National Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 to October 15. The month is meant to pay tribute to the generations of Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched the United States.
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| Diego Rivera was a Mexican pianist and muralist. He is pictured here with his wife, Frida Kahlo. |
The observation of Hispanic Heritage Week began in 1968 with President Johnson and was expanded to a full 30-day celebration by President Reagan in 1988. September 15 was chosen as the start date because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
If you’re interested in Hispanic heritage or history, there are many resources available right here in Van Wylen Library. This includes many print and electronic encyclopedias and dictionaries that can introduce you to topics in this area and many books and ebooks on more specific Hispanic American subjects.
Latinos in Michigan is part of a series that explores different ethnic groups’ immigration to and inhabitation of Michigan. Recovering the U.S. Hispanic Literary Heritage examines Hispanic literature in the US.
The library also has access to Ethnic NewsWatch, a full-text database of publications from minority communities. This database can provide the perspective of the Hispanic community directly from their own newspapers and magazines. Just select “Hispanic” under Ethnic Group on the Advanced Search screen.
To find out more about National Hispanic Heritage Month, visit the month’s official website.
–Madalyn Muncy, Library Student Blogger