Wiener Library Researcher Claire Wimbush Visits Center Through International Bilateral Exchange Program

In March 2026, the USC Dornsife Center for Advanced Genocide Research hosted Claire Wimbush, Archive Researcher for the International Tracing Service (ITS) at The Wiener Holocaust Library in London, as part of the European Network for Countering Antisemitism through Education (ENCATE) Bilateral Exchange Program.

The ENCATE Bilateral Exchange Program supports knowledge exchange between organizations working on Holocaust history, antisemitism, and public education. Wimbush was awarded a competitive grant through the program and selected the USC Dornsife Center for Advanced Genocide Research as her host institution to facilitate an intensive week of professional exchange focused on archival practices, public engagement, research, and educational programming. The exchange sought to deepen both institutions’ understanding of approaches to working with marginalized histories of the Holocaust and genocide while sharing methodologies for archival research, outreach, and community engagement

During her visit, Wimbush met with Center staff and fellows to discuss the Center’s scholarly programs, USC archival resources, and approaches to genocide research. She also visited USC Special Collections, the USC Shoah Foundation, and local cultural institutions, including Villa Aurora and the Wende Museum. In addition, she attended lectures by Center-affiliated scholars and met with USC graduate students, providing opportunities to exchange ideas across disciplines and institutions.

A central component of the exchange was the opportunity for both organizations to share experiences in making Holocaust and genocide archives more accessible and meaningful to researchers, students, and the public. Discussions explored exhibition development, educational initiatives, community-centered programming, and the ethical considerations involved in working with survivor testimonies and other historical materials. Center staff learned about The Wiener Holocaust Library’s innovative Roma and Sinti Community Curators Programme, prompting conversations about expanding public engagement and developing more socially engaged approaches to archival work.

The visit strengthened the relationship between the two institutions and established a foundation for continued collaboration and knowledge sharing. Since completing the exchange, Wimbush has joined the USC Dornsife Center for Advanced Genocide Research as a remote Visiting Scholar, where she is engaging with Guatemalan genocide survivor testimonies in the Visual History Archive.