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Smithsonian Institution and The University of Texas at El Paso “Envisioning Bracero History” Conference, El Paso, Texas Nov. 10 – 12, 2005

By immigrationprof

The Smithsonian Institution and the University of Texas at El Paso invite the public, Museum professionals, and students and faculty in History, American Studies, Latino Studies, Ethnic Studies and other related disciplines to attend a free conference, “Envisioning Bracero History” in El Paso, Texas November 10-12, 2005. “Envisioning Bracero History” a collaborative conference of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History and the University of Texas at El Paso’s History Department, will be held in El Paso, Texas from November 10 to 12, 2005. This conference is part of the Smithsonian’s ongoing effort to collect, preserve, and share the history of the bracero program. Envisioning Bracero History will bring together scholars from both sides of the border to explore the rich cultural history and the myriad narratives of the U.S.-Mexican borderlands. The project will use the history of the Bracero Program to explore ongoing issues of race relations & citizenship, work & agriculture, family & gender, the border, immigration & transnationalism, politics & identity. We will share the information collected through a public website, and the Smithsonian hopes to begin work soon on a traveling exhibition. The event will begin with a Town Hall meeting on Thursday evening, November 10. On Friday, November 11 there will be two panels. That evening, there will be a reception at the El Paso Art Museum which will feature a graduate student poster session focusing on braceros and borderlands history and culture. On Saturday, November 12, 2005 a panel of oral and public historians will discuss practitioners’ perspectives on collecting braceros’ oral histories. During the afternoon Smithsonian representatives will conduct oral histories with former braceros. Conference attendance is free but registration is required. For more information and to register for the conference please go to https://ia.utep.edu/Default.aspx?tabid=32956#PROJECT

This conference is especially timely given the current debates over the need for a new “guest worker” program.