Center for History Seeks Items to Tell Story of Local Hispanic Heritage
The Center for History, in partnership with the Hispanic Heritage Initiative (HHI) Committee, is seeking clothing, photographs, household objects, recipes, tools, newspaper clippings, publications, photographs, art, crafts, and other items that will help tell the story of the local Hispanic heritage. The items will be used for an exhibit that will open at the museum on September 15, in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Following the exhibit, the artifacts will be preserved with the Center for History collections and used for education and research. Individuals who would like additional information or have items that would like to give or loan to the Center for History for the exhibit may call (574) 235-9664, ext. 241.
The initiative to systematically record and preserve the history of the Hispanic culture in the St. Joseph River Valley region was officially launched at the Center for History on Thursday, June 28. Guest speakers at the event included Gilberto Cardenas, Ph.D., Director, Institute for Latino Studies, Notre Dame; the Rev. Christopher Cox, CSC, of St. Adalbert Parish; and Maria Thompson, Assistant Program Manager, Center for the Study of Latino Religion, Notre Dame.
The Center for History has long recognized the importance of preserving and celebrating the community’s diverse ethnic heritage–a heritage that includes the history, traditions, and customs of many cultures. The Hispanic Heritage Initiative was created to collect and preserve the unique history of the local Hispanic community. HHI committee members include David Bainbridge, Senior Curator, Center for History; Gregorio Chavez, Hispanic Leadership Coalition; Travis Childs, Director of School Programs, Center for History; Elizabeth Conner, South Bend Community School Corporation; Humberto Decanini, Project Manager, Shaffner Heaney Associates; Paula Gonzalez, Community Volunteer; Jennifer Johns, Registrar, Center for History; Stephanie McCune, Director of Public Programs, Center for History; Randy W. Ray, Executive Director, Center for History; Monica Tetzlaff, Executive Director, Civil Rights Heritage Center; Maria Thompson, Assistant Program Manager, Institute for Latino Studies, University of Notre Dame; Marilyn Thompson, Marketing Director, Center for History; Federico Thon, Hispanic Leadership Coalition; and Barbara Whiteman, Exhibits Coordinator, Center for History.
The story of the St. Joseph River Valley is one of vibrant cultures and heritages which, together, have cultivated its land, worked in its industries, provided leadership to its institutions and given texture to its daily life. As thousands of immigrants settled in this region over the decades, they simultaneously learned the language and customs of their new community while proudly holding fast to the traditions of their own homelands. The history of the area is indeed one of the people who have lived here, whether for one year or for one hundred years. As keeper of the community’s memory and its main source for preserving the past, the Center for History celebrates the community’s diverse ethnic heritage. Through its efforts to collect, preserve, interpret, exhibit and teach, the museum is dedicated to the study of the myriad cultures comprising the community. The Center for History sees itself as the community’s gathering place for the collections, activities and traditions of these cultures.
