Uncovering History — Americans and the Holocaust

By Sarah Jones, Carlsbad Public Library

This spring, the Carlsbad Public Library invites the community to engage with a powerful series of programs and events surrounding the traveling exhibition Americans and the Holocaust, on loan from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. These events, designed to educate, provoke reflection, and foster dialogue, focus on how Americans—including New Mexicans—understood and responded to the atrocities of the Holocaust during World War II.

The calendar of events kicked off with the exhibition opening reception. This exhibit examines the U.S. response to Nazism, war, and genocide, with a particular focus on what Americans knew and when. It is a thought-provoking display that blends national history with local context.

On Thursday, June 12th at 7 p.m. at the P.R. Leyva Auditorium, we turn to the stories of Japanese Americans during WWII with Confinement in the Land of Enchantment. This presentation, part of the CLOE (Confinement in the Land of Enchantment) project, highlights the experiences of over 6,000 Japanese Americans confined in New Mexico during the war. It’s an important chapter of our state’s history that is often overlooked.

One of the cornerstone events is the panel discussion History Unfolded: What New Mexicans Knew of the Holocaust, which brings together local newspaper and radio journalists to explore New Mexico’s media landscape during the war years. Scheduled for Tuesday, June 24th at 6 p.m. at the Southeast New Mexico College campus (1500 University Dr.), this conversation will investigate how information traveled, the public’s awareness of global events, and how local journalism played a role in shaping public consciousness.

Another deeply moving and historically significant program is the presentation on the Navajo Code Talkers, taking place on Thursday, June 26th at 7 PM at the P.R. Leyva Auditorium (800 W. Church St.). This hour-long event will spotlight the original pilot group of Navajo Code Talkers and trace their journey from recruitment to their development of the unbreakable code that proved vital to Allied success in the Pacific theater.

The final event in the series is Interview with a Holocaust Survivor, a virtual program that offers a unique and intimate opportunity to hear firsthand testimony. A museum staff member will facilitate the conversation, with time for audience questions. This is a rare chance to connect with living history—an experience that leaves a lasting impact. This will take place on Friday, June 20th at 12 p.m. You can watch online from anywhere or join us in person at the Stevens Inn to have lunch and watch the talk in person with community members. Please sign up at the Circulation desk of the library.

This calendar of events provides not only educational enrichment but a space for community members to come together to learn, remember, and reflect. The Americans and the Holocaust exhibition and its accompanying programs remind us that history is not a distant story—it is one we are all a part of, shaped by the choices we make and the voices we choose to hear.

We hope you’ll join us for these powerful events. For more information, visit the Carlsbad Public Library or call us at (575) 885-6776.