In this guide, you will find information about the Emma Lazarus: Voice of Liberty, Voice of Conscience exhibit at the Alvin Sherman Library.  

This guide also contains an introduction to the library's collection of works related to Emma Lazarus.

Emma Lazarus: Voice of Liberty, Voice of Conscience was developed by Nextbook, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Jewish literature, culture, and ideas, and the American Library Association Public Programs Office. The national tour of the exhibit has been made possible by grants from the Charles H. Revson Foundation, the Righteous Persons Foundation, the David Berg Foundation, and an anonymous donor, with additional support from Tablet Magazine: A New Read on Jewish Life.

The Alvin Sherman Library will host the traveling exhibition “Emma Lazarus: Voice of Liberty, Voice of Conscience” from December 28, 2011, through February 24, 2012.  This exhibition traces the life, work, and lasting influence of Lazarus, a fourth-generation American from a prominent Jewish family in New York City who is known for the iconic words of her 1883 poem, “The New Colossus.”

In addition to her new, progressive work as a poet, Lazarus was a tireless advocate for the poor, an early feminist, and a champion of immigrants and refugees. In the words of exhibit curator Esther Schor, “She showed America how to become more generous, more noble, and more just. Her passion for justice lives on whenever we Americans dedicate ourselves to welcoming immigrants, training and educating the poor, and celebrating diversity.”

Image:
Emma Lazarus, engraving by T. Johnson, from photograph by W. Kurtz for Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine.  Collection of The New-York Historical Society, Negative #58130

The Alvin Sherman Library is offering free programs and other events for the public in connection with the exhibition.

Emma Lazarus Exhibit Tour: Saturday, January 7,  2:00-3:00 pm

Take a tour of the exhibit with 'Emma Lazarus' and learn about her life and times highlighting her Jewish heritage, her early American roots, and her poetry and other writings.

Genealogy 101:  (1:00 -2:00 pm)

• January 10: Introduction to Genealogy Research  Lab A
• January 17: Where Did They Live? Using Online Map Tools. Lab A
• February 7: Finding your Caribbean Roots. Lab A
• February 21: Preserving Your Family Records. Lab B

Lunch & Learn Lecture Series: (Noon-1:00 pm)

• January 12: Who was Emma Lazarus? Talk by Nora Quinlan
• January 26: Mother of Exiles: The Statue of Liberty. Talk by Professor Tim Dixon.
• February 9: Jews in the New World: A History to 1865. Talk by Professor Gary Gershman.
• February 23: A Lock on the Golden Door: A History of U.S. Immigration Policy. Talk by Professor Tim Dixon.

Emma Lazarus Poetry Workshop

January 29, 2:00-4:00 pm: NSU Associate Lecturer Kate Ann Heidelbach discusses the work of poet Emma Lazarus including her famous sonnet 'The New Colossus', which is inscribed on the Statue of Liberty.

Genealogy Society of Broward County:

• February 5, 2:00-4:00 pm: Genealogy Research in Immigration Records: A presentation by Donna M. Moughty

Jewish Genealogy Society of Broward County:

• January 22, 1:00-3:00 pm: Navigating the World of Jewish Genealogy: A presentation by Jeffrey Miller
• NEW DATE! February 29, 7:00-9:00 pm: DNA and Jewish Genealogy. A presentation by Bennett Greenspan, President, Family Tree DNA