World War II caught on film

Susan Suarez, President & CEO

On the 77th anniversary of D-Day last month, we opened a special exhibit in the Estelle and Stuart Price Gallery. “Caught on Film: The Wartime Photography of Ken Regele and the U.S. Signal Corps” features unique images taken during World War II by members of the U.S. Signal Corps.

Charged with documenting all aspects of the war, the corps recorded life both on the battlefield and behind the scenes. While soldiers around them were fighting with weapons, the Signal Corps, armed only with cameras, completed their dangerous work.

How did the museum come to have these historic images? Through a donation from the late Southwest Florida resident and Signal Corps member, Ken Regele, who had brought two rolls of film home for safekeeping. Coming upon them again many years later, he offered to donate them to the museum. He wasn’t sure if there were any images on the film, but we were welcome to whatever might be there.

One roll was blank, but the other contained the rare wartime photos seen in “Caught on Film.” The exhibit runs through Sunday, October 17, 2021.

Summer programming

Join us later this month for a new Zoom program about “Caught on Film.” Curator Cody Rademacher will host a virtual tour of the exhibit, followed by a Q&A. Learn more about the unique WWII photographs on display from the Ken Regele Collection. This free program requires an RSVP to receive the Zoom link. Register from our website or email Info@HMCEC.org for more information.

Docent Stanley with museum visitors

During August, before school starts, we are offering specially scheduled “Teachers-Only Museum Tours” for Southwest Florida educators. All middle school, high school and college/ university-level teachers are welcome. In addition to the tour, we will provide updates on our student education programs available for in-school and online instruction as well as museum field trips. For more information on dates and to RSVP, please contact Director of Operations/Education Specialist Sam Parish at Sam@HMCEC.org.

Final details are being worked on for a summer “Discussions with Docents” Zoom program. It will be free of charge, with an RSVP required to receive the Zoom link. Please visit our website in late July for program details and to register.

“Caught on Film” exhibit intro panel

Private tours

Looking for a memorable summer experience for your family or friends? Why not start your day with a private tour of the museum? Private tours are offered for up to 15 people when the museum is closed to the public, allowing you to take your time. You have the option of touring with a docent or taking a self-guided tour. For more information, please contact David Nelson at David@HMCEC.org or call 239-263-9200, ext. 205.

Coming this fall

I am excited to announce that the museum will celebrate its 20th anniversary in November 2021! We have a wonderful schedule of special programming and events planned during the upcoming 2021-2022 season to honor this milestone.

The celebration kicks off Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, with our annual winter fundraising event, The Luncheon. It will be held in person at the new Arthrex One event center in North Naples from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event’s special program will be the premiere performance of the new short play, “Remember: The Abe Price Story.” Price was the Holocaust survivor to whom the students at Golden Gate Middle School dedicated their “Out of the Ashes” classroom project about the Holocaust. That project inspired the creation of our Museum.

Survivor Abe Price Photo credit: Erik Kellar Photography

The short play will be used to introduce middle school students to the subject of the Holocaust, just as “In Flight,” the play about Holocaust survivor Sabine van Dam, has been. “Remember: The Abe Price Story” was written by Jeffrey Binder and produced by Gulfshore Playhouse Founding and Producing Artistic

Director Kristen Coury and Managing Director Joel Markus. We will publish additional details about sponsorship packages and tickets for The Luncheon later this summer.

Volunteers needed

As we look at expanding our hours of operation later this summer and fall, we are currently in need of guest relations volunteers for the front desk. Duties include welcoming and assisting guests as they enter, processing ticket sales and book purchases, and explaining tour options. Training will be provided and museum staff is always available to help with questions. The time commitment is one afternoon per week from 1 to 4 p.m., Tuesdays through Sundays.

Our volunteers are important partners in our mission — to teach the lessons of the Holocaust to inspire action against bigotry, hatred and violence. We would love to have you join us! For more information, please contact Tim Morrison at Tim@HMCEC.org or 239-263-9200, ext. 207.

We wish you and your families a safe and healthy summer and hope to see you at the museum or on Zoom!