Korean War Research Guide

A Brief History

At the close of World War II the Allied nations liberated Korea from Japan, with the United States occupying the south and the Soviet Union controlling the north. Although the partition was meant to be temporary, the Korean peninsula soon became a reflection of early Cold War global divisions, with a Communist state arising in the north and a democracy in the south. The Korean War began on June 25, 1950, when North Korea invaded South Korea. Backed by the United Nations, President Harry S. Truman ordered US troops into South Korea to stop the invasion. Communist Chinese forces intervened on behalf of North Korea, and the fighting settled into a stalemate. Although it was never officially declared a war, the “Korean Conflict” continued until an armistice was signed on July 27, 1953.

On the home front, the war intensified fears of communism, heightening political tensions during Truman’s presidency. After the armistice, the United States continued to station troops in South Korea to monitor the activities of Chinese and Soviet forces that remained in North Korea. More than six decades later, Korea remains two separate nations, with an armed border between them.

Editorial Cartoons

The State Historical Society of Missouri’s collection of editorial cartoons began in 1946 with an important donation of works by Pulitzer-Prize-winning artist Daniel Robert Fitzpatrick of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The collection has now grown to more than 8,000 works and includes many other well-known cartoonists such as Bill Mauldin and Tom Engelhardt. The works graphically and often poignantly reflect attitudes and opinions on contemporary local, national, and international events. Most of the cartoons in the Society's collection that touch upon the Korean War were drawn by Fitzpatrick.

View Korean War-Related Digitized Editorial Cartoons

Manuscripts

The State Historical Society of Missouri manuscript collections include materials related to the Korean War.

View All Korean War Manuscript Collections

Newspapers

For a list of newspapers on microfilm at The State Historical Society of Missouri, visit the newspaper catalog.

CountyCollection TitleDate Range
CarterVan Buren Current Local1884-1994
ColeLincoln University Clarion1935-1975
FranklinFranklin County Tribune/Tribune-Republican1887-1919; 1923-1966
FranklinSt. Clair Chronicle1927-1977
FranklinSullivan News1910-1966
FranklinWashington Citizen1905-1939; 1943-1965
FranklinWashington Missourian1939-1964
GasconadeBland Courier1904-1951; 1963-1966
GascondaeGasconade County Republican1896-1898; 1903-1922; 1925-1966
HickoryHermitage Index1885-1964
MaconMacon Daily Chronicle-Herald/Macon Chronicle-Herald1926-1956
MaconNew Cambria Leader1914-1958
MarionPalmyra Spectator1863-1956
PhelpsRolla Herald1877-1953
WarrenMarthasville Record1901-1966
WarrenWarrenton Banner1868-1872; 1881-1897; 1902-1968