Exhibit of Poles Saving Jews During World War II in Buffalo, February 1 - March 5

The Buffalo & Erie County Public Library and the Permanent Chair of Polish Culture at Canisius College join to present the Ulma Family Exhibit - The Good Samaritans of Markowa on display from February 1 to March 5, 2017 at the Central Library at 1 Lafayette Square, Buffalo 14203. A documentary relating to the topic of Righteous Gentiles, Mary Skinner’s award-winning Irena Sendler:  In the Name of Their Mothers and reception will be held on Sunday, February 12th at 2 p.m.  

The Ulma Family provided help to eight of their Jewish neighbors in Markowa. Joseph Ulma was an active participant in his community and an amateur photographer who documented family and town life. When the German military police discovered that the Ulmas were hiding Jews, they murdered the Ulma family, including six children and one to be born, and all of the Jews in hiding. In 1995, Joseph and Victoria Ulma were posthumously honored with the title, Righteous Among the Nations. The Vatican has also begun the beatification process for the Ulma Family. This Exhibit documents the family, their village life, and life and death under Nazi persecution.  

This Exhibit is offered to the Western New York community thanks to a bequest to the Polish Chair from Stanley Blake, a Polish resistance fighter who survived two concentration camps.  Mr. Blake also served in the US Army and was a well-known figure in the Polish Community.  

Library hours: 8:30 am – 6 p.m. Mon-Wed, Fri-Sat; 8:30 a.m.– 8 p.m on Thurs.; Noon – 5 p.m. on Sun.