Franklin College To Host Exhibit and Lecture on Japanese American Baptists During World War II
Franklin College will host A Resilient Faith: Japanese American Baptists During World War II, a traveling exhibit from the American Baptist Historical Society. The exhibit will be on display from Monday, March 2 through Friday, April 24, in B.F. Hamilton Library.
The exhibit explores the experiences of Japanese American Baptists during World War II, highlighting stories of faith, perseverance and community amid the forced confinement of Japanese Americans. Through historical materials and personal narratives, the exhibit offers visitors an opportunity to reflect on a pivotal chapter in American history and its lasting impact.
The exhibit will be free and open to the public in B.F. Hamilton Library during the following hours:
- Tuesdays: 2–4 p.m.
- Wednesdays: 10 a.m.–noon
- Fridays: 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
A free, public lecture will accompany the exhibit on Wednesday, March 19, at 7 p.m., in the Branigin Room at Franklin College. The program will feature Mitch Homma, a third-generation sansei, presenting “Faith-Based Perspectives: Japanese American Confinement During WWII & the Role of American Baptists.”
Attendees will have the opportunity to view the exhibit before and after the lecture, from 6–7 p.m. and following the program until 9 p.m. Registration for the lecture is encouraged and available at bit.ly/Resilient_Faith.
“Hosting A Resilient Faith and welcoming Mitch Homma reflects Franklin College's commitment to inclusive learning, civic reflection and engaged scholarship” said Jessica M. Mahoney, MLS, the College’s director of library services and assessment. “Leveraging the exhibit, lecture and library collections related to the American Baptist Churches of Indiana and Kentucky, the library is uniquely positioned to connect national stories to regional and institutional history, creating opportunities for student engagement and community dialogue through primary sources.”
A Resilient Faith is funded in part through the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Japanese American Confinement Grants Program. The March 19 special event is made possible through the generosity of Trustee Jim Napolitan, Ph.D. (HD ’12) and his wife, Sandy (Mock) Napolitan ’60, Ph.D.