Understanding the Cold War Through Scholarship, Testimony, and Public Engagement
The National Institute for Cold War Studies is a nonprofit research organization dedicated to advancing Cold War scholarship, preserving the personal testimonies of those who lived it, and connecting historians, veterans, educators, and the public.
How NICWS Advances Cold War Scholarship
The Cold War shaped the modern world — yet much of its history remains unexamined, underrepresented, or inaccessible. NICWS brings together scholars, veterans, and researchers to preserve primary sources, produce serious scholarship, and make Cold War history available to a wide audience.
NICWS pursues its mission through five core institutional activities that connect researchers, preserve historical testimony, and share knowledge with a broad public.
Community and Fellowship
A professional home for historians of all backgrounds — academic, independent, and lay — built on collegial discourse and mentorship across regional and institutional lines.
Scholarly Collaboration
A platform for members to share research through blogs, podcasts, articles, and major publications, expanding the collective understanding of the Cold War.
Research and Collections
Active collection, analysis, and cataloging of primary and secondary sources, with particular emphasis on personal testimonies from Cold War participants.
Outreach & Resources
Educational and research resources for students, educators, journalists, and policymakers — including research guides, timelines, and connections to partner institutions.
Cold War, Then and Now
A moderated forum where historians offer informed perspectives on the Cold War’s legacy and its relevance to contemporary affairs.
Featured Research and Resources
NICWS produces and curates Cold War scholarship and research tools for historians, educators, and the public. The following resources are available now.
Fighter Pilot Podcast Episode Catalog
A curated catalog of episodes from the Fighter Pilot Podcast — one of the most significant oral history resources on Cold War military aviation available to the public. Over 200 interviews with military aviators, many of whom served during the Cold War.
Suggested Works: A Cold War Historiography Guide
An annotated bibliography of essential Cold War scholarship, organized to guide researchers and students through the major works and methodological traditions of the field.
Current Research Projects
NICWS has several active research initiatives underway. Current projects include a comparative study of Cold War ideologies, American Christian missionaries behind the Iron Curtain, the development of the U.S. Navy LAMPS program, and Gulf Coast Cold War shipbuilding at Avondale and Ingalls shipyards.
Research Guides
Practical guidance for Cold War researchers using federal archives, presidential libraries, NARA, and FOIA processes. Coming 2026.
Help Preserve Cold War History
Millions of people experienced the Cold War through military service, government work, industrial labor, and daily life. Their stories are primary historical sources — and many are being lost to time. NICWS is building a permanent archive of personal testimonies to preserve these experiences for historians and future generations. If you served, worked, or lived through the Cold War — or if a family member did — we invite you to share that story with us.
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