HOUSTON, TX (May 10, 2005) - Lessons learned from a century of genocide will be the focus of a public lecture by a senior official of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum on Thursday, May 26 at Holocaust Museum Houston.

William S. Parsons, chief of staff of the Washington, D.C., museum will present "Remembering the Past for the Sake of the Future" at 7 p.m. at Holocaust Museum Houston, 5401 Caroline St. The event is cosponsored by the Armenian National Committee of Texas.

Parsons will focus on the theme of his recent book Century of Genocide: Critical Essays and Eyewitness Accounts, which outlines a history of genocide that has resulted from individuals, groups and nations finding reasons not to act to prevent the slaughter of innocent people.

In his book, Parsons points out that 90 years ago the world was incapable of preventing the Ottoman government from carrying out its policy of removal and annihilation of its Armenian population. Today, he notes, the world is still faced with the question of whether or not the people of Darfur in the Sudan will survive.

Before becoming chief of staff for the Washington museum, Parsons served as its director of education and was responsible for developing educational programs for delivery throughout the nation. For the past 30 years, he has been involved in writing, speaking and creating programs that advance public awareness and knowledge about the Holocaust and genocide and the implications of history for the world today.

He is a co-founder of the Massachusetts-based Facing History and Ourselves National Foundation, Inc., and his published works include: Facing History and Ourselves: Holocaust and Human Behavior (co-author, 1982); The African Meeting House: A Sourcebook (co-author, 1988); Everyone's Not Here: Families of the Armenian Genocide, A Study Guide (1989); Century of Genocide: Essays and Eyewitness Accounts (co-editor, 2004).

Parsons has a bachelor of arts degree in history from Cornell College and master's degree in teaching from the University of Wisconsin. In 2002, he received the Distinguished Achievement Award from Cornell College for his career work in Holocaust and genocide education.

Holocaust Museum Houston is an education center and living memorial dedicated to teaching the dangers of hate, prejudice and apathy against the backdrop of the Holocaust by fostering remembrance and education. The museum's Morgan Family Center is free and open to the public every day and is located in Houston's Museum District at 5401 Caroline St.