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History II
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History II: Basque Studies Program
1982-1987
by William A. Douglass
From The Basque Studies Program Newsletter,
no. 36, Nov. 1987
In the May 1983 issue (number 27) of this Newsletter
we published an article summarizing the Basque Studies
Program’s first fifteen years of activity since its
inception in 1967. This June the Program celebrated its
twentieth anniversary. The accomplishments over the past
five years represent more than simply a continuation of
previous initiatives, rather, in many respects, the BSP has
matured and entered an entirely new phase of its
development.
The Library Collection - The heart and soul of
any serious academic program is its library. Therefore, from
the outset we have placed first priority upon the
acquisition of as much Basque-related library material as
possible. Throughout our formative years, this effort was
directed by Professor Emeritus Jon Bilbao, the world’s
leading Basque bibliographer. It required an elaborate
strategy. First, it was necessary to develop channels with
book dealers, agencies, and institutions in the Basque
Country to ensure that we received all new publications.
This was not as simple as it might appear since a great deal
of important published material (e.g., reports, official
documents, private imprints) are not distributed widely or
commercially. Second, it was necessary to acquire
out-of-print items on an ad hoc basis.This meant exchanging
duplicates with other libraries, acquiring private
collections as they became available and establishing
credibility with an extensive network of used book dealers
in Europe and Latin America. Third, it was necessary to
institute microfilming of rare of otherwise inaccessible
material. Fourth, we began to collect unpublished material
such as photographs, tape recorded oral histories, letters,
diaries, and personal memorabilia. Much of this material was
donated to our collection by private parties interested in
its preservation for posterity.
Under Jon Bilbao’s guidance, the collection
expanded at a rate of approximately 1,000 items per year. In
recognition of its growing importance, the University of
Nevada library assigned 1% of its total book budget to the
acquisition of Basque books. The spectacular growth was not,
however, without its problems. The collection required
adequate space as well as proper cataloguing and care. While
the space problem was resolved when the BSP received its own
quarters in a new annex of the University library, the
custodial problems were more difficult. Until recently,
neither the BSP nor the University Library was able to
afford proper staffing of the collection. There were
sporadic attempts by the regular library staff to catalogue
some of the books. The day-to-day management of the library
was handled on a part-time basis by the BSP classified and
professional staff, and by an ever-changing group of student
employees. However, much of the effort was stopgap in
nature. The situation seemed to worsen progressively as the
collection continued to grow.
By the mid-1980s, it was apparent to the Director of
the University Library, as well as the University
administration, that the Basque collection required
immediate assistance. Therefore, in 1986 a Basque Studies
Librarian was given top priority within the request for new
positions in the support staff category of the
University’s budget. It was funded and we were able to
secure the services of an outstanding candidate, Maria
Otero-Boisvert. During the past eighteen months she has
taken firm control of the collection and provided it with
the professional care that was sorely lacking. As a result
of her efforts, the funds available for Basque books have
been doubled to 2% of the total University book
budget.
In sum, through the past efforts and dedication of
former staff, we were able to establish a major collection
of Basque materials, which continues to attract scholars
from around the world. The Interlibrary Loan system provides
users from throughout the United States with access to its
resources even when unable to travel to Reno. The rate of
acquisition of new materials is accelerating and management
of the collection is now in capable hands. The future of the
Basque library at UNR appears very
bright.
Visiting Scholars - The dramatic growth of
academic activity in the Basque Country, and particularly
the emergence of the Basque University, made it increasingly
evident that the BSP had to develop stronger ties with
European colleagues if it was to remain relevant within the
field of Basque Studies. Consequently, over the past five
years we have encouraged the residency in Reno of several
colleagues from the University of the Basque Country.
Anthropologist Joseba Zulaika has completed three residences
with the BSP totaling almost two years in duration. He has
taught one seminar and prepared a manuscript on Basque
political violence for publication in our Basque Book
Series. Anthropologist Teresa del Valle spent one year in
Reno writing a book and teaching a seminar on Old World
Basque Culture. Legal historian Gregorio Monreal spent one
year in residence researching a book and several articles on
Basque legal history. José Antonio Garmendia of the
University of Madrid spent one semester teaching a course on
Basque nationalism and conducting library research in
industrial sociology.
We also instituted a plan to provide qualified Basque
scholars with summer stipends of up to $1,000 in order to
permit them to spend time with BSP staff and the library
collection. To date, the visitors have included historian
Vicente Garmendia (University of Bordeaux); journalist
Inés Valdeón of Bilbao; historian José
Luis Granja (University of the Basque Country-Lejona);
economist Baleren Bakaikoa (University of the Basque
Country-Zorroaga); political scientist Pierre Bidart
(University of Pau); anthropologist Lourdes Mendez
(University of the Basque Country-Lejona); linguist Eusebio
Osa (University of the Basque Country-Vitoria);
anthropologist Begoña Amezaga (University of the
Basque Country and Princeton University); literature
specialist Mari Eli Zorriqueta; historian Koldo
Larrañaga (University of the Basque Country-Vitoria);
sociologist Alfonso Pérez Agote (University of the
Basque Country-Lejona); historian Román Basurto
(University of the Basque Country-Lejona); political
scientist Jasone Astola (University of the Basque
Country-Lejona); and novelist Laura Mintegi (University of
the Basque Country-Lejona).
The visiting scholar program is a prime means of
creating bridges between European and US Basque specialists,
while maximizing the use of our library collection. It is
our intention to continue it and to broaden its
scope.
University Studies in the Basque Country
Consortium - Five years ago the BSP, in collaboration
with Basque scholars at Boise State University, launched
summer, semester, and year-long courses of study in the
Basque Country. The following year the University of Nevada
Las Vegas joined the UNR-BSU consortium with the fourth
member, the University of Iowa, affiliating this year.
Subsequently, Xavier University and Randolph Macon
University have worked with the Consortium as well. The
prime objective of the Consortium is to provide American
students with a quality study abroad experience in the
Basque Country. Consequently, the main focus has been at the
San Sebastián campuses of the University of the
Basque Country. There students are taught panic-related
courses (language, history, culture, cuisine, etc.) by both
Basque University and visiting professors drawn from the
participating American universities. A second campus was
later established at the University of Pau to accommodate
those students desiring a French studies dimension to their
experience.
Particularly crucial to the success of the program
have been US Coordinator Carmelo Urza, Sandra Ott, the first
European Director in San Sebastián, and current
European Directors Felix Menchacatorre and Patricia
O’Connor. The remaining teaching staff are too numerous
to name, but it should be noted that they have received
consistently high student evaluations.
The student body reflects a broad range in terms of
both interests and geographical background. Of the more than
250 students attending the programs to date, approximately
one-third were from the participating universities while the
remainder were drawn from across the spectrum of American
universities and colleges.
The success of the study abroad programs is reflected
in the fact that the current year’s enrollment is the
best to date. Indeed, we are so pleased with them that we
are currently negotiating for a campus at an Italian
university as well. While this will obviously not be
Basque-related, if successful, it will contribute indirectly
to our efforts in the Basque area by spreading fixed
administrative costs more broadly.
Tutorial Ph.D. in Basque Studies - Basque
Studies specialists and resources are sprinkled lightly
throughout the academic world. At the same time the BSP
represented one of the few concentrations or foci of this
area of study. It was therefore felt that a tutorial Ph.D.
program in Basque Studies at UNR predicated upon the
collaboration of the departments of anthropology, history
and foreign languages which also incorporated the skills of
Basque researchers at other institutions, might provide a
sensible formula for furthering the general academic
interest in Basque Studies. The plan was accepted by the
University three years ago. It was our intention to limit
enrollment to one or two students annually. To date four
individuals have been admitted. The first student to
complete the program, Gorka Aulestia, recently defended his
dissertation on the Basque bertsolari or versifier and will
receive his doctorate in December. Two other students are
currently engaged in doctoral studies.
Basque/English Dictionary - In 1979 Gorka
Aulestia, with the assistance of several collaborators,
undertook the monumental task of writing a Basque-English
dictionary. At the time we felt that it would require three
or four years to complete. This assessment proved unduly
optimistic since we grossly underestimated the magnitude of
the task. Despite the fact that a second lexicographer,
Linda White, became heavily involved as well, production of
the first volume (Basque to English) required eight years.
It is gratifying, however, that it has been completed and is
now in the publication process at the University of Nevada
Press. In recognition of the importance of this project, the
National Endowment for the Humanities recently provided a
two-year grant for completion of the English to Basque
volume. Work on it is proceeding well at present. In our
estimation, completion of this project will constitute one
of the BSPs most important legacies.
In conclusion, the past five years have been
particularly challenging and productive for the Basque
Studies Program. At the same time, from the foregoing it
should be evident that the BSP is nothing more than the sum
total of the efforts of many persons too numerous to name
individually who have believed in the concept or profited
from it. These include the many scholars, students and
laymen in both the Old and New Worlds who have participated
in the common effort or furthered their individual academic
goals by virtue of it. At the same time, it includes the
thousands of people who have provided their moral and
financial support. To all of you
eskerrikasko!
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