U-of-I recognizes books with links to the Holocaust

The University of Iowa Libraries are placing special plates inside books that once were confiscated by the Germans from Jews during the Holocaust. Edward Shreeves, the U-of-I Director of Special Collections, says the University acquired 60 volumes in 1951. The U-S Army tried to return confiscated property to its owner, but were unable to do so with these items and offered them to libraries in the U-S. Shreeves says the U-of-I collection is relatively modest. He says most of the books went to large libraries in the east. Shreeves says the U-of-I books were somewhat forgotten until the school received a letter from a federal commission that was conducting research on Holocaust items. The commission letter indicated the books had been sent to Iowa City. The letter led them to research and find the books. He says the bookplates will acknowledge the tragic history of these books. Shreeves says about half-a-million books were distributed to colleges across the country after the Army was unable to find their original owners.