Lecture: WWII Internment Camps for Japanese-Americans

In college, the most horrifying class I took was "History of the Holocaust." As we learned about the Jewish concentration camps and Hitler's envisioned Final Solution, we struggled to understand how human beings could be so cruel to one another.

Unfortunately, Americans have their own sad story from that war: Japanese-American internment camps. We don't hear much about them, but they were a very real prison for thousands of innocent Americans during that time.

If you'd like to learn more, attend the upcoming lecture at the Indiana Historical Society. The lecture is titled "World War II Experiences: Life in a Japanese-American Internment Camp," and takes place at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 5.

Not the most cheerful topic for a lunch break, I know, but worth hearing nonetheless.

Historical Society Discussion Group: Food and Immigration

While gathering information about the Indiana Historical Society's free film series (see previous post), I ran across another interesting learning opportunity. The organization is accepting registrations for an upcoming book discussion group called "Our Food: Immigrant, Ethnic and American." Here is the course description, from the group's events listing:

"Examine the story of food in America, looking at how Americans and immigrants have changed their cooking and eating habits over time – often in response to each other and to the local ingredients available. Discover where our foodways came from and how they have evolved and intermingled with those of other cultures."

Sounds like fun! The reading materials include Donna Gabaccia’s "We Are What We Eat: Ethnic Food and the Making of Americans," and the course description promises food tastings.

The discussion group takes place from 10 a.m. to noon on four Tuesdays in August. Cost is $10 plus the cost of the reading materials; you must be a member of the Historical Society to register, but you can purchase your membership ($40 for an individual) when you enroll in the class. Registration deadline is July 22.

Films at the Indiana Historical Society

Here's a good reason not to eat lunch at your desk: The Indiana Historical Society is presenting a free film series this month on the history of the railroad. Here's the schedule (all from noon to 1 p.m. at the Indiana History Center):

• May 15: "Glory Days of Steam," which focuses on travel during the steam engine years.
• May 22: "She’s a Hoosier Line: A Retrospective on the Monon."
• May 29: "One Man's Trolley," a look at electric railroading through the years.

Railroad history not your cup of tea? In June, the film series focuses on historical disasters, such as tornadoes, floods and flu epidemics; in July, the focus shifts to military history.