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NABO is working to facilitate a project initiated by the Basque
Government to catalogue the mention of
Basques in U.S. newspapers. This will then serve as a database
for future research.
To read the introductory essay click on:
BASQUES IN THE AMERICAN PRESS
OVERVIEW OF PROJECT
The Autonomous Basque Government of Euskadi is currently developing a
project to compile data on Basque immigration that was published since
1876. The work has commenced to digitize and catalogue items that
refer to Basques in the newspapers from throughout the Americas.
To date this research has yielded 12 DVDs with
180.000 digitial pages of
Basque references in South American newspapers. This project now
shifts to North America with an ongoing effort to digitize and/or
photograph news that touches on the Basques over the last century in
newspapers of areas where Basques are concentrated.
The project's objective is
to promote investigations of Basque immigration in a trans-American
comparison, and this effort will serve as a database. There is no
economic gain from this endeavor; compiled data will not be sold.
To make this
viable, each newspaper is being asked for permission to cite their work.
The project has several
proposed phases (see below) that hopes to involve the Basque clubs along
with interested universities:
Methodology. Somewhere
in the item the word Basque must be referenced, or a Basque symbol used.
It is very specific to how the outside world has
perceived/depicted the Basques in printed media.
Initial focus. The three states with the largest Basque
populations are California, Idaho & Nevada (in that order). Thus
the initial phase will concentrate on these population centers.
Coordination. We are
looking to identify regional coordinators that will oversee the work of biltzaileak (collectors).
Pay & property rights: Collectors are
paid $1 per item found. In return, they agree to sign a document
that renounces their claim to the data's use for the greater good of the
project.
Timeline:
2008: Idaho / eastern Oregon regional analysis up and running.
Develop a viable model that we can then utilize in a larger scope of
analysis
2009: Initiate Nevada & California?
Contacts at present they
are:
Patty Miller, Basque Museum & Cultural Center
pattym@basquemusuem.com
John Bieter, Ph.D., Basque Studies at Boise State
john.bieter@boisestate.edu
John Ysursa, NABO Faciliator
info@nabasque.org
Initial newspaper sources
for Idaho/Oregon region:
The Idaho Statesman (Boise area daily)
Times News (Twin Falls daily)
The Idaho Register (Catholic weekly)
Burns Times Herald (eastern Oregon)
Argus Observer (Ontario, OR)
ANSWERS TO
INQUIRIES
Q: It appears that
NABO will be in charge of this project...how will BSU and UNR or other
universities be involved?
A: Yes & no. There's no real issue of turf here, but we do have to
tread lightly and make sure all the bases are covered. NABO's
involvement is to the extent that Josu Legarreta really wants to see
this happen, so he's pushing various ways to get this done. So
NABO is the facilitator, whereas most all of the work will be done by
university groups it is assumed.
Q: Is there a general database already developed that can be used or
would the project have to create its own?
A: There is already a preset template using FileMaker that will be
provided.
Q: If there is a general database, will there be training available for
the coordinators and collectors?
A: There is also an introductory PowerPoint for the collectors that will
be translated (as soon as I get a copy of the PowerPoint--it never made
it onto the disc that was burned for me).
Q: What protocol (i.e., years and newspapers searched) will be used for
data gathering and how will that be determined?
A: This has already been established; what each community needs to fine
tailor is a list of publications (newspapers) in the area to examine.
In the case of Boise, it's pretty straight forward with the Idaho
Stateman.
Q: Who will be recruited for the collector positions?
A: People who are interested and competent, and want to make some money.
Q: Beside the $1/item found, what other resources will be available to
collectors (i.e., university credit, equipment use, etc.)?
A: University credit is possible and can probably be negotiated.
Equipment for this is each person having a notebook computer. Most
have these already; we just need to load the FileMaker program onto the
computer. Additional equipment depends on the source being
utilized; e.g., is it just micofiche, etc.
Q: What time commitment will be expected of the regional coordinator?
A: The Americas goal is 25,000 items for this year. That's a
big chunk though most will likely derive from South America.
Nevertheless, the incentive is $1 per item so it becomes a
self-motivating project.
Q: What resources will be available to the regional coordinator (i.e.,
funds, equipment use, office space, etc.)?
A: We can probably work something out for space at either BSU or
the Museum (we'll need to hear from John & Patty on this possibility).
Equipment again is the computer program.
Q: Will this project be able to include an oral history component for
the first generation Basques that have yet to be recorded?
A; This project is very specific and does not include this oral
history at this time though it might be able to grow in that direction.
Criteria
Powerpoint
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