Ingrid Carlberg, author of a comprehensive biography of Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish architect, humanitarian and U-M graduate, will present the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning’s annual Wallenberg Lecture. It is at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in Room 100 of the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library.
Carlberg’s book is titled, “There is a room waiting for you here …” It is being translated into English for publication in the United States. Wallenberg was a Swedish national and 1935 College of Architecture graduate. He became a Swedish diplomat and was sent on a rescue mission in 1944 to Budapest, Hungary, at the request of Jewish organizations and the American War Refugee Board.
Over six months, Wallenberg issued thousands of protective passports and placed thousands of Jews in safe houses throughout the besieged city. He confronted Hungarian and German forces to secure the release of Jews who he claimed were under Swedish protection, saving more than 100,000 lives.
Carlberg is a freelance journalist and author. From 1990-2010 she was an award-winning investigative reporter for the leading Swedish daily newspaper, Dagens Nyheter. Her book on Wallenberg won the August Prize, awarded to the best nonfiction book of the year in Sweden. She is a visiting professor of journalism at the University of Gothenburg.
At 4 p.m. following the talk, a related exhibit opens in the Art Lounge of the Michigan Union: “To me there’s no other choice — Raoul Wallenberg 1912-2012.” The exhibit opening will be followed by a reception.
