"The Pumpkin Papers" refers to a collection of documents related to the Alger Hiss case, a significant espionage trial in the late 1940s. These papers were discovered in a pumpkin patch on the farm of Whittaker Chambers, a former communist and key witness against Hiss. The documents were said to contain evidence of Hiss's involvement in espionage activities during the Cold War. The term "Pumpkin Papers" was coined by the media and became emblematic of the controversy surrounding the case. The discovery of these papers played a crucial role in the conviction of Hiss, who was found guilty of perjury in 1950, further intensifying the political climate of the era.