Remember the Past, Transform the Future. It is for them that we carry out our founding principle: Remember the Past, Transform the Future.
In the wake of planned neo-Nazi marches in Skokie in the late 1970s, Chicagoland Holocaust Survivors joined together to form the Holocaust Memorial Foundation of Illinois. They purchased a small Skokie storefront and made it available to the public, focusing on combating hate with education. The 65,000-square-foot Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center that opened in 2009 is a culmination of
30 years of hard work by the Survivor community. Illinois Holocaust Museum not only honors the memory of the millions who were murdered during the Holocaust, but salutes the courage and resilience of Survivors. They are the people who rebuilt their lives and awoke the conscience of humanity, working tirelessly to tell their stories, so that none of us ever forget.
Operating as usual
Tourist homes, which became popular during the Depression, were largely run by women. In the Jim Crow era, these were private residences that opened their doors to accommodate Black travelers. Over 1,400 tourist homes were listed in the Green Book during its publication including the Day's Visitors Home, a former tourist home in Bronzeville. https://ihm.ec/greenbook
Join us on April 4 for a panel discussing three Holocaust-inspired works by the acclaimed creative team of composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer that Music of Remembrance (MOR) will perform in Chicago. Panelists will include Heggie and Scheer; son of Holocaust Survivors and former Chicago Tribune art critic Howard Reich; and founder and artistic director of Music of Remembrance (MOR), Mina Miller.
Join us online for a “lunch & learn” panel featuring the acclaimed creative team of composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer; son of Holocaust Survivors and former Chicago Tribune arts critic Howard Reich; and founder and artistic director of Music of Remembrance (MOR), Mina Miller. The p...
Happy Birthday, Ernest!
Today is Holocaust Survivor Ernest Fruehauf's birthday. As a child, he experienced the rising tide of hate and antisemitism throughout Germany. During Kristallnacht, the family's cafe was ransacked. His father was arrested and imprisoned at the Dachau concentration camp, and his family was forced from their home into a community building, or Juden Haus (Jew House). Realizing the danger they were in, Ernest's father arranged for them to flee Germany and come to the US. https://ihm.ec/ernest-fruehauf
“Such a powerful and vulnerable exhibit to show the realities of our nation’s history in an authentic way," said one guest after visiting "The Negro Motorist Green Book." Don't miss the chance to see the exhibition before it closes next month on 4/23. https://ihm.ec/greenbook
Tomorrow, don't miss a conversation with The Forward's Adam Langer as he shares the largely untold history of the beloved stage adaptation of “The Diary of Anne Frank” and how it changed the lives of the actors and artists who helped to create it.
For millions of people, seeing a performance of “The Diary of Anne Frank” (or the 1959 film) has been an unforgettable experience that introduced them to the story of the Holocaust. It continues to be one of the most-performed plays in the United States today. Join us to hear reflections about...
On March 22, 1933, the first prisoner transport arrived at the newly-established N**i concentration camp located near the southern German town of Dachau. Built as a prison camp for political opponents, over 200,000 people were imprisoned there and more than 40,000 were killed.
Swett's is one of the few long-standing Black-owned businesses in Nashville, Tennessee. Opened in 1954, it was listed in the Green Book in 1960 and 1961 and has been a family business since the start. See artifacts from Swett's including dishes and a clock on display in "The Negro Motorist Green Book." https://ihm.ec/greenbook
This spring break, bring the family to see our special exhibition, "The Negro Motorist Green Book" to learn how the travel guide served as an indispensable resource for Black travelers. Kids & students visit free now through April 16. https://ihm.ec/springbreak
Image Credit: Erika Bracey
In 1948, the newly formed UNESCO sent photojournalist David "Chim" Seymour to Europe to document the plight of the 12 million war orphans. In his photos, he observes hope in the ability of children to overcome adversity through play, using the images to solicit both concern and compassion. In this photo, a baby is seen reaching for bread at a DP camp for Sudetens. See this image and others on display in "Chim: Between Devastation and Resurrection." https://ihm.ec/chim
Happy Birthday, Barney!
Today is Survivor Barney Sidler’s birthday. Born in Demblin, Poland, he was 6 years old when the N**is occupied Poland. He and his family were in an “open ghetto” until it was liquidated in 1941. Barney was imprisoned in multiple camps until he was liberated in 1945 from Buchenwald. https://ihm.ec/barney-sidler
What do Wrigley Field, The Belmont Hotel, and Navy Pier have in common? All of them were sites in Chicago listed in the Green Book. See some of the other Chicago locations listed in the guide when you visit “The Negro Motorist Green Book.” https://ihm.ec/greenbook
Looking for something meaningful to do with your family during Spring Break? Come to the Museum to learn the history and lessons of the Holocaust or be inspired by in our Take a Stand Center. Kids and students visit free now through April 16. https://ihm.ec/springbreak
Last night, our Women’s Board came together for a fun, educational, and meaningful event at the Museum. The evening included networking and a specially curated scavenger hunt in the Karkomi Holocaust Exhibition.
Murray’s Dude Ranch, a fully integrated 40-acre property listed in the Green Book, offered lodging, dining, horseback riding, and swimming to Black travelers. Gaining popularity with celebrities like Lena Horne and Hedda Hopper, it eventually made the cover of EBONY Magazine. Joe Louis also trained at the ranch in the 1940s, gaining the attention of Life Magazine photographers and propelling the ranch to the world stage. See the EBONY cover and learn more about the ranch when you visit. https://ihm.ec/greenbook
We were thrilled to have East City Films in the Museum last week for some behind-the-scenes filming as we prepare to launch our three new VR films later this year. We can't wait to show you the powerful and immersive films they have created, sharing the stories of Survivors Doris Fogel, Rodi Glass, and Marion Deichmann.
Last week, a delegation from Ukraine visited the Museum as part of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. Set up through WorldChicago, the group toured the museum and met with Survivor Lin Novitsky who shared her story in Ukranian. The group included people who work at the Музей Голодомору I Holodomor Museum and the National Museum of Natural History at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. They also visited other cultural institutions in Chicago as well as some in Philadelphia, Seattle, and Iowa City.
“The Diary of Anne Frank” is one of the most-performed plays in the United States today. On March 23, hear from award-winning journalist, Executive Editor of The Forward, and author Adam Langer as he reflects on Anne Frank's legacy and the artistic works her diary has inspired.
For millions of people, seeing a performance of “The Diary of Anne Frank” (or the 1959 film) has been an unforgettable experience that introduced them to the story of the Holocaust. It continues to be one of the most-performed plays in the United States today. Join us to hear reflections about...
Join us on April 4 for a “lunch & learn” panel featuring the acclaimed creative team of composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer; son of Holocaust Survivors and former Chicago Tribune art critic Howard Reich; and founder and artistic director of Music of Remembrance (MOR), Mina Miller. The panelists will discuss three Holocaust-inspired works by Heggie and Scheer that MOR will perform in Chicago. More broadly, they will explore the power of music to confront injustice and intolerance.
Join us online for a “lunch & learn” panel featuring the acclaimed creative team of composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer; son of Holocaust Survivors and former Chicago Tribune arts critic Howard Reich; and founder and artistic director of Music of Remembrance (MOR), Mina Miller. The p...
Opening on March 22, Prairie State College will host U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum's traveling exhibition, "The Americans and the Holocaust" which examines the motives, pressures, and fears that shaped Americans’ responses to N**ism, war and genocide in Europe during the 1930s and 1940s.
The Prairie State College Library is hosting a special exhibit for the United States Holocaust Memorial and Museum.
Listed in the Green Book from 1954–64 and 1966–67, Alberta Ellis ran several businesses – a hotel, barbershop, snack shop, beauty salon, and a nightclub called the Rumpus Room – in Springfield, Missouri. The family-run operation served everyone, from Route 66 motorists to celebrities like Stevie Wonder and the Harlem Globetrotters. Learn more about Alberta's businesses and others in the South in "The Negro Motorist Green Book." https://ihm.ec/greenbook
Another inspiring Student Leadership Day in the books! This week, over 250 5th & 6th grade students joined us onsite and virtually to work together to build leadership skills, explore their role as citizens, and learn about human rights issues.
Students also heard from Sherman Dilla Thomas, who offered a fascinating look at Chicago history, the ongoing legacy of segregation, and proof that "everything dope about America comes from Chicago."
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Starting to make spring break plans with your family? We're offering free admission for kids & students March 18-April 16. Reserve your tickets here: https://ihm.ec/springbreak
The choice made by the Survivors who founded this Museum to share what happened to them, their struggles, and resilience, is the basis for everything we do. As the last generation of Survivors ages, holograms and virtual reality help ensure their stories will not be forgotten after they are gone.
American Alliance of Museums
Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center is preserving survivor oral histories for generations to come by using hologram and virtual reality technology.
For millions of people, seeing a performance of “The Diary of Anne Frank” (or the 1959 film) has been an unforgettable experience that introduced them to the story of the Holocaust. It continues to be one of the most-performed plays in the US today.
Join us on March 23 to hear reflections about this lasting legacy from award-winning journalist, Executive Editor of the Forward, and author Adam Langer, who has delved deeply into “The Diary of Anne Frank” through two creative projects. In "Playing Anne Frank," a new documentary podcast released this past January from the Forward, Adam shares the largely untold history of the beloved stage adaptation of the Diary and how it changed the lives of the actors and artists who helped to create it. Chris Jones, chief theater critic for the Chicago Tribune, will moderate the conversation with Adam about the legacy of Anne Frank and the artistic works that her diary has inspired.
For millions of people, seeing a performance of “The Diary of Anne Frank” (or the 1959 film) has been an unforgettable experience that introduced them to the story of the Holocaust. It continues to be one of the most-performed plays in the United States today. Join us to hear reflections about...
Women during the Holocaust played an important role when it came to resistance, escape, hiding and survival. From the red knitted dress Judy Kolb wore in the Shanghai ghetto to the mandolin-banjo Masha Rapoport played in DP camps, follow Chief Curator Arielle as she shares the stories of some of the women featured in our Karkomi Holocaust Exhibition.
Womanhood. Motherhood. Caring for others. Family. Women during the Holocaust played an important role when it came to resistance, escape, hiding and survival...
In celebration of Purim, which commemorates the survival of the Jews who were marked for death by their Persian rulers in the 5th century BCE, we asked Chief Curator Arielle Weininger to share one of the oldest items in our collection, a Megillah. This illustrated scroll shares the story of Esther, the heroine of the Purim saga, who helped saved the Persian Jews from destruction.
Esso Standard Oil, now ExxonMobil, was a leader in offering opportunities to Black Americans during Jim Crow, hiring at every level of the organization and becoming one of the most progressive corporations in America.
In 1934, they hired James A. Jackson as a special representative to research the role and impact of the Black consumer in America. Victor Green and Jackson worked together to distribute the Green Book in Esso stations across the US. Learn more about Esso and their role in the guide when you visit "The Negro Motorist Green Book." https://ihm.ec/greenbook
“Don’t sit down and wait for opportunities to come. You have to get up and make them for yourself.” — Madam C. J. Walker
Entrepreneur, philanthropist, and social activist Madam C. J. Walker was the first American woman to become a self-made millionaire. Of the 17 beauty schools listed in the Green Book, Madam C. J. Walker’s College of Beauty Culture and Annie M. Turnbo Malone’s Poro Colleges were the most popular. The two revolutionized the Black hair care industry by creating unique products. They trained thousands of women to use their hairstyling techniques, sell their products door-to-door, and run their own businesses. Victor Green crafted his business approach for the Green Book in the footsteps of Madam C.J. Walker.
Learn more about her in "The Negro Motorist Green Book." https://ihm.ec/greenbook
Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service
When John Adkins was little, he traveled to Nashville with his parents and younger sisters to see family. At some point during their drive from the train station to the family farm, he and his siblings were instructed to hide under a blanket in the back seat. Watch as he shares his memory of that.
Visit our website to hear from John about his family's connection to the Green Book, traveling in the South, and growing up in Chicago. https://ihm.ec/john-adkins
Happy Birthday, Dov!
Today is Survivor Dov Boros’ birthday. Born in Budapest, Hungary, Dov’s father was conscripted by the Ukranian Army while Dov, his mother, and younger brother remained in Budapest. Eventually, the three entered the Budapest ghetto where they remained until it Budapest was liberated by the Soviet Army. https://ihm.ec/dov-boros
Photo Credit: John Pregulman
After surviving Auschwitz and a death march, Survivor Renée Firestone came to the US where she had a successful career as a fashion designer. Hear her story and ask her your questions this month in our Abe & Ida Cooper Survivor Stories Experience. https://ihm.ec/holograms
On March 3, 1941, SS leader Otto Wachter announced the creation of a ghetto in Krakow, Poland. The Krakow Ghetto would become one of five major metropolitan N**i Ghettos, consisting of 320 buildings and an initial population of 3,500 that grew to approximately 16,000 Jews. It was sealed on March 20 and liquidated two years later, from March 13-16, 1943.
David "Chim" Seymour arrived in Hajduhadhaz, Hungary in early September. In the town, they had undertaken an experiment in autonomy: 350 orphaned boys and girls were being trained to live in a self-sufficient camp. The children elected their own government, cultivated the land, took care of animals, went to school, and learned a trade with professional instructors. Pictured here are two boys working on a printing press.
See more images like this one depicting life after WWII in “Chim: Between Devastation and Resurrection.” https://ihm.ec/chim
Green Book sites owned by Black women were dominant throughout the pages of the guide and without them, it would not have had as many successful listings as it did. Additionally, in the latter years of the guide's publication, the editing staff consisted almost entirely of women. Learn more about the role Black women played in the guides success when you visit our special exhibition, "The Negro Motorist Green Book." https://ihm.ec/greenbook
Image: Four young African American women standing beside a convertible automobile, ca. 1958; Courtesy WANN Radio Station Records, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.
In the first half of the 20th century, millions of Black Americans left the South, seeking escape from Jim Crow and looking for economic opportunities heralded by press like the The Chicago Defender. Currently, the Defender is located at 4445 South Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. This location was formerly the Metropolitan Funeral System Association, a subsidiary of the Metropolitan Assurance Company, a black-owned company and one of the few places offering insurance to Black Americans. It was included in the 1949 edition of The Green Book.
Learn more about Chicago connections to the guide when you visit "The Negro Motorist Green Book." https://ihm.ec/greenbook
Last December, a group from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music visited the Museum in preparation for their presentation of the world premiere of the first full-scale production of an opera based on “The Diary of a Young Girl.” During their visit, the group toured the Museum and heard from Holocaust Survivor Ruth Gilbert.
Learn more about the opera, opening March 3, here: https://buff.ly/3ICQUEy
During the opening weekend, the opera will be livestreamed: https://buff.ly/3EIiAHf
Today, Feb. 27, through Friday, March 10, our VR Gallery "The Journey Back" will be closed for technology upgrades.
Don't forget to nominate your students for the Fritzie's Promise Award. We invite educators to nominate students who, like Fritzie, demonstrate courage, tenacity, and leadership in their schools and communities by March 1.
Fritzie’s Promise Award is a legacy award presented by Illinois Holocaust Museum to recognize students who embody Fritzie Fritzshall’s indomitable spirit. Teachers/educators, club/activity directors, and coaches are invited to nominate students in grades 7-12 in accredited Illinois schools for t...
The A. G. Gaston Motel was a Green Book site listed in Birmingham, Alabama. Serving high-end clientele, the motel was considered the best place for Black people to stay in the city. Martin Luther King Jr. regularly stayed in the motel, and t was there that he decided to go to jail to support the civil rights movement. It was during that incarceration in 1963 where King wrote “Letter from Birmingham Jail.”
Learn more about the motel when you visit our newest special exhibition "The Negro Motorist Green Book." https://ihm.ec/greenbook
Pictured: Martin Luther King, Jr. outside Gaston Motel in 1963. Birmingham, Ala. Police Department Surveillance Files, 1947-1980. Collection 1125, Archives Department, Birmingham Public Library
That’s a wrap on another inspiring Student Leadership Day! Earlier this week, over 320 7th & 8th grade students joined us onsite and virtually for our annual Student Leadership Day where they built leadership skills and created action plans to take back to their school. Students also heard from award-winning historian and social media influencer Sherman “Dilla” Thomas who shared fascinating facts on Chicago’s unique history, Chicago Green Book sites, the importance of learning history, and using social media for good.
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9603 Woods Drive
Skokie, IL
60077
The Museum is located just west of Westfield's Old Orchard Shopping Center and is served by both Pace and CTA buses and the CTA Yellow Line. For specific times, visit http://tripsweb.rtachicago.com.
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| Wednesday | 10am - 5pm |
| Thursday | 10am - 5pm |
| Friday | 10am - 5pm |
| Saturday | 10am - 5pm |
| Sunday | 10am - 5pm |
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Following Kristallnacht, Survivor Ralph Rehbock and his family fled to America, largely due to luck and the decision of some brave individuals who chose to help them. Listen as he shares his message and visit his profile to learn more about him. https://ihm.ec/ralph-rehbock
The tank is here! Thank you First Division Museum at Cantigny for bringing it over for our Touch-A-Tank event. Bring the whole family by on Sunday to get up close with military vehicles, dress in army gear, and meet active and veteran military members. Plus enjoy delicious treats including hot chocolate, cider, and donuts. https://ihm.ec/touch-a-tank
When Fritzie Fritzshall first met her husband at a little grocery store near her home, she didn’t think anything of it. Her future mother-in-law thought otherwise. Watch as her hologram shares how the pair met. Learn more about Fritzie and ask her hologram your questions when you visit the Abe & Ida Cooper Survivor Stories Experience this month. https://ihm.ec/holograms USC Shoah Foundation
One day while members of the top-secret U.S. Army’s 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, known as the “Ghost Army,” were moving one of the inflatable tanks, two French villagers stumbled across the unit and were shocked to see 4 soldiers lifting what they believed to be a real tank. See the painting depicting this scene and other works of art in “Ghost Army: The Combat Con Artists of World War II.” https://ihm.ec/ghostarmy
What do fashion designer Bill Blass, photographer Art Kane, and artist Ellsworth Kelly have in common? Before gaining notoriety for their respective crafts, each was a member of the top-secret U.S. Army’s 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, known as the “Ghost Army.” These three and many others were part of a carefully selected group of artists, engineers, professional soldiers, and draftees who used various forms of deception and creativity to help Allied forces win the war. Learn more about them and the unit when you visit “Ghost Army: The Combat Con Artists of World War II.” https://ihm.ec/ghostarmy
Consisting of 82 officers and 1,023 men, the top-secret US Army’s 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, known as the “Ghost Army,” was able to simulate two whole divisions (approximately 30,000 men) through various forms of deception including inflatable tanks, sounds effects, and fake radio traffic. Learn how they pulled off their deceptions in "Ghost Army: The Combat Con Artists of World War II." https://ihm.ec/ghostarmy
What a fly night! We were thrilled to be back in person for the Young Professional Committee’s 90s Summer Bash at Recess. Special thanks to Chicago Today’s Cortney Hall for being such a bomb host and Kareem K.W.O.E. Wells at FLOW Entertainment, Inc. for the night of nostalgic 90s beats. Thank you all for making it such a RAD night! We can’t wait to see you next year!
If you could go back to any year in the 90's, what would it be? Chicago media personalities join us in counting down the days until YPC Presents '90s Summer Bash Hosted by NBC's Cortney Hall. Your ticket directly supports the Museum's mission to fight hate with education! This patio party, hosted by NBC Chicago's Cortney Hall, takes place July 19 at the sprawling and vibrant Recess in the West Loop, and includes delicious bites, open bar, and nostalgic music from the decade by FLOW Entertainment, Inc. 90's attire is encouraged! Purchase your tickets: https://ihm.ec/ypcsummerbash
Fritzie exuded warmth and was a friend to everyone she met, and we miss her dearly. Despite everything she went through, she lived her life with joy and friendship. This was her legacy and something we can all do every day to honor her.
On Memorial Day, we honor the veterans who have sacrificed so much for our country and remember the American soldiers who helped liberate concentration camps and allowed Holocaust Survivors to rebuild their lives and tell their stories. "There's nothing better than the US Army...these people are my heroes," says Survivor Rodi Glass, who was liberated from an internment camp in France by US Forces in September 1944.
Albert Loeb's life was saved by a wallet. It blunted the impact of a bullet as it tore through his leg while he fought for the Germans during World War I. In 1937, forced to flee Nazi persecution, Albert made sure to keep it with him as he escaped, always remembering how it had rescued him. Listen to Eleanor Loeb Merar, his daughter, talk about how his wallet, on display at Navy Pier in our “Stories of Survival: Object. Image. Memory.” exhibition, was so much more than an everyday object.
Every day, we work with educators to bring the history and lessons of the Holocaust to their classrooms. As we celebrate #TeacherAppreciationWeek, we want to thank the dedicated educators who continue to inspire their students to Remember the Past and Transform the Future. Thank you for all you do!
We’re thrilled to announce that our new virtual field trip of our Karkomi Holocaust Exhibition is now available with an ASL interpretation! Sign your students up for an immersive journey through Holocaust history as they are guided through galleries, encounter personal artifacts and photos, and engage with powerful survivor and eyewitness testimony. Hosted by CBS Chicago’s weekend anchor Suzanne Le Mignot, the field trip also includes reflection and discussion questions at the end of each module, inviting students to further analyze lessons learned and enhance their experience. Visit our website to learn more. https://ihm.ec/virtual-field-trips This tour is generously sponsored by Amazon.com
Did you know the very first LGBTQ rights organization in the US and the first Pride Parade were both in Chicago? Explore the city's role in the LGBTQ history when you visit Rise Up: Stonewall and the LGBTQ Rights Movement, closing May 8. ihm.ec/riseup
Do you know about our Teaching Trunks? Using a range of resources from fiction and non-fiction books, DVDs, and more, these trunks give educators the resources to create lessons around the Holocaust, human rights, genocide, and/or character education. Visit our website to learn about the different trunks and how to reserve one for your classroom. https://ihm.ec/teaching-trunks
Agi Day was born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia (now Serbia) in May 1940. Her family, escaped to Hungary when she was a baby, and during the last nine months of World War II, Agi was hidden by a Catholic family who posed her as one of their own. After the war, in 1946, Agi and her family were forced to flee Hungary due to the growing threat of Communism and spent the next several years in Displaced Persons camps in Austria. Since 2014, Agi has been an active member of the Holocaust Center for Humanity’s Speakers Bureau.
Did you know LGBTQ+ rights activists once rushed the set and interrupted a live broadcast of CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite? Learn about this and more when you visit our special exhibition Rise Up: Stonewall and the LGBTQ Rights Movement, closing May 8. ihm.ec/riseup
This interactive Children’s Haggadah from our collections was illustrated by Erwin Singer and published in Berlin in 1936. The Haggadah is the traditional guidebook to the Seder meal during the celebration of Passover. For those that celebrate we wish you a Happy Passover.
#OnThisDay in 1945, the US Army liberated Buchenwald concentration camp. Opened in 1937, some 250,000 prisoners passed through Buchenwald and its 88 roughly sub-camps. Survivor Barney Sidler was one of those liberated from the camp. Watch as he shares his experience.
Our new virtual field trips are available today! Sign your students up for an immersive journey through Holocaust history inside our core exhibition with Suzanne Le Mignot, CBS Chicago's weekend anchor, as your guide. Learn more here: https://ihm.ec/virtual-field-trips
Take your class on a new virtual field trip inside our core exhibition, hosted by CBS Chicago’s weekend anchor Suzanne Le Mignot! Students will experience an immersive journey through Holocaust history as they are guided through galleries, encounter personal artifacts and photos, and engage with powerful survivor and eyewitness testimony. The field trip also includes reflection and discussion questions at the end of each module, inviting students to further analyze lessons learned and enhance their experience. Available March 3: https://ihm.ec/virtual-field-trips This tour is generously sponsored by Amazon.com.
In July 2013, Jim Obergefell and John Arthur married on an airport tarmac in Maryland because two men could not legally wed in their home state of Ohio. The pair sued Ohio to recognize their marriage and Arthur, who had a neurological disease, died 3 months later. Obergefell, along with 14 couples and another widower, became the face of the landmark 2015 Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. Learn more about the case when you visit Rise Up: Stonewall and the LGBTQ Rights Movement. ihm.ec/riseup
Third generation speaker Elizabeth Vrato will describe how her grandfather, Kadri Cakrani, sheltered approximately 600 Jews in Albania while serving as the military officer in charge of the Berat region while it was under Nazi occupation.
George Elbaum was born in Warsaw, Poland on August 20, 1938, one year before Hitler invaded Poland and spurred the outbreak of World War II. Within weeks, George's father was called to serve in the army and never returned. Acutely aware of the danger she and her son were in, George's mom dyed her hair blonde and purchased the identification documents of a Catholic woman who had died. In 1942, she smuggled George out of the Warsaw ghetto before paying various Polish Catholic families to hide and raise him. In 1945, George was reunited with his mother, the only other surviving member of his family. They immigrated to America in 1949. For 60 years, George was reluctant to share his story with anyone. He worked towards an engineering career, earning an undergraduate degree, two Master's Degrees, and a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In 2009, upon viewing "Paper Clips," a documentary chronicling a Tennessee middle school's unique attempt to honor Holocaust victims, George was moved to share his story with the world. He and his wife Mimi Jensen live in San Francisco, but George makes frequent trips to Seattle to visit his children and grandchildren. George is a member of the Holocaust Center for Humanity's Speakers Bureau.
Survivor Ida Paluch Kersz was only 3 years old, making her too young to resist, but the family who took her in did. Listen as she shares their act of resistance. Want to know more about Ida? Watch as she shares her story: https://bit.ly/3oXYAJ3 Jewish Women's Archive Chicago Jewish Historical Society Jewish United Fund of Chicago - JUF
Julie Meetal Berman is the daughter of Holocaust Survivors Magda and Les Mittelman, Z"L. Magda and Les were born in Hungary in 1923 and 1919, respectively. During the war, Les was conscripted into forced labor for the Hungarian army on the Eastern Front, but eventually escaped and joined a resistance group. Magda and her family were confined to a ghetto before being sent to Auschwitz. She was ultimately liberated in Germany.
When Allison was with the Museum, she worked with our education team and helped launch our Take a Stand Center. Listen as she shares her experience as an intern with us and how it still impacts her today. Learn more about our internships here: https://ihm.ec/internships Big Shoes Network
Jacqueline (Jackie) Albin was born in Belfort, France in 1937, two years before the beginning of World War II. When Jackie was two years old, her father was drafted into the French army where he served from 1939-1942. Jackie and her mother lived with her grandparents in Gex, a town in France near the Switzerland border, that had become part of the occupied zone. In 1942, her grandparents were sent to Auschwitz where they were gassed on their arrival. In 1944, when the Germans were losing the war, Jackie, her mother, her newly born sister, and a group of others fled to the mountains because it was becoming more and more dangerous for them. Her father, who had joined the French Resistance, stayed behind to fight. After the war ended, Jackie’s mother was able to reunite with her mother and brothers–German Jews who managed to leave Germany in time and who were already living in Chicago.
Did you know the very first LGBTQ Rights organization was started in Chicago? Learn more about Chicago's role in #LGBTQ history when you visit our special exhibition Rise Up: Stonewall and the LGBTQ Rights Movement. #RiseUpExhibit #ChicagoHistory ihm.ec/riseup Equality Illinois ABC 7 Chicago Chicago Reader
Marie was born in 1931 and lived with her sister Jeannette and their parents in Antwerp, Belgium when World War II began. After Germany invaded Belgium, the family escaped to France. For a while, non-Jews hid them on a farm but when the roundups began, the family was captured and separated: the sisters with their mother were placed in an internment camp at Rivesaltes, France while their father was sent to a different camp. After 9 months, Marie and Jeannette’s mother managed to smuggle her daughters out of Rivesaltes. They were hiding with other refugees in Vence, France. They were then briefly reunited with the parents who managed to escape but the father soon died as a result of the mistreatment he had endured in the camp. Two partisan couriers took the sisters across the Pyrénées Mountains on foot from Vence to Barcelona, Spain. Marie and Jeannette lived with their aunt and uncle and then came to the United States. Once here, they were placed in an orphanage and with foster families until their mother was able to reunite with them in 1949. Photo of Marie courtesy of Jason Schwartz
19th Century Historical Photography
Winnetka 60093Naval Air Station Glenview Museum
Lehigh Avenue, GlenviewHistoric Homes on the North Shore
Winnetka 60093Air Station Prairie/Tyner Center
Compass Road, GlenviewSigma Chi Fraternity History and Archives
Hinman Avenue, EvanstonKalavryta Foundation of Chicago
N Milwaukee Avenue, ChicagoIannelli Studios Heritage Center
N Northwest Highway, Park RidgeThe Grove National Historic Landmark
Milwaukee Avenue, GlenviewFriends of Bohemian National Cemetery
N Pulaski Road, ChicagoRuthie & Bill Katz Archives at NSCI
Sheridan Road, Glencoe
Young Professional Committee of Illinois Holo
Woods Drive