The Cold War was an ongoing political rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies that developed after World War II, from 1945-1991. While no battle took place during The Cold War, the threat of nuclear attacks had a great impact on American domestic life. Civilians, including those in McLean County, built bomb shelters in their backyards and practiced attack drills in schools. A distaste towards Communism in America was also present locally, as evident by some of the materials in this collection.

This collection includes resources about preparedness and protection in the case of a nuclear attack, including materials about building fallout shelters, creating emergency food storage and first aid kits, and how to determine radiation risk. Other materials highlight individuals and organizations that were deemed loyal or subversive to the American cause.