April 18, 2005
UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM WEB SITE NOMINATED FOR WEBBY AWARD
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Web site, “Silent Witness: The Story of Lola Rein and Her Dress,” has been nominated for a Webby Award in the Cultural Institution category. Webby Awards recognize outstanding Web sites, evaluating them on design, creativity, usability, and functionality. Winners will be announced on May 3, 2005, and be honored at the Ninth Annual Webby Awards in New York City on June 6th. The Webby Awards are determined by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences.
The “Silent Witness” Web site tells the story of Lola Rein, of Czortkow, Poland, whose grandmother arranged for her to be hidden during the Holocaust. For seven months, eight-year-old Lola hid in a hole beneath a barn with 3 other Jews. Her only possession was an embroidered dress her mother had made for her. In 2002, Lola donated it to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Visitors to the site hear Lola tell her remarkable story in her own words. They can also examine Lola’s dress and learn about how the Museum conserved it. Lola’s story can be found at http://www.ushmm.org/silentwitness.
“The Web provides us new ways to preserve and present Holocaust history and introduce millions of people worldwide to Lola and her incredible story of survival,” says Lawrence Swiader, the Museum’s Director of Outreach Technology. “Her dress stands as a silent witness to the most vulnerable of the Holocaust’s victims—children.”
As a nominee for a Webby Award, “Silent Witness” is also eligible to win a People’s Voice Award. Voting is open to the public from April 12th to April 29th at http://www.webbyawards.com/peoplesvoice. The Ninth Annual Webby Awards received more than 4,000 entries from more than 40 countries and all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
A public-private partnership, the Museum is a Federal institution whose educational activities and outreach are made possible through private donations. More than 250,000 individuals, foundations and corporations helped build the institution and currently support its programs and operations. For more information, visit www.ushmm.org.
