New-York Historical Society Reports

Madeleine Albright, Ken Follett, Charles Osgood, Robert Morgenthau, Tom Brokaw, George Lucas, and Adam Gopnik to Cast New Light On WWII During the New-York Historical Society’s Fall Film and Discussion Series




WHAT: The New-York Historical Society will present the exhibition WWII & NYC (on view October 5, 2012 – May 27, 2013), which will explore the most widespread, destructive, and consequential conflict in history through the lens of New York, telling the stories of the 800,000 New Yorkers who served and the sacrifices of those on the home front. New-York Historical will become the city’s headquarters for WWII programming this fall with a major exhibition, programs, and special displays all related to the historic event.



In conjunction with WWII & NYC, New-York Historical will host a number of public programs related to the exhibition, with highlights to include:



world-renowned novelist Ken Follett discussing his latest book, Winter of the World, with CBS Sunday News and CBS Radio anchor Charles Osgood on Tuesday, September 18 at 6:30 pm. Follett’s new novel, the second in the Century Trilogy following Fall of Giants, chronicles the experiences of five interrelated families living in a time of social, political, and economic turmoil in the 1930s and 1940s, with special focus on the events leading up to and during WWII.



a dance class with Pierre Dulaine Dancing Classrooms to learn the Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, and other swing-style dances that were popular in American culture and spread widely during the WWII period on Friday, October 5 at 6 pm.



a film series presented in conjunction with the exhibition, featuring a special showing of Double Victory (2012) by George Lucas about the legendary Tuskegee Airmen of WWII, the first African-American aerial unit. George Lucas, Roscoe Brown, and Brent Staples will speak at the screening on Friday, October 26 at 7 pm.



Robert M. Morgenthau sharing his remarkable life experiences during WWII with legendary newsman Tom Brokaw on Tuesday, December 11 at 6:30 pm. The grandson of the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey at the outbreak of WWI and the son of FDR’s Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. Morgenthau began his own journey to prominence on the decks of naval destroyers during WWII and later served nine terms as New York District Attorney.



The Instrument of Surrender, on view at New-York Historical from September 21–October 21, 2012. One of only twenty copies made of the United States’ signed original formal surrender document officially marking Japan’s surrender to the Allies on September 2, 1945, that ended WWII. The Instrument of Surrender was last shown in New York in 1945. Other rarely exhibited documents to be shown in rotation include Four Freedoms posters (October 10, 2012 – December 2, 2012) and a Longfellow poem (December 7, 2012 – January 1, 2013).



WHERE: The New-York Historical Society

170 Central Park West (at Richard Gilder Way, 77th Street)

New York, NY 10024



WHEN: WWII & NYC will be displayed October 5, 2012 to May 27, 2013. See dates above for public programs and rare documents on exhibition.



HOURS AND ADMISSION

Tuesday – Thursday, Saturday 10am-6pm

Friday 10am-8pm (6-8pm pay-as-you-wish)

Sunday 11am-5pm

Adults: $15

Seniors: $12

Students: $10

Kids 5-13: $5 (under 5 FREE)



About the New-York Historical Society

New-York Historical is recognized for engaging the public with deeply researched and far-ranging exhibitions, such as Alexander Hamilton: The Man Who Made Modern America; Slavery in New York; Nature and the American Vision: The Hudson River School at the New-York Historical Society; Grant and Lee in War and Peace; and the 2009 exhibition Lincoln and New York. Supporting these exhibitions and related education programs are one of the world’s greatest collections of historical artifacts, works of American art, and other materials documenting the history of the United States and New York.



MEDIA CONTACT

Laura Washington / New-York Historical Society

lwashington@nyhistory.org / (212) 873-3400 x263



Sarah Buffum / Arts & Communications Counselors

buffums@ruderfinn.com / (212) 715-1594