Americans and the Holocaust Exhibit Audio Tour

This traveling exhibit examines the motives, pressures and fears that shaped Americans’ responses to Nazism, war and genocide in Europe during the 1930s and 1940s. The Americans and the Holocaust Exhibit will be on display at the Ron Norrick Downtown Library from January 5 to February 12 at 300 Park Avenue, Oklahoma City. This traveling exhibit is presented by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and the American Libraries Association (ALA) Public Programs Office.

Hello, welcome to the “Americans and the Holocaust” exhibition, which was created by the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC, in partnership with the American Library Association. We are one of only fifty libraries chosen to receive this exhibition and are very excited for you to see it. We also hope you will participate in the programs our library is organizing in connection with this exhibition. You can get details on these programs on the library’s website at metrolibrary.org/aath or at the end of this tour. The Holocaust was the bureaucratic, state-sponsored, persecution and murder of European Jews by Nazi Germany and its collaborators. The Holocaust began with the persecution of German Jews after Adolf Hitler was appointed chancellor of Germany in 1933. As Nazi Germany invaded and annexed other territories, millions of European Jews were persecuted and later murdered in mass shootings and by gassing in designated killing centers. By the time World War II ended in 1945, six million Jews and millions of other victims had been murdered by Nazi Germany and its collaborators. 

Metropolitan Library System is one of 50 U.S. libraries 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.

The Americans and the Holocaust exhibit will be on display at the Dowtown Library, along with a series of related special events from Thursday, January 5 to Sunday, February 12.

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 took action in response to Nazism. It will challenge visitors to consider the responsibilities and obstacles faced by individuals — from 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.

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 z”l, 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.

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Accessed January 5th, 2023. https://www.ushmm.org/.

American Library Association. Accessed January 5th, 2023. https://www.ala.org/.