Censorship and Freedom: American Libraries and the World Wars

In the First World War, almost all American libraries embraced censorship in the name of patriotism and paternalism. By the time America entered the Second World War, however, the majority of librarians had notably transformed their stances and affirmed the importance of the public's right to read. This thesis is an examination of the two wars and their accompanying debates on censorship, as well as the years between that led to such incredible changes. This thesis also includes a case study on the public library in Portland, Oregon, using primary sources to track how national debates and trends affected a single location during these tumultuous years.