War on the Red Plague: Montana’s Battle Against Venereal Disease

When the War Department declared war on venereal disease during World War I, Montana rapidly expanded its public health system, enacted new laws, and publicized diseases that had heretofore been taboo. Missoula historian Kayla Blackman explores how patriotism and public health became linked in the public consciousness, and how a temporary war effort permanently shaped the legal landscape of Montana.