The Virginia Holocaust Museum: A Continuation of the Americanization of the Holocaust

Abstract

This thesis examines the significance and effectiveness of Holocaust memory and remembrance in the United States with a closer look at the Virginia Holocaust Museum in Richmond, Virginia. It analyzes the role of the Holocaust in our society’s public consciousness by observing the function and impact of Holocaust museums and memorials in the United States. It evaluates the motives and intentions in the creation of the Virginia Holocaust Museum and its impact on genocide awareness, education, and prevention. It also explores the effectiveness of the Virginia Holocaust Museum’s mission statement. It assesses the duration of the Americanization of the Holocaust in our communities and institutions. The methodology is to examine primary sources such as the board minutes of the Virginia Holocaust Museum, newspaper articles, laws and legislation, and interviews. This thesis also examines literature published about the Virginia Holocaust Museum, The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Holocaust in the United States, and Holocaust Memory.