Dr. David Woolner Serves as Advisor on New Ken Burns Documentary

Marist Professor Serves as Historical Advisor on New Ken Burns Holocaust Documentary. Via Vlada, Pexels

Marist Professor of History David Woolner recently served as a historical advisor for the new PBS film The U.S. and the Holocaust. The documentary is a three-part, six-hour series that examines America's role in one of the greatest humanitarian crises of the 20th century. 

“We like to think of ourselves as a nation that welcomes immigrants, but the reality is that during much of the 20th century and beyond, we have been consumed by xenophobia, much of it driven by racism and antisemitism,” Dr. Woolner said in a Marist press release.

The documentary was produced by Ken Burns, Lynn Novick and Sarah Botstein. Dr. Woolner got the opportunity to work on The U.S. and the Holocaust from his previous work as a historical advisor with Burns on a film called The Roosevelts: An Intimate History. 

“My colleagues and I have been making documentaries about America for more than 40 years,” Burns said in PBS Video. “Through eyewitness testimony from those who lived through it, we tell the story of our nation's response to one of the greatest tragedies in human history.”

The film was made during the COVID-19 pandemic, so Dr. Woolner conducted his work remotely. As a historical advisor for the film, Dr. Woolner got to see an early rendition of the documentary and provide feedback to Burns and his team. He also read the script for the film in order to thoroughly fact-check the information, add recommendations and reflect on the content. 

“Burns, Novick and Botstein offer us a more comprehensive look at how the US failure to allow more Jewish refugees into the country in the years prior to the Holocaust fits within the longer pattern of American history,” Dr. Woolner said.  

Discussions surrounding America’s role in the Holocaust have always been controversial. While some historians argue the United States did all it could under the circumstances, others believe the government could have done more to intervene and help refugees trying to escape Europe. 

At Marist, there are a variety of courses students can take regarding the Holocaust. Professor of History Dr. Michael E. O'Sullivan teaches a course called History of the Holocaust and devotes class time to discuss the role of the United States in the Holocaust. 

“The failure of the United States to accept more European Jews fleeing fascism during the 1930s resonates today,” Dr. O'Sullivan said. “The rise of radical right-wing threats to our democracy in the last decade is supported by similar xenophobic sentiments.” 

In the spring semester, O'Sullivan plans to use parts of the documentary for his History of the Holocaust course. When looking at the United States’ role in the Holocaust, O'Sullivan thought the documentary was successful in drawing comparisons to events in modern history, such as the rise of fascism in Europe and the January 6 insurrection in the United States. 

“The historic debates about how the United States could have done more to save Jews once the genocide of Jews began in 1941 have great relevance for how we think about humanitarian foreign policy in the modern world,” O'Sullivan said.

The series debuted on PBS on Sept. 18 and can be watched by having a membership or making a one-time donation. In many ways, The U.S. and the Holocaust documentary connects the past to the present with the goal to prevent a similar tragedy from ever happening again. 

“If you have not seen it, I would urge the entire Marist community to view this extraordinary documentary,” Dr. Woolner said. “It raises important questions, not only about America’s past, but also about the fragile nature of democracy, and our present willingness to respond to the all-too-frequent refugee crises that continue to plague humanity.”