“Americans and the Holocaust” Traveling Exhibition Coming to Library of Michigan

LANSING – The Library of Michigan is one of 50 U.S. libraries newly selected to host “Americans and the Holocaust.” The traveling exhibition from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and American Library Association 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.

“The Library of Michigan is honored to host this important and powerful exhibition,” said State Librarian Randy Riley. “We invite all Michiganders to explore this exhibit. It encourages us all to examine a key aspect of U.S. history and challenges us to not only ask ‘What would I have done?’ but also ‘What will I do?’”

“Americans and the Holocaust” will be on display at the Library of Michigan, along with a series of related special events, from Jan. 11, 2025 to Feb. 22, 2025.

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 1940s, the exhibition tells the stories of Americans who acted in response to Nazism and challenges the commonly held assumptions that Americans knew little and did nothing about Nazi persecution and murder of Jews as the Holocaust unfolded. At the same time, it provides a portrait of American society that shows how the Depression, isolationism, xenophobia, racism, and antisemitism shaped responses of the American government, refugee aid organizations, the media, and individuals to Nazism and the Holocaust.

“This powerful exhibit helps us explore searing moments of our history—world, European, and national,” said State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice. “The exhibit is consistent with the department’s commitment to teaching and learning comprehensively about history.”

In addition to the traveling exhibition on loan, The Library of Michigan Foundation received a limited cash grant to support public programs. The grant also covered one library staff member’s attendance at an orientation workshop at the museum.

The Library of Michigan is also partnering with The Michael and Elaine Serling Institute for Jewish Studies and Modern Israel at Michigan State University in support of the exhibition. Additional support comes from the Raoul Wallenberg Institute at the University of Michigan, the Zekelman Holocaust Center, the Arts, Cultural Management & Museum Studies program at Michigan State University, the Michigan State University Department of History, the Jewish Historical Society of Michigan, and the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University.

For more information about “Americans and the Holocaust” and related programming at the Library of Michigan, visit the library’s Americans and the Holocaust website. To learn more about the exhibition, visit the Americans and the Holocaust website.

“Americans and the Holocaust” was made possible by the generous support of lead sponsors Jeannie and Jonathan Lavine. Additional major funding was provided by the Bildners —Joan and Allen z”l, Elisa Spungen and Rob, Nancy and 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.

About the Library of Michigan

Since 1828, the Library of Michigan has served the government and people of Michigan much as the Library of Congress works at the federal level. Its initial role was to collect, compile and store Michigan territorial laws and other important documents that formed the basis for Michigan government today. The library’s responsibility has expanded to serve as the one perpetual institution to collect, preserve, and provide access to the story of the state, and to support libraries in their role as essential community anchors. For more information, visit Michigan.gov/LibraryofMichigan.

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 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 association 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.

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The Library of Michigan is an agency within the Michigan Department of Education and is dedicated to providing the people of this State and their government one perpetual institution to collect, preserve and provide access to the story of the State, and to support libraries in their role as essential community anchors. To learn more, visit www.Michigan.gov/LibraryofMichigan.