The Milford Museum invites the public to attend a special presentation, “The Era of McCarthyism,” featuring Delaware historian and educator Emily Green. The event will take place at the Milford Public Library, Saturday, October 11 at 1 PM as part of the museum’s ongoing American History Lecture Series.
During this engaging program, Green will examine one of the most turbulent periods in 20th-century American history, starting with the First Red Scare led by A. Mitchell Palmer. Although McCarthy is better known, there are many similarities between the First and Second Red Scare. This program begins with the First Red Scare following World War I and moves on to McCarthy, an era many call the darkest in American history.
It was during the McCarthy era that Senator Joseph McCarthy and his associates mercilessly hunted for “communists” in government, culture and society, leading to the ruin of many prominent figures. During the presentation, interesting connections to Delaware will be discussed, including suspicions that Delaware Senator J. Allen Frear was a communist spy. As for prominent figures from across the country, several suffered consequences after being accused, including Charlie Chaplin, Orson Welles, Pete Seeger, Arthur Miller, Dashiell Hammet and Leonard Bernstein.
Emily Green is a Delaware-based historian and educator with a passion for exploring 20th-century American history and its cultural impact. A graduate of Dover High School, she earned an undergraduate in history from West Chester University and a graduate degree from Pace University. Her graduate thesis focused on the role played by women in opposing the second wave of feminism and the resurgence of conservatism in post-WWII America. She currently teaches at Polytech High School where she was named the 2025 Polytech Teacher of the Year.
The presentation is free and open to the public. Seating is limited, and early arrival is encouraged.
For more information, contact the Milford Museum at 302-424-1080 or visit them online.
