University Libraries to host US Holocaust Memorial Museums Deadly Medicine
“Deadly Medicine” examines how Nazi leaders used science to help legitimize persecution, murder and genocide. From 1933 to 1945, Nazi Germany carried out a horrific campaign to “cleanse” Germany of people viewed as biological threats to the nation. Enlisting the help of physicians and other medically-trained scientists, the Nazis developed racial health policies that started with the mass sterilization of “hereditarily diseased” persons and ended with the near annihilation of Jewish Europeans.
“The University Libraries are proud to host this compelling exhibition from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum,” said Interim Dean of Libraries Daniel L. Daily. “As an institution committed to life-long learning, USD and the University Libraries frequently host events and exhibitions, like ‘Deadly Medicine,’ that encourage the critical examination of our past and its ramifications in the present day. I encourage anyone in the area to view this important exhibition.”
University Libraries is developing sixth through 12th grade curriculum opportunities for the exhibition, providing hands-on activities in history, social studies, languages and language arts that support South Dakota Common Core standards. The South Dakota Humanities Council, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, has provided support for programming accompanying the “Deadly Medicine” traveling exhibition, including lectures by two USD humanities scholars, Carol A. Leibiger, PhD, and David I. Burrow, PhD.
Leibiger’s lecture, “Of Foxes and Poisonous Mushrooms: Julius Streicher and German Children’s Literature in Support of National Socialist Racialist Politics,” is at 7 p.m. on Nov. 6 and at 3 p.m. on Nov. 8. Burrow will present his lecture, “Eugenics and the Nazi Conscience,” at 3 p.m. on Nov. 13 and at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Nov. 15. Both lectures, which are free and open to the public, will be at the USD University Libraries, second floor atrium.
“Deadly Medicine” is made possible with support from The David Berg Foundation, the Dorot Foundation, the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, and the Lester Robbins and Sheila Johnson Robbins Traveling and Special Exhibitions Fund established in 1990.
For more information about the exhibition, the humanities lectures, 6-12th grade curriculum opportunities, or to schedule tours and associated programming, please contact Danielle De Jager-Loftus at [email protected], Abby Moore at [email protected] or see http://bit.ly/USDholocaust.
Please note: This exhibition contains difficult subject matter and imagery. It is recommended for visitors 11 years and older.