"VISAS to SHANGHAI" is the little known story of Chinese diplomat Feng-Shan Ho who while in Vienna saved thousands of Jewish refugees during the Holocaust by issuing them visas to Shanghai without requiring documents. The refugee only had to purchase a travel ticket to China. Ho planned to offer this safe travel to Shanghai as a resting point until they could get to England, Palestine or the United States.  The book also describes the conflict between Japan and China which began in the early 1930's. Holden, a lifelong educator, has told the story of this tragic period in history in a clear and interesting manner.
 
On a lighter note, Holden will sign his "Images of America" collection of photographs and historical information about "Upper Township and Its Ten Villages."  This is the most complete, and possibly the only, history book about the area founded by John Townsend in 1798.
 
Robert Holden began his teaching career at the Ocean City Intermediate School in 1975 after graduating from Kutztown State College in Pennsylvania.  He taught self-contained fourth grade for seven years and then started and taught the gifted/talented program (PACE Creative Program) for the balance of his career, retiring in 2006.  Holden received his Masters Degree in Elementary School Supervision from then Glassboro State College in 1983.  A year before, he created a well-received course about the Holocaust for his seventh grade gifted students.  Holden, in 1997, attended a Holocaust studies trip to Europe and Israel, which included major Holocaust sites.  Holden traveled, along with 15 Canadian teachers, to China to learn about Japanese aggression against the Chinese during World War II.  In addition, Holden taught courses about the Holocaust and Genocide studies at the Trocki Hebrew Academy, formerly in Egg Harbor Township.