Cenarrusa Papers Dedicated
Pete and Freda Cenarrusa were honored on Thursday, October 19th at a gracious reception at Boise State to mark the gift of the Cenarrusa Papers to the Boise State collection that also includes papers from Sen. Frank Church, Gov. Cecil Andrus and other Idaho dignitaries and historic figures.
Pete Cenarrusa has been a leading figure in the Basque community in the United States and across the globe and was the Idaho Secretary of State from 1967 to 2002 and served in the Idaho Legislature for 17 years before that making him one of the longest serving elected officials in the U.S. Pete and wife, Freda, have a long tradition of promoting Basque life and culture in Idaho and beyond. In 2003 they organized and started the Cenarrusa Foundation for Basque Culture, which helps promote Basque cultural traditions and history.
After the stablishment of the Foundation that bears his name, Pete and Freda helped establish the university’s Basque Studies Program. The Basque Studies Program is a multi-disciplinary program of advanced study that includes all aspects of the language, culture and history of the Basque people.
“Pete Cenarrusa has long been an asset to the citizens of Idaho and to the Basque community here and abroad,” Boise State President Bob Kustra said.
The thousands of items will take more than a year to catalog, university officials said. Beginning in 2004 papers related to Cenarrusa’s support of the Basque community in Idaho were donatedand the bulk of the political materials were received this September. Much of the content of the Basque collection can be found online on the Boise State library web Site. (www.boisestate.edu/lbrary - search Cenarrusa)
Thursday’s reception was attended by Boise State President Kustra and Provost , Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter, Boise Mayor Dave Bieter, Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa, state Department of Agriculture Director Celia Gould, as well as other state and university officials and several Cenarrusa family friends and supporters.
“Scholars across campus and throughout the nation will benefit from this invaluable gift that represents his life’s work,” Kustra said of Cenarrusa’s papers.
A feature article and photograph has also been posted at Euskal Kazeta - click here
For more photos from the reception click here
Photos by Dave Green
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