The upcoming fall exhibition from the Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Bread + Medicine: Saving Lives in a Time of Famine, brings to light an American rescue operation during the catastrophic famine in Soviet Russia and Ukraine a century ago. The American Relief Administration, led by humanitarian Herbert Hoover, distributed food to millions of people. Yet, while food saved many lives, the ARA’s medical relief campaign proved to be equally critical to the mission’s success.
Through photographs and archival material, visitors will discover the medical plight of those suffering from starvation and meet the American doctors and local medical teams who worked together to prevent a potentially devastating spread of disease. The ARA’s medical campaign included supplying drugs and medical equipment on a massive scale, launching a sanitary offensive to curb contagion, and vaccinating millions. America’s intervention saved countless lives and revitalized medical care for tens of millions in a time of desperate need.
