10
I O
T R I U M P H E A R O U N D
C A M P U S
G. BROWNELL PHOTO
Schindler plaque dedicated in Krakow, Poland A bronze plaque—the creation of Albion College students in 2001—commemorating the factory where Oskar Schindler saved dozens of Jews during World War II was dedicated in a ceremony in Krakow, Poland, Oct. 27. Albion College alumna and Newsweek reporter Ginanne Brownell, ’93, represented the College and read a statement by President Peter Mitchell, ’67. The plaque was first brought to Poland by Albion students and faculty in May 2001, when it was handed over to the Krakow Jewish community. The plaque sat in the Krakow Jewish center building until its dedication. Brownell’s first-person account of the Oct. 27 dedication ceremony appears below. Both Reuters news service and Associated Press (International) covered the event. The original story behind 2001 graduate Zachary Kleinsasser’s creation of the plaque can be found at: www.albion.edu/alumni/io/ Summer01/.
By Ginanne Brownell, ’93 Sometimes what starts out as a good deed can become a bad headache. Such is the case of the factory at 4 Lipowa Street in Krakow, Poland. Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the touristy old town, the building itself is unexceptional, but to those familiar with Steven Spielberg’s Oscarwinning movie Schindler’s List, this place is anything but ordinary. During World War II Oskar Schindler employed hundreds of Jews
at the building, saving them from being sent to death camps like nearby Auschwitz. While touring the area back in 1999, some students and faculty from Albion College noticed that there was nothing on the abandoned factory’s exterior that denoted its importance. One of the students, Zack Kleinsasser, ’01, undertook to correct this glaring historical omission. Students and faculty spent two years raising more than $3,000 to have a plaque made. With verbal encouragement from Spielberg and armed with all the correct permissions and permits, some of the original do-gooders returned in May 2001 to present the plaque to the members of Krakow’s Jewish community. The problem was, no one ever organized how to actually get the plaque put on the building and the hoped-for plaque dedication became a case of international miscommunication. There was speculation from the American camp that the plaque, which was housed in a storage room at the Center for Jewish Culture in Krakow, might have created a difficult situation for the community because it was honoring a German—and a Nazi. “Maybe we unintentionally put them in an awkward position, but not a word was ever said to imply that,” said Geoffrey Cocks, a history professor at Albion and a facilitator of the project. Joachim Russek, director of the cultural center, says it was not historic wounds, but rather disorganization that delayed the plaque’s installation. The idea “was a noble one,” but it has taken a long time coming to fruition, said Russek. “They came with this beautiful plaque, took some pictures, and they left. So what were we supposed to do, just get some guy with a screwdriver to fix it on the crumbling wall?”
Well, “that guy with the screwdriver” has finally—after four years and lots of international correspondence—come; on Oct. 27 the plaque was unveiled, affixed to what is now the official home of the newly established Oskar Schindler Foundation. Turns out that one of the problems in getting the plaque up had to do with recent Polish history; since the end of the Cold War, properties have had to be privatized by the government and Lipowa Street had been caught up in the red tape of new democracy. KCI Group, the company that has purchased the factory and surrounding buildings, has decided to develop and revitalize the whole area where the factory is located. The dedication was held on a cold and blustery Michigan-like fall day with local VIPs such as the city’s mayor and parliament members shivering outside during the dedication. KCI’s CEO introduced the plaque, giving a brief history, in Polish, about how the plaque had ended up in the city. As the Albion College representative to the ceremony, I read a short speech on behalf of the College, saying how Albion’s students and faculty were pleased to be a part of Krakow’s historical memory, and then I uncovered the plaque. Afterwards, as I walked through the factory that will house a film viewing hall, an archival photo exhibition and a state-of-the-art concert and lecture hall, various members of the Krakow community came up to me and told me how pleased they were that the plaque had finally been put up. Niusia Krakulska, one of the two remaining “Schindler Jews” who still lives in Krakow, said, “It was a shame that the lovely plaque was getting dusty in the center for two years, and I am happy today to see it has gone on the factory finally.” It looks like the red tape and good intentions might finally be paying off.
A plaque that was created by Albion students in 2001 to mark a historic site in Krakow, Poland has finally completed its long journey. The plaque, which commemorates the factory where Oskar Schindler saved dozens of Jews during World War II, was installed at the site in October. The former factory is now the official home of the newly established Oskar Schindler Foundation and will contain exhibition space and lecture halls.
D. TRUMPIE PHOTO
Two Midlanders receive Briton Medallion Two pillars of the Midland community, Ruth Putnam Caldwell, ’38, and Mildred Plate Putnam, ’41, were honored during a “Celebrate Albion” dinner program in their home city Dec. 4. Each received the Briton Medallion, established in 2002 by the Albion College Board of Trustees to recognize significant and sustained contributions to the College through financial support or volunteer service, commitment and advocacy. Over the past six decades, Caldwell and Putnam have supported charitable, educational and arts organizations throughout the Midland community. “You would be hard-pressed to find anyone in Midland whose life hasn’t been touched in some way by Ruth Caldwell and Mildred Putnam,” said President Peter Mitchell, ’67, in presenting the awards. “When there’s a need to be addressed, you likely will find one or both of these esteemed ladies working quietly behind the scenes to provide assistance.” Caldwell is currently an honorary life member of the board of Open Door, an ecumenical Christian ministry serving the Midland area’s neediest citizens. During her active service on the Open Door board, she oversaw a 300 percent growth in the soup kitchen ministry.
Lifelong members of Memorial Presbyterian Church in Midland, Putnam and Caldwell were heavily involved in that church’s effort to establish Eagle Village, an outreach facility for troubled children and youth. Putnam has been a church elder for many years, and recently established the Sheldon Putnam memorial scholarship, which will support higher education for the church’s youth members. In addition, both women are active in Chapter CZ of the P.E.O. Sisterhood. “Ruth and Mildred’s pride in and affection for Albion College are no less evident,” Mitchell noted. “They have been lifelong supporters of the College, encouraging many Midland-area students to enroll and assisting with the funding for numerous building and endowment projects.” Caldwell and her husband, William, are the parents of three children: Patricia Caldwell Sutton, ’70, David Caldwell, and Richard Caldwell. Their grandchildren include Tiffany Caldwell, ’99, and Richard Caldwell, ’01. Putnam’s late husband, Sheldon, graduated with her in the class of 1941, and their four children are all Albion alumni, including John Putnam, ’67, Charleen Putnam Lester, ’69,
In December, Mildred Plate Putnam, ’41, and Ruth Putnam Caldwell, ’38, were presented with the Briton Medallion in recognition of their exemplary service to Albion College and their home community of Midland. Some 175 alumni, parents and friends from the Saginaw/Bay City/ Midland area were on hand for the occasion. Ruth Putnam, ’70, and Barbara Putnam Smith, ’74. Her grandchildren include Christine Putnam, ’01, and Lauren Putnam, ’06. Previous Briton Medallion recipients are: William Anderson, ’37, of San Antonio, Tex.;
Roy Karro, of Detroit, Mich.; Thomas Schwaderer, ’56, of Grand Rapids, Mich.; Joyce Ferguson, of Armonk, N.Y.; and William Stoffer, ’74, of Albion.