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Hispanic Heritage: Yesterday and Today for Tomorrow

Presented by Northern Indiana Center for History at Center for History

September 15, 2007-January 13, 2008

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The Center for History has long recognized the importance of preserving the community’s diverse ethnic heritage–a heritage that includes the history, traditions, and customs of many cultures. On September 15, to help explore and celebrate one of the many ethnicities of the diverse Michiana community, the museum is opening Hispanic Heritage: Yesterday and Today for Tomorrow. The exhibit, which will be on view through January 13, 2008, showcases photographs, clothing, art and memorabilia of the local Hispanic community. An opening celebration will take place from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 15, at the Center for History. Admission is complimentary. Hispanic Heritage: Yesterday and Today for Tomorrow chronicles the settlement patterns of Hispanics in the St. Joseph River Valley region and describes the arrivals of families. Members of the Hispanic community have given or loaned to the Center for History a large number of items that will be showcased in the exhibit. A molino (corn grinder), molcajete salsa bowls, escobeta (corn bruch) and metate (grill) are some of the items provided by Paula Gonzalez to help tell the story of traditional Hispanic foods. They stand alongside a cantaro (water pitcher) and cup given by Humberto Decanini. A bright-colored reboza (scarf) and dress on loan from Liz Conner, along with straw hats and a sombrero create a festive storyline about traditional Hispanic festivities. Nearby, posters from a South Bend Ethnic Festival and Hispanic Heritage Week in South Bend celebration, help tell the story of immigrants who have learned the language and customs of their new community while proudly holding fast to the traditions of their homelands. From Notre Dame’s Institute for Latino Studies are newspaper clippings, personal papers and correspondence, and official documents related to the local Hispanic community from 1943 to 1974. These artifacts describe life as migrant workers, hearings conducted by the Civil Rights Commission regarding the welfare of migrant workers, and migrant housing codes. The exhibit is an outgrowth of the Hispanic Heritage Initiative (HHI), launched in May by the Center for History. HHI committee members include museum staff as well as Gregorio Chavez, Hispanic Leadership Coalition; Elizabeth Conner, South Bend Community School Corporation; Humberto Decanini, Project Manager, Shaffner Heaney Associates; Paula Gonzalez, community volunteer; Monica Tetzlaff, Executive Director, Civil Rights Heritage Center; Maria Thompson, Assistant Program Manager, Institute for Latino Studies, University of Notre Dame; and Federico Thon, Hispanic Leadership Coalition. 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.