History graduate student Marc Vance completed his MA thesis focusing on Holocaust survivors, and specifically the Loewy family. With the help of Dr. Lawrence Bell and Marty Richelsoph from the Arizona Jewish Historical Society, Marc Vance found hundreds of documents and images on this remarkable family. During WWII, the Loewys saved 1,500 Jews and non-Jews from a Vichy camp in southern France and actively fought in the French resistance. Coming to Phoenix after the war, they helped found Beth Hebrew, the city’s first orthodox synagogue. To further his research on resistance in World War II and the role of Jews in it, he reached out to Dr. Kurt Piehler, Director of the Institute on WWII and the Human Experience at Florida State University. The institute started by Tom Brokaw maintains an archive, which features letters, personal items and weapons used during this time. With the help of a generous Public History grant, Marc was able to visit the archive and give a talk at the Institute.
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Journal entry from a prisoner at Buchenwald concentration camp
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Journal entry from a prisoner at Buchenwald concentration camp
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Journal entry from a prisoner at Buchenwald concentration camp
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Journal entry from a prisoner at Buchenwald concentration camp
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Journal entry from a prisoner at Buchenwald concentration camp
Comparing the stories found at Florida State University to that of the Loewy family, Marc was better able to contextualize the history of the Loewy family. He also realized how unique the story of Jews rescuing Jews and others was. Learning more about the synagogue and the work that was being done to save and renovate the building, Marc discovered his interest in public history and museum work, and he decided to marry his historical research with public history. As a result, he realized that he needed to find other avenues to disseminate this important story. With funds from SHPRS Public History and ASU’s Center for Jewish Studies he built a digital exhibition on their remarkable journey as rescuers, resistors and founders of synagogue here in Phoenix.
Marc Vance is now partnering with the Phoenix Holocaust Association to display his digital exhibition. His hope is to continue to keep the stories of Holocaust survivors alive. He wants the digital exhibit to be used as a teaching tool for the Holocaust as well as World War II and to make the many images, documents and stories housed at the Arizona Jewish Historical Society known to the public.
Below is the link for the digital exhibit:
https://www.bethhebrewaz.com/
