The Springfield-Greene County Library District is set to host a traveling exhibit from the U.S. Holocaust Museum, titled “Americans and the Holocaust,” from June 15 to July 27 at The Library Center. This exhibit aims to shed light on the American public’s awareness of the Holocaust prior to the U.S. entering World War II.
Through a collection of photos, documents, and eyewitness accounts from the 1930s and 1940s, the exhibit challenges the myth that Americans were unaware of the Holocaust until the liberation of concentration camps in 1945. The display reveals that information about the atrocities was available and sparked debates within the U.S. about how to respond.
During this period, America was recovering from the Great Depression, and the nation was divided between isolationists, who prioritized domestic issues, and interventionists, who saw aiding Europe as crucial. This debate influenced the U.S. response to Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution.
Local Speakers Enhance Exhibit Experience
To complement the exhibit, the library will host a series of local speakers. Mara Cohen Ioannides will discuss the Springfield Jewish community’s response to the Holocaust, while Holocaust survivor Erika Schwartz will share her personal story of survival and hope.
Other speakers include Daniel Greene, who will explore what Americans knew about Nazism, and Rodney Fierce, who will discuss the Holocaust’s influence on popular culture through the lens of the X-Men comics. Historian John C. McManus will present on the experiences of soldiers who liberated concentration camps, and Todd Knowles will offer a genealogy program focused on Jewish family research.
Missouri State history professor Sarah Panzer and author Sharon Cameron will also contribute to the series, providing insights into the global politics of race and personal stories of courage during the Holocaust.
The library has prepared the exhibit space for personal reflection, allowing visitors to engage deeply with the material and leave their thoughts on how it impacts their understanding of history.
Original reporting: Springfield Daily Citizen — read the source article.
