A book launching of special significance to NDSU history faculty is scheduled for Friday, May 1. David W. Mills, the first person to earn a doctorate in history from NDSU, will unveil his new book, "Cold War in a Cold Land," published by the University of Oklahoma Press. 

Mills, who earned a doctorate in 2009, teaches American, European and military history at Minnesota West Community and Technical College in Worthington, Minnesota.

According to Tom Isern, University Distinguished Professor of history, Mills is scheduled to present a copy of his book to the NDSU Archives at 2 p.m., followed by a book talk and autograph party at Zandbroz Variety in downtown Fargo at 5:30 p.m.

"This book originated from the first doctoral dissertation in history ever written at NDSU; I had the honor to direct his work," Isern explained. "It is a historic benchmark for our program."

In his book, Mills offers an informative look at what was going on in the nation's heartland as America was united in the war on communism during the 1950s. Critics praise how Mills captured the thoughts and strategies of ordinary people of the era.

“(They) saw opportunities rather than threats when the federal government located military installations and weapons systems in their states,” commented historian Catherine McNicol Stock. “This book brings to life the ways in which Cold War-era federal plans and policies affected Americans on the ground and in their homes and communities.”

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