In 2018/19, the Centre for Public History implemented the Saving Serbia. The American Mission and the Typhus Epidemic in Serbia in 1915 project to introduce the public with an important historical event that changed the course of history in Serbia and the world in the period of World War I. In early 1915, a typhoid epidemic broke out in  Serbia. The country was in a very difficult situation caused by the onset of the World War I, the food shortages and poor hygiene, so the epidemic spread rapidly, causing high mortality among the civilian population. At that moment, due to the lack of hospital staff and medications, Serbia was unable to address this dangerous epidemic. In order to prevent an epidemic that threatened to break out globally, the Rockefeller Foundation and the American Red Cross organised a mission that was led by Dr Richard Strong, one of the most prominent epidemiologists at the time. The US mission arrived in Serbia in April 1915, and, in cooperation with the authorities in Serbia, brought the situation under control within a matter of weeks, suppressing the epidemic by means of a new methodology that would later be defined as the “sanitary revolution”. An exhibition was put up within this project, showcasing archival documents, photographs, newspaper articles and accompanying historical texts depicting this American mission in Serbia as a very important historical event that has remained unknown to the general public but which reversed this difficult situation, preventing a global catastrophe. A brochure comprising archival materials and historical texts was presented at the exhibition. The exhibition was be held in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Šabac, Užice and Bor.

Supported by: US Embassy in Serbia

Duration: 14.09.2018 - 10.03.2029

Partner(s): -

Website: The project doesn't have its own website