Fear Itself

Of all the human emotions, said H. P. Lovecraft, fear is “the oldest and strongest.” A walk through American history suggests that it is also one of the most destructive. This exhibit pulls together a wide range of stories from our archive that all deal, in one way or another, with the lengths to which Americans' fears have driven them. From xenophobia to vigilantism to political repression, fear has triggered some of the nation's ugliest episodes. Then again, it has also provided the raw material for some pretty great films.