To this day, the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum has documented the stories of over 900 Holocaust survivors who made St. Louis their home after World War II. These survivors, whose names are displayed in the museum’s St. Louis Survivors Gallery, represent a powerful testament to resilience and courage.
The gallery’s virtual tribute, which rotates through these names, serves as a reminder of those who endured one of history’s darkest periods and went on to contribute to the St. Louis community.
“Survivors are at the heart of everything we do,” said Robb Nelson, exhibitions coordinator at the museum. “Recognizing each of them by name is the least we can do to honor their courage and resilience.”
Now, the museum is reaching out to the community with an important request: to help identify and submit the names of additional Holocaust survivors who settled in St. Louis after the war. This call for names is more than just a request — it’s an effort to ensure that the stories of these individuals are preserved and remembered.
The Holocaust Museum’s Oral Histories Project, established in 1979, has been instrumental in recording the voices of survivors, liberators and other witnesses. These personal accounts provide invaluable insights into the experiences of those who lived through the Holocaust and serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of memory in preventing future atrocities.
The newly collected names will be added to the gallery and unveiled at a special program in 2025, dedicated to survivors and their descendants. The museum defines a survivor as any Jewish person who experienced persecution by the Nazis and their collaborators between 1933 and 1945. Whether they survived concentration camps, hid during the war or escaped Europe in the early years of Nazi rule, every survivor’s experience is unique and worthy of recognition.
If you know of a Holocaust survivor who lived in the St. Louis area and whose name should be added to this important memorial, you can submit their information through this form: https://stlholocaustmuseum.org/survivor-name-wall-submission/.
This effort is not only about preserving history but also about honoring the resilience and contributions of those who rebuilt their lives and enriched our community.
