Charleston County Public Library (CCPL) is one of 50 U.S. libraries newly selected to host Americans and the Holocaust, a traveling exhibition from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and the American Library Association (ALA) that examines the motives, pressures and fears that shaped Americans’ responses to Nazism, war and genocide in Europe during the 1930s and 1940s.
Following a highly successful tour to 50 libraries from 2021 to 2023, the touring library exhibition— based on the special exhibition of the same name at the Museum in Washington, D.C. — will travel to an additional 50 U.S. libraries from 2024 to 2026, covering wide distances from Hawaii and Alaska to Texas and New Hampshire.
“CCPL is thrilled to be one of the 50 libraries across the country hosting this important exhibition,” said CCPL Adult System Coordinator Darcy Coover. “This exhibition provides a wonderful opportunity for visitors to learn about the ways that history connects us all, and we encourage everyone to stop by the Main Library and check it out.”
Americans and the Holocaust will be on display at the Main Library (68 Calhoun Street), along with a series of related special events, from Monday, Sept. 9 through Tuesday, Oct. 15. For a full list of related programs, visit ccpl.org/news/aath.
The 1,100-square-foot exhibition examines various aspects of American society: the government, the military, refugee aid organizations, the media and the general public. Drawing on a remarkable collection of primary sources from the 1930s and ’40s, the exhibition tells the stories of Americans who acted in response to Nazism, challenging the commonly held assumptions that Americans knew little and did nothing about the Nazi persecution and murder of Jews as the Holocaust unfolded. It provides a portrait of American society that shows how the Depression, isolationism, xenophobia, racism and antisemitism shaped responses to Nazism and the Holocaust.
In addition to the traveling exhibition on loan, CCPL received a $3,000 cash grant to support public programs. The grant also covered one library staff member’s attendance at an orientation workshop at the Museum.
A variety of special events and programs will be held at the Main Library during the exhibition, including:
- Opening Reception – Monday, Sept. 9 at 5 p.m.
- The U.S. and the Holocaust Documentary Screening and Panel Discussion – Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 6 p.m.
- Hands-on History with Charleston Jewish Federation: Jim Crow and the Nuremberg Laws – Thursday, Sept. 12 at 4:30 p.m.
- Letters from Europe: South Carolina Jews and the Holocaust with Chad Gibbs – Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 6 p.m.
- Generational Survivors and Liberators Panel Discussion – Monday, Sept. 23 at 6 p.m.
- Reports of Atrocities in the Charleston Press of the 1940s by Dr. Nic Butler – Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 6 p.m.
For more information about Americans and the Holocaust and related programming at CCPL, visit ccpl.org/news/aath. To learn more about the exhibition, visit ushmm.org/americans-ala.
-
Americans and the Holocaust: A Traveling Exhibition for Libraries is an educational initiative of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the American Library Association. The traveling exhibition began by touring to 50 U.S. libraries from 2021 to 2023; due to widespread interest from libraries and communities around the country, a second tour was developed for 2024 to 2026.
Americans and the Holocaust was made possible by the generous support of lead sponsor Jeannie & Jonathan Lavine. Additional major funding was provided by the Bildners — Joan & Allen, Elisa Spungen & Rob, Nancy & Jim; and Jane and Daniel Och. The Museum's exhibitions are also supported by the Lester Robbins and Sheila Johnson Robbins Traveling and Special Exhibitions Fund, established in 1990.
Additional programming support was made possible, in part, by The Jewish Endowment Foundation of South Carolina, the Charleston Jewish Federation, and the Zucker/Goldberg Center for Holocaust Studies.
About the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
A nonpartisan, federal educational institution, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is America’s national memorial to the victims of the Holocaust dedicated to ensuring the permanence of Holocaust memory, understanding and relevance. Through the power of Holocaust history, the Museum challenges leaders and individuals worldwide to think critically about their role in society and to confront antisemitism and other forms of hate, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity. For more information, visit ushmm.org.
About the American Library Association
The American Library Association (ALA) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the ALA has been the trusted voice for academic, public, school, government and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit ala.org.
