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Americans and the Holocaust Exhibit

  • When

    September 4 - October 11, 2023
    The exhibit is free and open to the public during open library hours.

    Huntsman Library Hours
    Mon-Thurs 7:30 am - 12:00 am, Friday 7:30 am - 7:00 pm, Saturday 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm, Sunday 5:00 pm 11:00 pm

  • Where

    Karen H. Huntsman Library
    150 College Avenue
    Ephraim, UT 84627

  • Events

    The exhibit and related special events are free and open to the public. Due to sensitive content, it is recommended for 8th grade and up.

The Snow College, Karen H. Huntsman Library is honored to be one of 50 U.S. libraries and the only location in Utah selected to host Americans and the Holocaust, a traveling exhibition from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum that examines the motives, pressures, and fears that shaped Americans’ responses to Nazism, war and genocide in Europe during the 1930s and 1940s. 

About the Exhibit

Based on extensive new research of that period, Americans and the Holocaust addresses important themes in American history, exploring the many factors — including the Great Depression, isolationism, xenophobia, racism, and antisemitism — that influenced decisions made by the U.S. government, the news media, organizations, and individuals as they responded to Nazism. This exhibition will challenge the commonly held assumptions that Americans knew little and did nothing about the Nazi persecution and murder of Jews as the Holocaust unfolded. 

Drawing on a remarkable collection of primary sources from the 1930s and ’40s, the exhibition focuses on the stories of individuals and groups of Americans who acted in response to Nazism. It will challenge visitors to consider the responsibilities and obstacles faced by individuals — from President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to ordinary Americans — who made difficult choices, sought to effect change, and, in a few cases, took significant risks to help victims of Nazism even as rescue never became a government priority. 

Learn more about the exhibition at ushmm.org/americans-ala

Visiting the Exhibit

Self-Guided Tours 

  • Available during library hours from September 4 – October 11.
  • Spanish translation of the exhibition is available for free at the library’s main desk. 

School Groups 

All school groups are welcome to visit the exhibit at any time during library hours. School groups larger than 15 need to make prior arrangements (Reservation Form) with the library before arriving at the exhibit.  Please plan to have teachers and additional adults present with the school group while at the exhibit. Due to the nature of the exhibit content, this exhibit is recommended for eighth grade and above. 

Complete this form to reserve a date and time for groups of 15 or more. 

Schedule a Group Reservation

All are welcome to attend the exhibit. It is recommend for only 8th graders on up. If you want to reserve a time for a group (15 or more people), please fill out this form.

Events

The exhibition and related events are free and open to the public

♦   Granary Arts Exhibitions: Beth Krensky / Gathering Light and Ben Altman / The More That Is Taken Away

          Date: August 30, 2023 - January 19, 2024                                           Granary Arts Logo

          Location: 86 N Main Street; Ephraim, Utah 84627 

In tandem with the Americans and the Holocaust Exhibition, Granary Arts presents Beth Krensky / Gathering Light and Ben Altman / The More That Is Taken Away on view at Granary Arts August 30, 2023 - January 19, 2024.  For more information about Granary Arts and exhibition hours visit https://www.granaryarts.org/. 


♦   Convocation Speaker; Lily Yuriko Havey, Author of Gasa Gasa Girl Goes to Camp

          Date: Thu., Sept. 7, 12:30pm-1:30pm 

          Location: Jorgensen Concert Hall, Eccles Performing Arts Center 


♦   Convocation Speaker; Dr. Kathren Brown, UVU Professor, Deputy Provost

          Link: https://snow.edu/academics/convocation/index.html

         Date: Thu., Sept. 14, 12:30-1:30 p.m.  

         Location: Jorgensen Concert Hall, Eccles Performing Arts Center 


♦   Americans and the Holocaust Traveling Exhibit Opening Reception

         Date: Thu., Sept. 14, 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.  

         Location: Karen H. Huntsman Library, 2nd Floor; Snow College Ephraim Campus 

Following convocation, join us for an opening reception to officially launch the Americans and the Holocaust Exhibit at the Karen H. Huntsman Library. The exhibit will be open for self-guided tours. Light refreshments will be served. All are welcome. 


♦   Book Talk, The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

         Date: Tues., Sept. 26, 7 – 9 p.m.  

         Location: Library Auditorium 101B 

Sponsored by The Snow College Page Turners Book Club. Open to all. Free admission. Light refreshments will be served. Attendees may borrow print, electronic and audiobook copies of The Book Thief from the library and through the Snow College Overdrive subscription. Call the library for more information (435.283.7361) 


♦   Snow College Science Division Seminar; Medical Experimentation During the Holocaust. Dr. Adrian Peterson, Snow College Biology Professor 

         Date: Thursday, Oct, 5th, 4:30pm 

         Location: Science Building (GRSC) Room 154 


♦   What Did Utahns Know About the Holocaust? 

         Date: September 18- October 6; Monday, Wednesday, Friday 3-7 pm 

         Location: Huntsman Library Room 027 

Explore the social media of the 1930s and 1940s in Utah. Read Utah newspaper articles from the 1930s and 1940s. Go back in time and discover what Utahans knew and didn't know about the Holocaust. 

 

USHMM, courtesy of Steve Pressman
Children aboard the President Harding look at the Statue of Liberty as they pull into New York Harbor. They were brought to the United States by Gilbert and Eleanor Kraus. USHMM, courtesy of Steve Pressman