By Sadie Currie

After wrapping up a traveling exhibit from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum earlier this year, staff at Carmichael Library began working on a new project to highlight a major moment in world history. This fall, the University of Montevallo hosted an exhibit and lecture series to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in the Pacific, which officially ended with Japan’s surrender on September 2, 1945, aboard the USS Missouri. 

The idea came from University Archivist Carey Heatherly, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Dr. Ruth Truss, and Professor Emeritus of History Dr. Wilson Fallin Jr. With support from UM alumni Michael and Donna Grainger, the team spent the summer preparing the exhibit and lining up speakers. 

The event included three lectures and a museum-style exhibit in Carmichael Library, which drew a mix of students, faculty, alumni, and community members. Each lecture had at least 40 people in attendance, and the exhibit saw regular visitors throughout its run. 

The first lecture featured Henry Sledge, son of the late Dr. Eugene Sledge, a former UM professor and author of With the Old Breed. In conversation with Dr. Truss, he shares stories from his own book. Such in which includes personal memories and never-before-published writings from his father. 

Dr. Clark Hultquist, Chair of the History Department, gave the second lecture, focusing on Japan in the 1930s. He talked about how economic struggles and political instability led to the rise of military leadership and eventually war. He also talked about various voices in Japan who opposed the conflict, which are often overshadowed. 

The final lecture came from Dean Truss, who spoke about the American military campaign in the Pacific and the profound impact of victory. She then focuses on the strategies used to end the war and the toll it took on those who served. 

The exhibit itself included four main sections: Japan in the 1930s, Eugene Sledge’s wartime experience, Alabama College during the war, and the broader U.S. role in the Pacific. It stayed up throughout the fall and drew steady attention from the campus and local community. 

This project shows how global history connects with local stories. Thanks to support from many including the alumni, faculty and students, this exhibit offered a memorable way to reflect on the legacy of one of the most significant events of the 20th century.