Who we are

Our story begins with the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, the world-renowned organization dedicated to preserving the hiding place used by young diarist Anne Frank during World War II. It welcomes over 1.2 million visitors each year.

In the late 1980s, the Anne Frank House created the traveling exhibit “Anne Frank: A History for Today” to educate students and adults worldwide about Anne Frank’s life and legacy. It has traveled to over 80 countries in the succeeding decades.

By 2012, University of South Carolina associate professor Doyle Stevick, Ph.D. collaborated with the Anne Frank House to bring this exhibit to schools in South Carolina, launching a statewide volunteer effort involving students and teachers.

After ten years and a rising demand for exhibits about Anne Frank, the Anne Frank House managing director Ronald Leopold and the University of South Carolina then-president Harris Pasides announced a new partnership.

In 2021, the Anne Frank Center opened its doors as a new Holocaust education center with a dedicated museum, breakout rooms, and a small staff to coordinate the museum and its traveling exhibits across the United States and Canada.

It joins the Centro Ana Frank (Argentina), Anne Frank Zentrum (Germany) and the Anne Frank Trust (UK) as an official partner of the Anne Frank House.

To date, and in collaboration with local partners, the Anne Frank Center has reached 100,000+ students and adults through 750+ live programs in over 30 US states and counting. Its museum also provides guided-tours about the life of Anne Frank and has welcomed 15,000+ visitors.

Our Mission

We work to ensure each generation remembers the story of Anne Frank and the Holocaust, understands the threat of antisemitism and any form of bigotry, and is prepared to advocate for peace and justice in our world.

Our Values

To honor Anne Frank’s legacy and her father Otto Frank’s vision, we continually emphasize our common humanity, encourage cultural understanding, and promote open dialogue so that we can all learn to live peacefully together in a free society.

We offer a wide-range of programs for students, educators, and communities across the United States and Canada.

• Traveling exhibitions and peer guide trainings ideal for middle and high schools

• Specialized trainings for educators and administrators

• Museum tours for anyone ages 12 and up

• International youth network for student leaders

• Professional development seminars for law enforcement, community centers, non-profits, and corporate audiences

• Virtual programs for classrooms, community centers, and beyond

The Anne Frank Center is a unit within the University of South Carolina, a publicly-funded institution. We receive funding primarily from the State of South Carolina, a supplement from the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, and through contributions from visitors and supporters.

If you would like to support the Anne Frank Center, donations are welcome!