MEDIA CONTACT: Terri Berns
561-297-1164, tberns@fau.edu
FAU Libraries to Present a Lecture by Dr. Patricia Kollander on Her New Book "'I Must Be a Part of This War' - A German American's Fight Against Hitler and Nazism"
The Third Lecture of a Series Sponsored by the K. Frank Korf and Rita Korf Collection Endowed Fund
BOCA RATON, FL (January 27, 2006) -- Florida Atlantic University Libraries announces the third lecture of the biannual K. Frank and Rita Korf Lecture Series, "'I Must be a Part of this War' - The Story of K. Frank Korf and German Émigrés who Fought Hitler in World War II," featuring Dr. Patricia Kollander, FAU history professor,. She will discuss her new book "'I Must Be a Part of This War' - A German American's Fight Against Hitler and Nazism." It is about her ongoing research into the experiences of some thirty thousand native-born Germans who served in the U.S. Army during World War II. The lecture will be on Thursday, February 9 at 4 p.m., at FAU's University Center, Live Oak Pavilion - Room D, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton. It is free and open to the public. Mrs. Rita Korf will attend the lecture.
"We are fortunate to have Patricia Kollander, who worked with Frank Korf intensively before his death and edited his materials, as our speaker this year. Patricia brings a rich understanding of the Korf lectureship's purpose and great subject knowledge of the time period," said Dr. William Miller, director of FAU Libraries.
The Korfs donated their papers and memorabilia to the FAU Libraries, creating the K. Frank and Rita Korf Collection Endowed Fund, which provides for guest speakers who are scholars whose research touches on the areas important to Mr. Korf's life, including World War II, Germany in the 1920s and 1930s, German immigration to the United States and much more. These lectures, in addition to their intrinsic value, are to call attention to the Korf Collection and increase its use. The endowment also provides for acquisition of books, microfilm collections, electronic equipment and other materials, and offers stipends to assist researchers, particularly graduate students.
"K. Frank Korf was a fascinating person. He witnessed some of the greatest events of the twentieth century and rubbed elbows with people who instigated them. Korf and other German émigrés like him also played an important role in the struggle against Hitler and Nazism," said Kollander. "Korf's remarkable experiences and memories make a great contribution to our understanding of this period, and also provide important insight into contributions of German-Americans to the war effort in general and the American experience in particular."
Kollander has a master's and Ph.D. in history from Brown University, and is an associate professor of history at FAU. She specializes in modern German political and diplomatic history. Kollander's publications include her first book, "Frederick III: Germany's Liberal Emperor," and numerous scholarly articles and book chapters.
John O'Sullivan (1939-2000), professor of history and chair of the History Department at FAU, initiated research on the Korf project in 1999. After O'Sullivan's death in 2000, Kollander completed research on the project and wrote the manuscript of the book.
For additional information, call 561-297-1164 or email tberns@fau.edu.
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