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THE WORLD KNEW: JAN KARSKI'S MISSION FOR HUMANITY
An Exhibition About One Man Who Tried to Stop the Holocaust
Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center is pleased to host The World Knew: Jan Karski’s Mission For Humanity, during the centennial year of Jan Karski’s birth. This fascinating exhibition explores the life and legacy of a man who carried out one of the most monumental missions attempted in World War II—a cross-continent trek to inform western leaders in 1942 that the Holocaust was underway.
As an emissary for the Polish Underground State, Karski carried classified information from the Resistance on the ground in occupied Poland to the Polish government-in-exile. Only 28 years old at the time, Karski twice entered the Warsaw Ghetto and later penetrated a Nazi transit camp, in disguise, to see Jews being herded to their deaths. With these eyewitness accounts, he met with President Roosevelt to inform him about the on-going genocide. Tragically, the Allies chose not to act on his report.
“Jan Karski refused to be indifferent toward the injustice around him,” said Susan Abrams, Chief Executive Officer, Illinois Holocaust Museum. “His courageous efforts embody the spirit of the Illinois Holocaust Museum’s mission to combat hatred, prejudice and indifference, and we are grateful for the opportunity to present The World Knew in honor of the one-hundredth year since Jan Karski’s birth.”
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The 22-panel exhibition is graphically engaging, with its narrative supported by powerful period photos, correspondence and other primary source documents.
The World Knew: Jan Karski’s Mission for Humanity complements the Illinois Holocaust Museum’s permanent exhibitions:
• The Zev and Shifra Karkomi Permanent Exhibition tells the story of the Jews and the minority groups persecuted in the Holocaust, with over 500 extraordinary artifacts, documents and photographs.
• Make a Difference! The Harvey L. Miller Family Youth Exhibition teaches children ages 8 to 12 to respect differences, address bullying, and take a stand on issues that matter to them.
• The Legacy of Absence Gallery is home to a collection of visual artwork by distinguished contemporary artists from around the world that reflect on historical violence, revealing the continued impact of genocide and atrocities.
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The Crain-Maling Foundation is the lead sponsor for the Illinois Holocaust Museum presentation of The World Knew: Jan Karski’s Mission for Humanity.
The exhibition was organized by the Jan Karski Educational Foundation in partnership with the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Polish History Museum. Additional funding was provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this exhibition publication do not necessarily reflect those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Holocaust by honoring the memories of those who were lost and by teaching universal lessons that combat hatred, prejudice and indifference. The Museum fulfills its mission through the exhibition, preservation and interpretation of its collections and through education programs and initiatives that foster the promotion of human rights and the elimination of genocide. The Museum is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.; Thursday evenings until 8:00 p.m.; and Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Learn more at www.illinoisholocaustmuseum.org.
