became a powerful symbol of patriotic service, reinforcing the message that every American could help defend freedom and democracy overseas through even small financial contributions.

The American Story. One Image at a Time.

For more on USA@250, visit: https://www.hoover.org/usa-at-250

08/25/2026

Created near the end of the Second World War by Belgian artist Roméo Dumoulin, this poster celebrates the liberation of France from N**i occupation through the prominent image of the Statue of Liberty, a lasting symbol of the alliance between France and the United States. The inscription on the base, "Lafayette nous voilà" ("Lafayette, we are here"), recalls the famous phrase associated with the arrival of American forces in France during the First World War, expressing the United States' repayment of the debt owed to Marquis de Lafayette and the French support of the American Revolution. With Allied troops marching beneath the unfurled French flag, the illustration presents liberation as both a military victory and a reaffirmation of the enduring bond between the two nations.

The American Story. One Image at a Time.

For more on USA@250, visit: https://www.hoover.org/usa-at-250

08/25/2026

Created for the American Relief Administration's post-WWI campaign in Hungary, this poster depicts the Statue of Liberty carrying a basket of food draped in the American flag toward a crowd of hungry citizens. Directed by Herbert Hoover, the American Relief Administration provided food, clothing, and other essential aid to millions of starving and impoverished children across Europe after the First World War. Aid was delivered to former allied and enemy countries alike, reflecting Hoover's belief that "children are never enemies." By depicting the Statue of Liberty as a humanitarian figure, this poster connects American ideals of liberty and compassion to international relief efforts in the war's aftermath.

The American Story. One Image at a Time.

For more on USA@250, visit: https://www.hoover.org/usa-at-250

08/25/2026

Created during the Second World War, this poster depicts soldiers at Valley Forge, a site remembered as the birthplace of the U.S. Army. By pairing the sacrifices of the Revolutionary generation with a call for Americans to "work as hard" to preserve liberty, this poster draws a direct connection between the nation's founding struggles and its ongoing wartime effort. It presents the defense of democracy as an enduring responsibility, suggesting that each generation of Americans must contribute to protecting the freedoms won by those who came before.

The American Story. One Image at a Time.

For more on USA@250, visit: https://www.hoover.org/usa-at-250

08/25/2026

The Hoover Institution invites you to an in-person and online event with Lisa Blaydes and Samuel Helfont, who will discuss their recent book Ba'thist Iraq Through Archives: Reflections, Explorations, and Opportunities.

August 26, 4:30–6:30 p.m. PT.

Register here: https://hoover.org/events/book-talk-bathist-iraq-through-archives-reflections-explorations-and-opportunities-lisa

08/25/2026

This 1918 poster was created as part of the larger effort by the U.S. government to sell Liberty Bonds and help finance the First World War. Featuring a portrait of President Woodrow Wilson framed in patriotic bunting and featuring a handwritten version of his appeal on behalf of the loan, it presented the purchase of war bonds as a personal call to duty from the president. Linking financial support to patriotism, the poster urged Americans to contribute to the protection of democracy both at home and abroad.

The American Story. One Image at a Time.

For more on USA@250, visit: https://www.hoover.org/usa-at-250

08/25/2026

This 1915 print by L.E. Mahoney combines the Statue of Liberty with the preamble to the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and an excerpt from the Declaration of Independence to emphasize the democratic ideals at the heart of the United States. Created as the First World War unfolded in Europe but before the US entered the war, it reaffirmed the nation's dedication to liberty, equality, and constitutional governance at a time when these principles were increasingly challenged abroad. The poster's pledge, "Equal opportunities for all, special privileges for none," reinforces the poster's message that the freedoms celebrated in these foundational documents were integral to the American identity.

The American Story. One Image at a Time.

For more on USA@250, visit: https://www.hoover.org/usa-at-250