Berry, Charles R.

The Survivors of the Holocaust Oral History Project was conceived by Dr. Charles R. Berry, presently Professor of History at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. Dr. Berry was born in Palestine, Texas. Raised in a home that was quite liberal for its time, and influenced by his father, who was a Protestant minister and an unabashed foe of anti-Semitism, Dr. Berry became profoundly affected by the Holocaust at an early age. Long before embarking on this project, Professor Berry was greatly troubled by the fate of the Holocaust victims. During a dinner conversation some thirty years later, Rabbi Albert Goldman of the Wise Temple in Cincinnati talked about his interviews with congregants who were survivors of the Holocaust. Dr. Berry, who had specialized in oral history, recognized the potential of permanently recording, on audio recording tape, the experiences of the survivors who lived in and around Dayton, Ohio.

From the very start, the lack of an adequate number of volunteers became apparent. This would prove to be one of the project's persistent problems. Although generally praised, it rarely had enough hands-on workers. This obstacle appeared at the first meeting which had been scheduled for April 21, 1977, but had to be postponed due to the lack of attendance. The following two meetings were then held as scheduled. It was during these first three meetings that the project assumed its life-form. Parameters were established; the uniqueness of the program was determined; the term "survivor" was defined; and the nature of the organization (to be independent or associate with an institution?) was defined. Moreover, many survivors in the area were identified, and the type of questionnaire to be used was chosen. Subsequent to the third meeting, a tentative questionnaire was formulated. Mentioned too, was the existence of 100 to 175 Jewish victims of Nazi persecution living in Dayton and the vicinity. The number of non-Jewish victims could not be ascertained at that time.

As the result of these findings, two subcommittees were established, one dealing with an acceptable questionnaire and the other with devising a strategy of initiating and maintaining contact with the survivors. Of the two, the one concerned with designing the questionnaire created the greatest controversy due to the concern for the sensitivities of the interviewees. It was the consensus of the committee to respect the feelings of the survivors to the utmost, as they recalled their painful memories. In turn, this gave rise to disagreements that centered around the specific role of the interviewer, length of the interview, and whether the interview should be controlled or uncontrolled. These differences also caused Professor Berry considerable anguish. Appended to the handwritten draft of the June, 1978 meeting minutes were some personal observations regarding the format of the questionnaire. However, these do not appear in the official version of the minutes. Dr. Berry's main criticism dealt with the fact that his directions, which were requested by the committee, were either rejected or accepted only in part. Sometimes they were debated to death. The appendage also reveals his thoughts about the goals of the project as well as the length of the interviews. As to the latter, Dr. Berry noted that an interview of this nature is more than a pat question and answer dialogue. Rather, it is an effort between interviewer and interviewee to facilitate the revelation of the ultimate purpose of the victims' tortured deaths, sufferings, and humiliations. At last, through the modifications of some questions as well as the elimination of others, a questionnaire was agreed upon. Eventually, a procedure for contacting and interviewing the survivors also emerged. During the summer of 1978, twenty interviews took place. Thereafter, the numbers decreased to a total of thirty-two at the end of the year. The reduction in the amount of interviews can be attributed to many factors including less interviewers than expected.

In time, the Oral History Project branched out into other activities, which were also dedicated to the remembrance of the Holocaust. These programs were first suggested as a means of obtaining additional funds. An oral history project, per se, was thought to appeal only to scholars and other researchers. However, programs of "non-scholarly," but "meaningful" nature were believed to generate added support among the general public for efforts to preserve the memory of the Holocaust. Therefore, a subcommittee was appointed to investigate the feasibility of various ideas. Curiously enough, the subcommittee reported back that it would be in the best interest of the project to continue to concentrate on its original mission and not to proliferate into related endeavors. Nevertheless, the possibility of presenting lectures, symposia, etc., had already been favorably discussed by the committee. Later, the group was informed that funding for one lecture per year, for three years, was available. This provided the endowment for the establishment of the Dr. Hans Liebermann Memorial Lectures.

Dr. Hans Liebermann was a prominent physician in Dayton, Ohio. He had fled from Germany in 1938 and was well known for his work in resettling victims of the Holocaust in Dayton as well as for the generous donation of his services to the Children's Hospital. He died in 1977. The first lecture, which was held on March 27, 1980, featured Dr. Franklin Little, a Christian clergyman noted for his accomplishments in Holocaust education. Because the money allocated for the lecture did not allow for Dr. Little's usual fee, compensation of a different kind was agreed upon. Two more yearly lectures followed. Each headlined a personality whose work in connection with the Holocaust had been somewhat unique. The locations of the three lectures alternated between Antioch College and Wright State University.

Another venture devoted to the Holocaust was the production of a documentary film that depicted the interaction between survivors and high school students in a classroom setting. Made under the title "Chosen to Live," with the help of a local television station and at minimal cost, it was first shown on October 10, 1985. In its desire to disseminate as much knowledge as possible about the Holocaust, bibliographies in addition to other educational resource materials were compiled so that they may be freely available to the public. Regrettably, inadequate funding limited a broader awareness of the need to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive. Major foundations and funds, although approached more than once, could not find themselves at liberty to assist a project of this kind. Finances became so tight at one time that Professor Berry had to write to the Wright State University Foundation, pleading desperately for an additional four hundred and fifty dollars. Indeed, the project's entire funding came from local individuals and the area's smaller foundations and trusts.

Thanks to Dr. Berry's unstinting leadership, The Survivors of the Holocaust Oral History Project came into being and expanded. The taped interviews, including any of their accompanying records, are now a part of the holdings of the Wright State University Archives. Perhaps the program would have been better served had it not deviated from its core project of taping the survivors. Nevertheless, these interviews constitute an ironclad testimony to the terrible events of this genocidal carnage. If for no other reason than to sustain the truth of the Holocaust, these memories have to be kept alive. For, after all is said and done, it is the truth that makes remembrance a reality.

From the guide to the Survivors of the Holocaust Oral History Project Records, 1977-1985, (Wright State University, Special Collections and Archives)