Make a Donation
A few years ago, I learned that my father, Henry
Dorfman, had been interviewed about his experiences as a Polish Jew during the Holocaust. The interview was conducted by University of Michigan –Dearborn Professor Sid Bolkosky, as part of the Voice/Vision Holocaust Survivor Oral History Archive—and listening to it was one of the more dramatic moments of my life. My father had passed away three years earlier, but now I could hear his voice telling stories of how he escaped en route to Treblinka, fought the Nazis, and lost over 100 members of his extended family. I knew immediately that the Voice/Vision Archive was a vital legacy—not only for my family, but also for the world.
Under Professor Bolkosky, Voice/Vision has conducted in-depth interviews with nearly 300 Holocaust survivors. It is one of the largest, most important such archives in the world. What’s more, the Voice/Vision Archive is made to be used. Available on-line, it is a priceless resource for researchers, educators, and students.
The Archive receives some support from the University of Michigan-Dearborn, but it has always relied on the generosity of private donors. Today, as the last generation of Holocaust survivors is rapidly aging, Voice/Vision’s task is ever more urgent. I know first-hand that it is all too easy for these stories to be lost forever. Your contribution will allow us to gather these stories. More important, it will build an endowment, allowing us to preserve the archive, secure the curator’s position, keep the database technologically up to date, and continue to reach out to the larger community. Join me in supporting the treasure that is the Voice/Vision Holocaust Survivor Oral History Archive.
Sincerely,
Joel Dorfman
© Board of Regents University of Michigan-Dearborn