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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Bowman Gum Company (fl. 1951) Fight the Red Menace: The Children's Crusade against Communism trading cards; 13. Putting Out Atomic Fire

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09627.13 Author/Creator: Bowman Gum Company (fl. 1951) Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Trading card Date: 1951 Pagination: 1 collecting card ; 6 x 8 cm. Order a Copy

One trading card from the Red Menace collection, "13. Putting Out Atomic Fire" depicting a scene of firefighters attempting to extinguish a fire. Reverse side contains propaganda narrative regarding the effects of an atomic bomb. Text mentions a thermal wave and fire as a danger. Warns that the United States does not want to use a bomb, nor wish that bomb is used on them.

Atomic bombs, also known as fission bombs, have been used by the United States against Japan during World War II. In addition to the United States it is confirmed that Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, and North Korea also possess nuclear weapons.

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