Museums to show WWII exhibits Six community museums in Louisiana will host Produce for Victory, a traveling exhibition of life scenes on the American home front during World War II, announces the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. The exhibit features reproductions of 26 war posters from the collections of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History, as well as period artifacts and photographs that tell the story of how America mobilized its human and natural resources for the war overseas. The exhibit will spend six weeks at each of the six sites in Louisiana, and each town has planned special programs to coincide with the exhibit. The schedule, and special local programs, is: October 15-November 23, 2001 - Homer, Louisiana, Herbert S. Ford Museum 519 S. Main street; information, 318-927-9190. A "taste" of home front life will include a presentation, Uncle Sam and Spam, where the food rationing system during World War II will be explained and demonstrated. December 3, 2001 - January 22, 2002 - Tallulah, Louisiana, Hermoine Museum, 315 N. Mulberry; information, 318-574-0082. Special guest will be Dr. William Bird, curator and designer of the Produce for Victory exhibit, and curator at the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. January 21 - March 1, 2002 - Franklinton, Louisiana, Varnado Store Museum, 936 Pearl Street; information, 985-795-0680. History of WWII will be celebrated, including the Washington Parish Fair Oct. 17-20, themed "Saluting the Spirit of WWII." March 11-April 19, 2002 - Winnfield, Louisiana, The Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame; 499 East Main; information, 318-628-5928. The Museum has partnered with local historical societies and the Northwestern State University to produce two documentary videos, "We Did It, and We Can Do It Again: Life on the Home Front in Winn Parish,' and "The Story of the Louisiana Military Maneuvers." April 29-June 7, 2002 - Jennings, Louisiana, Zigler Museum, 411 Clara Street; information, 337-824-0114. Special programming is being planned around the stories of Louisiana's minority groups during the war: The Americanization of the Cajuns, Double V for Victory, The African American Experience During WWII, The Coushatta Indians, and The Changing Role of Women during the War. June 17 - July 26, 2002 - Port Allen, Louisiana, The West Baton Rouge Museum; information, 225-336-2422. The Museum will host a six-part film and lecture series on 1940s Hollywood propaganda films, "That Hamilton Woman," "Desperate Journey," "Mrs. Miniver," "Tender Comrade," "Days of Glory," and "The Best Years of Our Lives." |