November 17

On November 17, 1940, the Tartu Art Museum was inaugurated in the historic city of Tartu, Estonia. Founded to collect, preserve, and exhibit regional and international artworks, it became a cornerstone of Estonian cultural heritage. The museum’s early collections featured works by local artists alongside European masterpieces, reflecting Estonia’s diverse artistic influences. Throughout its history, the institution has survived wartime occupations and political upheavals, maintaining its commitment to the arts. Today, the Tartu Art Museum continues to host rotating exhibitions and educational programs, fostering community engagement with visual culture.

On November 17, 1947, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) officially required members to sign an anti-Communist loyalty oath amid growing fears of subversion in Hollywood. This policy was part of a broader wave of McCarthy-era measures targeting alleged Communist influence in the entertainment industry. Members who refused to comply faced expulsion, impacting the careers of many actors, writers, and directors. The oath underscored the complex relationship between politics and the arts during the early Cold War. While intended to protect the industry’s reputation, it also fueled blacklisting and self-censorship within Hollywood. The SAG loyalty oath remains a controversial episode in the history of American labor and free expression.