Elmhurst opens Anne Frank exhibit
Daily Herald report
“I hope I will be able to confide everything to you, as I have never been able to confide in anyone, and I hope you will be a great source of comfort and support.”#8212; From the first entry in Anne Frank#146;s Diary, June 12, 1942
In 1942, on the occasion of her 13th birthday, Anne Frank received a small, cloth-covered diary. According to the earliest entries, the aspiring young writer was thrilled with the chance to write down her innermost thoughts and dreams.
Unknowingly, and with eloquence beyond her years, Anne Frank proceeded to document one of the most horrifying series of events known to mankind: the elimination of Jews by the Nazi regime during World War II.
#147;Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl#148; was first published in 1947. It has since been translated into 67 languages and is one of the most widely read books in the world. Anne#146;s wise observations and heartfelt descriptions of her yearnings and worries still resonate with readers more than 60 years later.
Through the writings of this young teenager, the world has been given a window into the everyday life of the Frank family as they hid for two years in the cramped quarters of a musty attic in Amsterdam.
Elmhurst Historical Museum shares Anne#146;s story through a national traveling exhibition, #147;Anne Frank: A History for Today,#148; which is on display from 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, Feb. 1 to March 27, at the museum, 120 E. Park Ave., Elmhurst.
This traveling exhibit from the Anne Frank Center USA tells the story of the Holocaust through photos from the Frank family scrapbook, excerpts from Anne#146;s diary, and images of the historical events that took place around them during the turbulence of World War II.
The exhibit is appropriate for adults and for middle school and high school students with discretion, as some graphic photos of concentration camps are featured.
Special events
The Elmhurst Historical Museum is hosting a number of special events and programs related to the exhibit:
Tea Talk: A docent from the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center discusses Anne Frank#146;s legacy at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17. Free.Book discussion: Interested participants are encouraged to read #147;Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl#148; (the definitive edition is suggested) and join a discussion at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 6, in the museum#146;s Education Center. All ages are welcome and light refreshments will be served.Community Diary: Throughout the exhibit#146;s run, Elmhurst Historical Museum provides an opportunity for visitors to share their reflections in a Community Diary available within the exhibit. This journal will be placed in the museum#146;s archives following the exhibition and excerpts will be available online.Online resources: Resources to learn more about the Frank family#146;s ordeal and the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam are available at elmhursthistory.org under Upcoming Exhibits. A virtual tour called #147;The Secret Annex Online,#148; which was produced by the Anne Frank House, takes viewers into the rooms where the Frank family and others hid for two years. 316480Anne FrankÂ’s diary has been translated into 67 languages and is one of the most widely read books in the world.Copyright AFS/AFF, Amsterdam/Basel If you goWhat: “Anne Frank: A History for Today”When: 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, Feb. 1 to March 27Where: Elmhurst Historical Museum, 120 E. Park Ave., ElmhurstCost: FreeInfo: (630) 833-1457 or <a href="http://elmhursthistory.org">elmhursthistory.org</a>