How Bookworms Beat The Nazis: Smithsonian Associates Interview Series

Welcome to The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates edition. I’m Paul Vogelzang, and I’m so glad you’re joining us today.

At the height of World War II, the United States faced one of its greatest challenges: the urgent need for intelligence to help win the war against Nazi Germany. But who would answer the call? Soldiers and generals were obvious choices, but what if I told you that some of the most effective spies weren’t military men at all? What if some of the heroes behind enemy lines were actually scholars, librarians, and literature professors?

It sounds like something out of a spy novel, but it’s true. Today, we have a fascinating and thought-provoking episode that will take us deep into one of the most unexpected stories of World War II. Our guest is historian Elyse Graham, here to share insights from her remarkable new book Book and Dagger: How Scholars and Librarians Became the Unlikely Spies of World War II. Elyse’s research uncovers how the U.S. Office of Strategic Services, the precursor to the CIA, turned to academia—recruiting some of the sharpest minds from American universities to carry out top-secret operations.

These “bookworms” went undercover, decoding enemy communications, hunting spies, and gathering intelligence that helped change the course of the war. Among them were Joseph Curtiss, a literature professor who tracked down German agents, and Adele Kibre, an archivist who smuggled valuable documents out of neutral Sweden—while the world watched in suspense.

This story is not just a testament to the power of knowledge, but a reminder of how intellectual curiosity and a love of books can make a real difference in the world—even in times of war.

So, what can we learn from these brilliant, unexpected spies? How did their work shape modern intelligence and even American higher education? And why is this story so relevant today, as libraries and the humanities face increasing pressure?

Today, Elyse Graham will answer these questions and more, as we explore the incredible story of how bookworms helped beat the Nazis.

Stay tuned—it’s an episode you won’t want to miss.

My thanks to Dr. Elyse Graham for her generous time and check out Dr. Graham’s upcoming Smithsonian Associates presentation titled, “How Bookworms Beat The Nazis.” Check our show notes today for more information about Dr. Graham’s Smithsonian Associates presentation. My thanks to Smithsonian for all their support of the show. My thanks to Executive Producer Sam Heninger. My thanks to you, our Smithsonian Associates audience on radio and podcast. Be well, be safe and let's talk about better. The Not Old Better Show on radio and podcast. Thanks everybody and we’ll see you next week.