Nevada History: Special Basque Lecture – Basques of Nevada in World War II: A Preliminary Analysis (Off-site, SVL)
August 6 @ 4:30 pm - 5:45 pm
Nevada History – Special Basque Lecture (Sierra View Library)
Basques of Nevada in World War II: A Preliminary Analysis
Wednesday, August 6, 2025
4:30 – 5:45 pm
Nevada History – On The GO!
The Nevada Historical Society’s building may be closed for an exciting remodel, but you can still enjoy their fascinating lectures at the Sierra View Library during their closure. NHS Nevada History – On The GO! Series is combining their three history programs that delve into Nevada History, Lake Tahoe, and the American Gaming Archives gambling and gaming history. Make sure to visit Sierra View Library on the first Saturday of every month to learn more about Nevada’s history through these engaging talks that are geared towards audiences of all ages.
Speaker: Dr. Pedro J. Oiarzabal, Professor
Title of Talk: Basques of Nevada in World War II: A Preliminary Analysis
Etchemendy brothers in their UN ROTC uniforms
Summary of Talk: The Fighting Basques: Memory of World War II is an international research project by the Sancho de Beurko History Association since 2015. This presentation will focus on the results of their study in Nevada. In the United States, enlistment was compulsory for all males between 18 and 45 years of age, allowing the identification and methodical study of a whole generation of Basque immigrants and descendants up to a second degree, including the women who enlisted in the different branches of the army. In this way, the project aims to rescue memories of that generation, while enabling rigorous analysis of the migration and settlement
Speaker Bio: Dr. Pedro J. Oiarzabal was born and raised in Bilbao and has spent much of his life between the Basque Country, Ireland, and the United States. He holds a PhD in Basque Studies-Political Science from the University of Nevada, Reno, a MPhil in Economics and Social Sciences from Queen’s University of Belfast (Northern Ireland), and a BA in History from the University of Deusto (Bilbao). He has been the Director of the “Fighting Basques: Memory of World War II” program since 2019. His research examines diaspora and migrant communities’ interaction with information and communication technologies in the Basque case. He also specializes in Oral History, Memory Studies, and Digital Humanities.
Basque Project Website: https://nabasque.eus/wwii_memorial.html
We would like to thank our partner, the Washoe County Library System and the Sierra View Library for hosting our off-site lectures.
Sierra View Library has been serving communities from Midtown to South Reno since 1987. Located inside the Reno Town Mall, directly across from the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, the library has two entrances. The front entrance allows visitors to stroll by shops and businesses in the mall, while the second entrance is accessible from the rear, south side of the mall. This back entrance has an ADA accessible lift and allows you to access the library directly. The address is 4001 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89502.
