Celebrating 118 years, Carson City Leisure Hour Club hosts Basque specialist
The Carson City Leisure Hour Club begins its 118th year with a presentation by Iker Saitua, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Nevada, Reno. Born in Algorta, Basque Country, Iker will discuss Basque history in a presentation titled Becoming Basque-American: Basque Sheep Breeders and their Ethnic Legitimacy in Nevada (1890-1959).
The Leisure Hour Club, established in September of 1896, is Carson City’s oldest continuously operating social organization. Its goal is promoting knowledge on important issues, science, music and literature.
From the 1880s to 1920s, many Basques — mostly young male peasants — left their villages to become sheepherders in Nevada and other western states. By the late 19th century, new federal conservation policies began to restrict the access to the public domain. As the 20th century proceeded, the Basques who used to work in sheep grazing had established a reputation of being an efficient and dependable labor force, as well as good neighbors.
Mr. Saitua will discuss how the Basque American community was transformed into an active social force in Nevada, which surpassed their sheep operations in the Great Basin.
Saitua is currently working on his doctoral dissertation that investigates the sheep industry of Nevada during the New Deal and the early Cold War. More specifically, he is exploring the recruitment of Basque immigrant laborers to work in sheep farming in the state of Nevada. Saitua enjoys working on collaborative public history projects and other extracurricular activities to encourage the study of History.
When he is not working, Iker likes to spend time swimming, listening to music (preferably, to vinyl records), reading literature, and watching films. He is an avid fan of Cold War movies.
If you would like to hear Mr. Saitua speak, please call Dorothy Link at (775) 885-2542 no later than Saturday, Sept. 13 to make your reservation. The meeting is preceded by a buffet dinner at 6:30 p.m. Mr. Saitua’s presentation will begin at approximately 7:30 p.m. Reservations for dinner are required.
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