Category Archives: History

Before the Government Surveilled Mosques, It Surveilled Churches

Posted on March 2, 2011 by SpyBlog

March 2, 2011 Mark Stout, SPY Historian The sometimes contentious relationship between the government and the Muslim community over issues like profiling, the alleged surveillance of mosques, the scrutiny of charities, etc.  Even the possibility of internment camps for Muslims gets … Continue reading →

Posted in History | 3 Comments

A Jihadist Manual on Intelligence

Posted on January 24, 2011 by SpyBlog

January 24, 2011 Mark Stout, SPY Historian A manual on intelligence captured during the course of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Coalition Forces offers a unique take on intelligence from a jihadist perspective.  Coalition forces found copies of the 300-some … Continue reading →

Posted in History, In The News | 3 Comments

Spy Satellite Treasures at the National Archives

Posted on December 15, 2010 by SpyBlog

December 15, 2010 Mark Stout, SPY Historian Everyone knows that the United States Government has been flying spy satellites for some fifty years.  The government declassified the CORONA program in 1995 and we all saw pictures of the Soviet Union … Continue reading →

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Confronting McCarthyism, Confronting Espionage, Confronting Lies

Posted on November 23, 2010 by SpyBlog

November 23, 2010 Mark Stout, SPY Historian History News Network has an interesting review of a play now running in New York that addresses the issues of espionage and lying.  The play, “After the Revolution” focuses on a young woman … Continue reading →

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What History Can Teach Us About Top Secret America

Posted on July 26, 2010 by SpyBlog

Mark Stout, SPY Historian The Washington Post’s compelling three-part series on “Top Secret America” has become the topic of water cooler conversation all over the country.  The series portrays a mysterious and murky world of government agencies and contractors that … Continue reading →

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Josephine Baker in Africa

Posted on April 15, 2010 by SpyBlog

Amanda A. Ohlke, Adult Education Director This week marks the anniversary of the death of Josephine Baker, one of history’s most famous female spies. We recently received copies of numerous documents from the files of the French Ministere de la … Continue reading →

Posted in History, In The News | 2 Comments

SPY Games: Clue Secrets and Spies

Posted on March 25, 2010 by SpyBlog

The game we know today as “Clue” in America began in England in 1944 as “Cluedo” in England. Invented by Anthony Pratt, a solicitor’s clerk and part-time clown. The object was to solve the mystery of the death of one … Continue reading →

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Spy Book: Invisible Ink

Posted on March 10, 2010 by SpyBlog

SPY’s Book Specialist, Matt Arnold Invisible ink.  Lemon juice, milk, and, for those most desperate, urine are the most commonly known recipes for invisible ink.   These techniques were literally child’s play for many of us.  Yet, when Mata Hari was … Continue reading →

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Today in SPY History: Conviction of the Spy Who Wasn’t

Posted on January 5, 2010 by SpyBlog

 Dr. Thomas Boghardt, Historian In 1894 the French army obtained a letter revealing that a high-ranking officer was selling secrets to Germany. Suspicion fell on Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish officer. Ignoring the fact that Dreyfus’ handwriting did not match … Continue reading →

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