Vincennes University’s Shake Learning Resource Center concluded a powerful run of the traveling exhibit “Americans and the Holocaust” on April 28, leaving a lasting impact on the campus and the surrounding community.

The exhibit, developed by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in partnership with the American Library Association, first debuted on March 17.

Throughout its six-week run, the exhibition offered an in-depth exploration of Americans’ responses to Nazism, war, and genocide during the 1930s and 1940s.

Jamie Cox, public services librarian, called the exhibit a success, saying there was a steady flow of visitors from both on campus and different communities.

“We were happy to host many different local schools,” Cox said. “We had people come from as far away as Evansville and Terre Haute. It was exciting that not only our campus, but the surrounding community got to experience it.”

While the main exhibit remained unchanged, per guidelines from its national curators, the Shake LRC enhanced the experience with different programs, including The Butterfly Project. This memorial installation encouraged participants to create butterflies in various media.

The project was inspired by the Holocaust Museum in Houston to honor the 1.5 million Jewish children who lost their lives in the Holocaust.

Cox said that emotional reactions from visitors were common.

“You had a range of reactions,” she said. “Some people were very moved.

“It’s difficult material, but incredibly important to engage with.”

The library has made several recorded programs available online via its YouTube channel and website for those who missed in-person events.

As for what’s next, Cox said the library is open to future exhibitions of similar educational and memorial value.

“We are looking into bringing something else like this to the university,” she said. “It depends on funding and opportunities, but we are definitely interested in continuing this kind of programming.”