Americans and the Holocaust
Americans and the Holocaust will be on display at the TCC/City Joint-Use Library, along with a series of related special events, from May 23 to June 28, 2025.
Library Programming & Community Outreach
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Americans and the Holocaust on Display May 23 – June 28 at TCC/City Joint-Use Library
This 1,100-square-foot exhibition explores how American society—including the government, military, refugee aid organizations, media, and the public—responded to Nazism, war, and the Holocaust during the 1930s and 1940s. Drawing on a rich collection of primary sources, it challenges the widely held belief that Americans knew little and did nothing in response to the Holocaust as it unfolded. Instead, it paints a complex picture of a nation shaped by the Great Depression, isolationism, xenophobia, racism, and antisemitism.
- Exhibition Details:Location: TCC/City Joint-Use Library
- Dates: May 23–June 28, 2025
Visitors are invited to experience the exhibition and reflect on critical questions: What did Americans know? What more could have been done? And how do we respond to injustice today?
The Virginia Beach Public Library will host a series of related programs in partnership with the Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater. All programs are open to the public and designed for both teens and adults.
Adults
- “To Life: The Past is Present” book talk 6-7 p.m. Thursday, June 5
- “50 Children: The Rescue Mission of Mr. & Mrs. Kraus” film showing & discussion 6-8 p.m. Monday, June 23
Teens
- What We Carry 2-4 p.m. Tuesday, June 17
- Holocaust Reporting in Hampton Roads 2-4 p.m. Wednesday, June 25
Guided Exhibit Tours
- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 14, and Saturday, June 28.
Additional evening tours will be available on select weekdays. For more information and a full schedule of events, visit the Library Event Calendar.
To learn more about the exhibition, visit exhibitions.ushmm.org.
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 50 U.S. libraries from 2021 to 2023. Due to widespread interest from libraries and communities across 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 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, established in 1990.
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.