Reading Under Fire Walking Tour

During World Wars I and II, New York City was at the center of the nation’s effort to send books to American soldiers overseas. Several of the city’s landmark institutions, including the New York Public Library and the Empire State Building, played crucial roles in some of the largest book drives in American history.

In honor of Reading Under Fire: Arming Minds & Hearts During Wartime, join curator Molly Manning for a walking tour of the literary locales and historic sites in Midtown Manhattan that were instrumental to the cause. After the tour, guests will return to Poster House to learn about the posters that represented and advanced the nationwide commitment to entertaining and educating troops abroad during two world wars. 

The starting location for this tour will be shared with attendees a few days prior to the event. Admission to the museum is included in your event ticket. 

Molly Guptill Manning is an author, historian, curator, and associate professor of law at New York Law School. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller When Books Went to War, The Myth of Ephraim Tutt, and The War of Words. She has spoken across the country about the power of the written word, and has curated exhibitions showcasing the essential role that books, magazines, and newspapers played in World Wars I and II. Before she became a professor, Molly worked in the New York federal courts for 13 years. She earned a BA and an MA in American History, an MA in Museum Studies from NYU, and a JD from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.

Accessibility Note: Assistive listening devices will be provided during this tour. ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation is also available upon request. Guests should be prepared to walk for 90 minutes without seating. Please contact access@posterhouse.org or (914) 295-2387 to request interpretation services and to address any other accessibility needs. For other event-related questions, please contact info@posterhouse.org.