Jella Lepman’s traveling book exhibitions in after World War II Germany (1946-1949)

Historicaleducational studies still lack an indepth analysis of exhibitions and shows. However, thanks to the blend of visual, textual, material and structural aspects that account for the hybrid nature of these events, they have the power to affect significantly the systems, policies, and the educational and cultural practices of the context in which they take place, by defining and modifying the collective imagination of the audience. In the aftermath of the second world conflict, the Allies’ effort to liberate Western Europe from totalitarianisms relied on weaving a cultural fabric around democratic values: exhibitions proved useful for such task. The promotion of reading amongst the wider public and the reconstruction of public libraries registered ongoing changes in the habits and needs of European readers. It is on these grounds that Jella Lepman (18911970), writer and journalist, set up in Germany her traveling exhibitions of international children’s books, from 1946 to 1949. The propelling visionary force of her project lied in the ability to give concreteness to the effort of educating young Germans to the new democratic and pacifist values: through books as “messengers of peace”, connections among very different cultural experiences could be built. The present research aims to reconstruct the history of Jella Lepman’s exhibitions by analysing the quantitative and qualitative data regarding the works displayed as well as the available information on the impact these endeavours had on young visitors. The archival collection stored at Munich’s Jugendbibliothek shows how extraordinarily modern the choices of the exhibiting materials and of the educational projects were ranging from puppets to shadow play and loud readings, among others. In addition, the analysis of the archival material allows to understand the educational choices taken in order to invite children to engage with the books displayed, in spaces specifically tailored for them. Jella Lepman’s traveling exhibitions laid the foundations for Munich’s Jugendbibliothek in 1949. They constituted a landmark showing how culture might become an experience to be lived, to share values and dialogue with other cultures, making young readers protagonists in Europe’s process of democratic renewal beyond nationalisms.