News Article

National Archives Opens Featured Document Displays for 75th Anniversary of the End of World War II

January 16, 2020

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On January 16, 2020, the National Archives opens the first of a four-part series of featured document exhibitions related to World War II. The featured document series is made possible in part by the National Archives Foundation through the generous support of the Ford Motor Company Fund. 

In observance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the first display will be a multimedia exhibit to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz and to honor the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and other victims of Nazism. The display will be located in the East Rotunda Gallery of the National Archives Museum from January 16 through February 5, 2020.

“In this year marking 75th years since the end of World War II, the National Archives is reaching into its vast volume of records to shine a spotlight on a few key events of the war,” said Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero. “It is fitting that the first of our series of featured document displays coincides with International Holocaust Remembrance Day and highlights material relating to the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps. The documentary record we hold in the National Archives ensures that we ‘never forget.'”

In addition to the World War II featured document series, the National Archives will also present special public programming throughout 2020 relating to America’s involvement in the war. The programs will take place in the William G. McGowan Theater of the National Archives and will be live streamed on the National Archives YouTube channel. All programming will be listed on the Archives calendar

“World War II was an incredibly significant moment not only for the United States but also for the world,” said Yisel Cabrera, Community Relations Manager, Ford Motor Company Fund. “On the 75th anniversary of the end of the war, it is imperative that we use the records at the National Archives to dive deeper into the history of the war and remember the lives lost. The Ford Motor Company Fund is committed to supporting institutions like the National Archives, who are working to foster cultural awareness of and appreciation for our nation’s rich history.”

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About the National Archives Foundation

The National Archives Foundation is an independent nonprofit that increases public awareness of the National Archives, inspires a deeper appreciation of our country’s heritage, and encourages citizen engagement in our democracy. The Foundation generates financial and creative support for National Archives exhibitions, public programs and educational initiatives, introducing America’s records to people around the U.S. and the world. Learn more at www.archivesfoundation.org.

About the National Archives

The National Archives and Records Administration is an independent federal agency that serves American democracy by safeguarding and preserving the records of our Government, so people can discover, use, and learn from this documentary heritage. The National Archives ensures continuing access to the essential documentation of the rights of American citizens and the actions of their government. From the Declaration of Independence to accounts of ordinary Americans, the holdings of the National Archives directly touch the lives of millions of people. The agency supports democracy, promotes civic education, and facilitates historical understanding of our national experience. The National Archives carries out its mission through a nationwide network of archives, records centers, and Presidential Libraries and online at www.archives.gov