Holocaust Writer tells her story

Nov. 4, 2004
By Lisa M. Larranaga
Staff Writer

Students of Owen Rogal's Holocaust Literature class and Jon Stauff's history class got a break from the daily grind of college -- and they didn't even have to skip class.

Dr. Rogal, along with the help of Michael Hustedde and the Quad City Arts Center, grabbed the students' undivided attention by inviting Fern Schumer Chapman, the author of Motherland -- Beyond the Holocaust: A Mother-Daughter Journey to Reclaim the Past, to the classroom.

During the 50 minute presentation Chapman spoke to roughly 40 students to discuss her book and answer questions they may have.  Rogal's class had just finished discussing her book in class.

"I was thrilled to have her speak." Dr. Rogal said, "I think it's a very valuable experience for the students to have this opportunity."

After the plans to bring Chapman fell through a few times, the date of Oct. 20 was finalized.  Bringing Chapman to the Quad Cities was first discussed in the spring of 2002.  The English department's director of writing, Michael Hustedde, asked Chapman to come to the Quad Cities after SAU and the community showed interest.

In addition to her presentation with the two classes, Chapman had a  2 p.m. question and answer session in the University Center ballroom with 109 people.

"Every book is a creation of someone," Hustedde said, "We don't usually know the authors, but we do know their work.  (Bringing an author on campus) gives us an opportunity to know the work and the person."

Chapman toured the Quad Cities area, leading discussions at Augustana College, Tri-City Jewish Center, Davenport West High School, Quad City Arts and the Rock Island Public Library.

Chapman's book, Motherland, shows the impact the Holocaust had on Chapman's mother, how her mother's experience impacted her and the impact the two had on the German's when they traveled back to the country her mother fled as a young child.

Motherland was named as a Barnes & Noble "Discover New Great Writers" title, a National Jewish Book Awards finalist, and featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show.  Chapman was also named the 2004 Illinois Author of the Year by the Illinois Association of Teachers of English.

"She was a very engaging speaker," Hustedde said. "It's always interesting to see what people who read the book think it was about versus what the author intended it to be about."

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