What is known today as the Center for Basque Studies began four decades
ago as a remote possibility. This long-shot dream is today one of
the premier research institutes of Basque Studies in the world.
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The book chronicles the
history of the Center for Basque Studies, as remembered by many
of those who were most important in its foundation and
development.
It also offers much valuable information about the center’s
offspring, including the Basque Studies Library (the main
repository of information about all things Basque for the
English-speaking world), the Basque Book Series of the
University of Nevada Press (one of the most successful ethnic
series published by an academic press in the United States), and
the University Studies Abroad Consortium, (one of the largest
programs of its kind in the world.)
For more information visit:
http://oralhistory.unr.edu/books_detail_candle.asp |
The
year 2007 marks the 40th anniversary of the Center for
Basque Studies of the University of Nevada, Reno. This week (of May
2007) the CBS was honored by the State of Nevada Legislature with a
unanimously passed resolution that recognized this landmark achievement
and acknowledged the merit of their efforts in the investigation of
Basque culture.
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The Center for Basque
Studies was honored by the Nevada Legislature in a special
resolution that acknowledged their forty years of ongoing
research of Basque culture. |
A
framed copy of the resolution was presented to a delegation from the
Center headed by its director Gloria Toricaguena. Alongside her were
William A. Douglass, the original founder of the Center; Sandra Ott y
Xabier Irujo, current professors at the Center; Pedro Ibarra, current
visiting professor with his wife Carmen Oriol; Kate Camino,
administrative secretary; Carmelo Urza, director de USAC; Michonne
Ascuaga and Pete Ernaut of the advisory committee; Argitxu Camus
Etchecopar, doctoral student; and John Ascuaga, proprietor of the
Reno-Spark’s Nugget and CBS supporter.
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Jon
Bilbao and William A. Douglass were the original
founders of the Basque Studies Program that later became known
as the Center for Basque Studies.
The
collobroated on many projects, including the publication of the
seminal book Amerikanuak that spanned the history of the
Basques in the Americas. |
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The
text of the resolution recognized the Center for Basque Studies
for its efforts in investigating the role of Basques in the state of
Nevada, and furthermore as playing a central role in the investigation
of Basque culture around the world and the importance of the Basque
Library that began with a donation of 750 articles by the late
Robert Laxalt to this day with over 50,000 volumes of published
materials, photographs, oral histories, films, etc. Then the members
congratulated the CBS delegation with the statement Zorionak eta urte
askotarako, a wish that these forty good years will be followed by
many more.
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For more information about the Center for Basque Studies at the
University of Nevada, Reno visit
www.basque.unr.edu |
The CBS
is considered one of the most important institutes for the investigation
of Basque culture in the world. Its library holdings comprise one of
the largest outside of the Basque Country. The CBS began in 1961
originally as the Desert Research Institute with the possibility
that Basque culture might be a topic of investigation. This topic
naturally emerged from the presence of Basque sheepherders in Nevada and
throughout the high desert region. Thus the Desert Research Institute
became the Basque Studies Program (BSP) in 1967 under the direction of
the anthropologist William A. Douglass who counted with the
collaboration of noted Basque bibliographer Jon Bilbao. Several years
ago the name was changed to the Center for Basque Studies (CBS).
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Pictured here are some of the early instigators
of what began as the Desert Research Institute, that became the
Basque Studies Program, and today is known as the Center for
Basque Studies. |
SOURCE:
This story first appeared online at
www.euskalkultura.com
as two stories and is loosely translated here. For more
information about the Center for Basque Studies at the University of
Nevada, Reno visit
www.basque.unr.edu
